Sydney Overview

From world famous icons such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, to the golden sands of Bondi Beach, Sydney is a melting pot of cultural diversity and irrepressible energy. Lively and colourful, this is a city for the young and young at heart.

Districts

A city surrounded by water, Sydney is a fusion of spectacular architecture and white beaches. Set amongst native bushland and lush national parks, the key to this city's identity is its harbor.

Central Business District--The central business district is a pastiche of quarters and boroughs. The multi-cultural nature of this city and its inhabitants ensures an authenticity that is at the heart of its liberal and embracing spirit.

Circular Quay is the gateway to the harbour. An active transport anchorage, the quay is adorned by architectural and national icons—including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

West of Circular Quay, discover the quirkily named Rocks. This is the original site of convict settlement in Australia, and boasts some of Sydney's best restaurants, and the incredibly popular weekend Rocks Market. Above The Rocks is Observatory Hill, a stretch of parkland with an 1858-built Observatory that is still operational.
Situated on the south-eastern side of Circular Quay, is the central business district’s financial corridor. A mass of multinational conglomerates locate their Asia-Pacific headquarters here. Stately buildings such as the State Library of NSW and Parliament House are found in nearby Macquarie Street.

When locals use the term "the city centre," they are referring to Pitt Street Mall, Market Street and a maze of interlinked arcades. Another central city icon is the Centrepoint Shopping Centre at the base of the architecturally striking AMP Tower (Centrepoint). The conveniently located Sydney Town Hall, inter-connected to Town Hall Station, allows easy access to the city's rail hub and also offers underground access to the fantastically opulent Queen Victoria Building.

In the southwestern corner of the city, Chinatown is a feast for the senses. This district is home to Market City and Paddy's Markets, where you will find the usual fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as some astonishing bargains.

Built to commemorate Australia's bicentenary, Harbourside is Darling Harbour’s signature shopping and entertainment complex. The forecourt hosts numerous festivals including the Darling Harbour Fiesta. Nearby are the Chinese Garden, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Sydney Aquarium, the IMAX Cinema and the Powerhouse Museum. Whilst just up the road is the extravagant Star City Casino. Nearby, Cockle Bay Wharf is a sophisticated boardwalk of nightclubs, restaurants and live music venues.

On the Eastern side of Hyde Park is The Domain, an expanse of parkland that hosts the city’s calendar of outdoor concerts, including Carols in The Domain. This area is full of attractions such as Mrs Macquarie's Chair and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The Eastern Suburbs--Oxford Street is the main artery in this district. This elongated street runs from the central business district in Darlinghurst and works its way into Paddington, past the sprawling Centennial Park to Bondi Junction. The street is famous for its art-house cinemas, cafes, bookshops and designer labels.

At the lower end of Darlinghurst is Kings Cross, Sydney's 24-hour red-light district. Amongst the crass strip joints and tattoo parlours are intimate jazz clubs, hip cafes and great record shops.

The East's harbourside suburbs of Elizabeth Bay, Double Bay and Rose Bay culminate at Watson’s Bay, which offers stunning views of the city. Savour the view from the nearby world famous Doyles on the Beach seafood restaurant. On the other side of this peninsula is South Head, the Southern gate between Sydney Harbour and the open sea. Along the nearby coast discover Sydney's best-known and best-loved beaches, including Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte and Coogee.

The South--The first fleet landed at Botany Bay, and the suburbs between here and South Cronulla Beach include the huge local government area, Sutherland Shire. The character of the south is typified by waterways and gardens, which lead to Sydney's southern boundary—the vast Royal National Park.

The Inner West--Glebe and Newtown are the main suburbs in this district. The inner-west is crammed with restaurants offering international cuisines, new and second-hand bookshops, backpacker hostels, health food shops and traditional pubs.

Further west is Leichhardt, also known as Little Italy. Wander past Norton Street's bookshops, art-house cinemas and delicatessen-shops, which sell a selection of cheese, imported espresso machines and ceramic tiles.

The Greater West--Homebush Bay, the centre of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is situated in the Greater West. Telstra Stadium and a host of sporting facilities are all close by. Neighbouring Parramatta is the major transport and commercial hub of the west. Between Parramatta and the Blue Mountains (Sydney's western boundary) is Cabramatta—Sydney's Little Vietnam, and it is worth the trip for the great shopping and culinary experience.

The Upper North Shore--Sydney's northwest corner intersects at The Hills District—a semi-rural region that is fast developing into a residential quarter. The leafy Upper North Shore is one of Sydney's wealthiest areas. Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park, situated in the centre, is a beautiful spot for bushwalks or picnics.

The Lower North Shore--Everything below Chatswood is the Lower North Shore. Some of the prettier spots are Balmoral Beach and Blues Point Reserve at the end of Blues Point Road. An essential stop is Taronga Zoo, a scenic animal sanctuary.

The Northern Beaches--From beautiful Palm Beach, down through Whale, Avalon, Bilgola, Newport and Mona Vale Beaches—the northern beaches not only offer great surfing, but great sailing as well. Lush parks and gardens surround million-dollar holiday homes, making for an idyllic setting. Forming the northern gate to Sydney Harbour is Manly—a playground of leisure and recreational pursuits. A highlight on Manly's calendar is the Manly International Jazz Festival.

Historical Background

Aboriginal Sydney--Sydney has always been characterised by waves of migration starting with the first Aborigines who reached the area approximately 20,000 years ago. Their population had risen to 3,000 when Captain James Cook briefly visited Botany Bay in April 1770. The Eora display at the Museum of Sydney provides a sensitive, contemporary interpretation of their culture.

