Our History
Qtopia Sydney was born from a collective promise: to preserve, honour, and share the vibrant, complex, and resilient history of Australia’s LGBTQIA+ communities. Rooted in the sacred ground of Darlinghurst, our precinct encompasses sites of deep cultural memory—from the former Darlinghurst Police Station to the historic Taylor Square Substation. We stand as a living testament to the courageous '78ers who marched for liberation, a dedicated memorial to those we lost during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and a sanctuary for the stories that continue to shape who we are today.
Photo: Richard Dobson
Our Story
Qtopia Sydney opened its doors in February 2024, but our foundations were laid nearly 40 years earlier with a vision from the late Professor David Cooper—to build a dedicated space honouring those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. That dream was carried forward by his wife, Dorrie Cooper, alongside co-founder David Polson AM, one of Australia’s first HIV/AIDS drug trial survivors. Driven by their persistence and rallied by an extraordinary community of supporters, that long-held vision finally became Australia’s home for Queer history and culture.
Through our exhibitions, events and educational programs, Qtopia Sydney exists to celebrate, commemorate, and educate. We bring LGBTQIA+ histories out of the shadows and into the spotlight—shining a light on breakthroughs in medicine, law, art, activism, and everyday life. These are enduring accounts of courage, contribution, and resilience that demand to be remembered and shared.
HIV/AIDS Memorial
The HIV/AIDS Memorial at Qtopia Sydney is a space of tribute, remembrance, and living history dedicated to those lost to the epidemic and the activists, healthcare workers, and loved ones who fought alongside them.
At its heart is a five-metre curved LED installation that functions as a digital archive, displaying archival photos, AIDS Memorial Quilt panels, obituaries, and activist artwork inspired by ACT UP and ACON. Complemented by a recreation of St Vincent’s Hospital Ward 17 South—Australia’s first dedicated HIV/AIDS ward—the space honours a legacy of compassion, activism, and community resilience.
The ‘78ers
301 Forbes Street—the site of Qtopia Sydney in Darlinghurst—stands as a deeply significant site in Sydney’s Queer history, having served as the former Darlinghurst Police Station. On 24 June 1978, following Australia’s first Mardi Gras march, dozens of peaceful demonstrators, now revered as the '78ers, were arrested and brought into these very cells. Many faced brutal beatings and dehumanising treatment at the hands of the police, turning the building into a symbol of state-sanctioned violence and systemic oppression.
Today, that same address has been transformed into a sanctuary of truth, memory, and healing as part of Qtopia Sydney. By reclaiming a site once defined by police persecution, we honour the extraordinary bravery of the '78ers who stood their ground against injustice. Housed within these former cells, our exhibitions preserve their legacy, ensuring that the sacrifice of those early activists continues to educate, inspire, and safeguard LGBTQIA+ rights for generations to come.