“The Coming of the Strangers”--In 1787, the first fleet sailed from England, commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip, who later became Governor. The British raised their flag at Sydney Cove—now known as Circular Quay, on 26 January 1788. Australians now celebrate this date as Australia Day.

When Phillip returned to England in 1792, officers paid convict labourers and other accounts with rum rather than hard currency. Battles for social standing and economic power emerged between such groups as land grant holders, like John Macarthur, who established Elizabeth Farm, and the newly-emancipated convicts who had served out their term. The settlement soon outstripped its original site and extended west towards The Rocks and Sydney Observatory, and as far south as Brickfield Hill, which is near present-day Central Railway Station.

Matters came to a head politically with the Rum Rebellion of 1808, and Britain recalled then governor, William Bligh, to England. His successor, Lachlan Macquarie, gave the city its early 19th-century architecture. He worked with convict architect Francis Greenway to erect such edifices as Hyde Park Barracks and St James Church. However, Macquarie's extravagant expenditure angered the British government and in February 1822, he reluctantly returned home.

Urban Consolidation--During the early 1830s, a number of officials made the decision to take up land grants on prestigious Woolloomooloo Hill, establishing homesteads such as Elizabeth Bay House. Between 1837 and 1845, a Tudor-style Government House arose near the site of the present-day Sydney Opera House. Large-scale, assisted immigration was characteristic of this period, and when convict transportation to New South Wales ceased in 1840, inhabitants finally began to discard their convict label, and this was significantly followed two years later by an act which declared Sydney's status as a city.

The Gold Rush--1851 saw the discovery of gold near the central western town of Bathurst. Thousands of prospective diggers arrived by ship, many of whom later settled permanently. However, with the discovery of more valuable mines in Victoria, the excitement dissipated and Sydney embarked upon a new period of civic, cultural and social development. Elegant sandstone buildings including The Australian Museum and the University of Sydney were constructed, and in 1855, the first train line between Sydney and Parramatta became operational.

Late 19th Century--The 1879 International Exhibition placed Sydney squarely on the map. Major public buildings erected during this period include the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney General Post Office, Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building. The suburbs continued their sprawl, fuelled by the expanding rail network and the Australian dream of owning a quarter-acre block of land.

Early 20th Century--On January 1, 1901, the six Australian colonies united to form a Commonwealth, and Sydney became the state capital of New South Wales. The opening of the Central Railway Station stimulated commercial development in the south, electricity replaced gaslight, women received the vote and mixed bathing became acceptable during daylight hours. Ferries exclusively serviced the harbour, and campaigning began for an alternative crossing-route. However, the outbreak of the First World War halted any further expansion. Thousands of Australians departed to fight alongside their British allies.

Between the Wars--After the troops came home, expansion and development continued until the Great Depression in the late 1920s. Many found themselves unemployed, and political unrest swept Sydney, resulting in the removal from office of the popular Labour premier, Jack Lang. Nevertheless, 1932 saw the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

World War II--At the outbreak of World War II, Australian troops again left to support the British in Europe. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour, Australia's own national security became paramount. May 1942 saw the destruction of four Japanese midget-submarines, which had entered Sydney Harbour. Shortly afterwards, the Japanese mother submarine bombed the waterfront suburbs of Bondi and Rose Bay. Fear of invasion heightened rapidly. The introduction of rationing and blackouts saw the war hit home, and many residents fled for the safety of the Blue Mountains.

Post-War Development--The post-war period was characterised by wide-scale immigration especially from Italy, Greece and Eastern Europe. Major modernist buildings such as the Rose Seidler House challenged traditional style, and a distinctive local school of architecture gradually evolved.

During the 1960s, American influence saw Australia drawn into the Vietnam War. The introduction of conscription provoked widespread civil unrest. At the same time, the city embarked upon a period of unabashed, rampant development. Sydneysiders witnessed the demolition of historical buildings, and saw them replaced by modern skyscrapers. The Sydney Opera House opened in 1973, and previously working-class suburbs, such as Paddington, with their distinctive terrace house architecture, suddenly became fashionable. Migrant groups began to colonise districts, including Leichhardt (Italians), Lakemba (Lebanese), Redfern (Greeks) and Marrickville (Portuguese). The end of the Vietnam War also saw large-scale immigration from Southeast Asia.

Rampant Development--The last few decades have seen even greater change. Thousands of apartment buildings now punctuate the skyline. Fierce battles continue to rage over controversial architecture in the city, including structures in Circular Quay, the futuristic Monorail and Fox Studios. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find traces of the past within the city. Macquarie Street and the tourist area, The Rocks, are some of the few historical landmarks that remain. However, a clean harbour, and the international-class facilities, which were part of the Olympic project, are now also a part of Sydney, a city that will always welcome the thousands of tourists who continually visit it every year.

Sydney by the Numbers

Population: 4,085,578
Elevation: 20 feet/ 6 meters
Average Annual Precipitation: 44.5 inches/ 113 centimeters
Average January Temperature: 72 degrees F/ 22 degrees C
Average July Temperature: 53 degrees F/ 12 degrees C
Major Industries: tourism, mining, food processing, chemical manufacturing, steel, industrial and transport equipment
Ethnic Mix: 92% Caucasian, 7% Asian, 1% Aboriginal and other
Electricity: 240 volts, 50Hz, angled two or three-pronged plugs
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +10
Country Dialing Code: 61
Area Code: 02

Did You Know?

Sydney was first settled by the British in 1788 when 400 settlers and 750 convicts arrived on the First Fleet. The convicts were sentenced to Australia for crimes as small as stealing food.

Orientation

Sydney is located on the southern coast of New South Wales and on the eastern coast of Australia on the Pacific Ocean.