Sydney is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of
approximately 4.12 million. Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales, and is the site
of the first European colony in Australia, established in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur
Phillip, leader of the First Fleet from Britain. A resident of the city is referred to as a
Sydneysider.
Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast. The city is built around Port Jackson,
which includes Sydney Harbour, leading to the city's nickname, "the Harbour City". It is
Australia's largest financial centre. Sydney's leading economic sectors include property
and business services, manufacturing, tourism, media, health and community services.
Sydney is a major international tourist destination notable for its beaches and twin
landmarks: the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The metropolitan area is
surrounded by national parks, and contains many bays, rivers and inlets. It has been
recognised as a beta world city
Radiocarbon dating has provided evidence that the Sydney region has been populated by
indigenous Australians for at least 30,000 years. At the time of the arrival of the First Fleet
in 1788, 4000 - 8000 Aboriginal people lived in the region, locally known to them as
"Eora". There were three language groups in the Sydney region; these were further
refined into dialects spoken by smaller clans. The principal languages were Darug (the
Cadigal, original inhabitants of the City of Sydney, spoke a coastal dialect of Darug),
Dharawal and Guringai. Each clan had a territory; the location of that territory determined
the resources available. Although urbanization has destroyed most evidence of these
settlements (such as shell middens), Sydney and its environs are well known for
numerous rock drawings and carvings because of the nature of the rock, Hawkesbury
sandstone.
European interest in colonising Australia arose with the landing of British sea captain
Lieutenant James Cook in Botany Bay in 1770. Under instruction from the British
government, a convict settlement was founded by Arthur Phillip, who arrived at Botany Bay
with a fleet of 11 ships on January 20, 1788. This site was soon found to be unsuitable
for habitation, owing to poor soil and a lack of reliable fresh water. Phillip founded the
colony at Sydney Cove on Port Jackson on January 26, 1788. He named it after the British
Home Secretary, Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, in recognition of Sydney's role in
issuing the charter authorising Phillip to establish a colony. In April 1789 a disease,
thought to be smallpox, decimated the indigenous population of Sydney; a conservative
estimate says that 500 to 1000 Aboriginal people died in the area between Broken and
Botany Bays.There was violent resistance to British settlement, notably by the warrior
Pemulwuy in the area around Botany Bay, and conflicts were common in the area
surrounding the Hawkesbury River. By 1820 there were only a few hundred Aborigines
and Governor Macquarie had begun initiatives to 'civilize, Christianize and educate' the
Aborigines by removing them from their clans.
The first of several gold rushes started in 1851, and the port of Sydney has since seen
many waves of people arriving from around the world. Rapid suburban development
began in the last quarter of the 19th century with the advent of steam powered tramways
and railways. With industrialisation Sydney expanded rapidly, and by the early 20th
century it had a population well in excess of one million. The Great Depression hit Sydney
badly. One of the highlights of the Depression era, however, was the completion of the
Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932
PLACE TO VISIT
The Sydney Harbour Bridge - crosses the harbour from the city to North
Sydney. You can walk or cycle across the Harbour Bridge free of charge. You can climb
the arch with BridgeClimb or fly over it with Red Baron Adventures
The Sydney Opera House - Located in the city, millions of tourists a year throng
the building just to see it, even if they have little or no interest in Opera. The Sydney Opera
House is easily one of the most famous structures ever built.
Darling Harbour - is a large tourist precinct and includes a range of activities,
restaurants, museums and shopping facilities.
Luna Park - Is a large theme park situated near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it's
mouth-shaped entrance can be seen from many areas of Sydney as well as the large
Ferris Wheel.
Sydney Tower - also called Centrepoint Tower. The tallest structure in Sydney, the
tower contains a buffet, cafe and a rather large restaurant and attracts many visitors a
year. You can stand over the city on a transparent platform, over the edge of the top of the
tower with Skywalk
The Rocks - is an historical precinct of central Sydney, Located immediately to the
north of the CBD on the western side of Sydney Cove, beneath the famous Harbour
Bridge, the Rocks is renowned for its shopping, cultural attractions and wide
accommodation options, including a string of prestigious 5-star hotels attracted to the
area on account of its fantastic views of the harbor bridge and relatively tranquil
atmosphere. Although strictly speaking an integral part of central Sydney, the Rocks is
sufficiently different in character and atmosphere from the commercial and retail heart of
town, with an abundance of local attractions, to warrant its own article.
Sydney Harbour - large natural harbor, usually called Sydney Harbour (correctly
Port Jackson), was the reason that the original penal settlement was established in the
area now known as Circular Quay, rather than further south at Botany Bay as James Cook
recommended after mapping the coast in 1770. While it is now very built up (and
Sydneysiders will pay a premium for views of the water) it is still very beautiful.
FESTIVALS
Sydney Festival - is an arts festival held in January each year. It aims to be
international in reach, inviting acclaimed international artists to exhibit their work or
perform in Sydney. A number of free outdoor events are held alongside the festival
including the hugely popular Jazz in the Domain and Symphony in the Domain concerts
held in the Domain in the city.
Royal Easter Show - is the major agricultural show in New South Wales, and is
held around Easter each year at Sydney Olympic Park in the Outer West. Farmers from all
over the state come to show their prize produce. But it isn't just an agricultural show: a
huge number of amusement ride operators set up for the Show as well, together with
vendors of the worst kind of child baiting junk food: fairy floss and deep fried hot dogs
(known as "dagwood dogs" or "pluto pups").
New Year's Eve - has become a major event in Sydney over the last few years, with
the fireworks display ranking among the world's best. Displays of pyrotechnics center
around Sydney Harbour, near the Harbour bridge ( including fireworks shot from the
bridge itself ). There are two shows, a "family show" at 9pm, and the major fireworks
display at midnight. Many of the hotels and bars near the Harbour hold special parties as
well.
Bacardi Latin Festival - in Darling Harbour is held in early January as part of the
Sydney Festival, and contains a week of Latin dancing and music.
Sydney Film Festival - is held in June each year and shows over 200 movies in
16 days, including an enormous number of Australian movies, most of which will
premiere at the festival.
Big Day Out - an Australia-wide rock/alternative music festival with a side of dance,
plays to up to 60 000 Sydneysiders at a time for one or two days in late January (normally
on the January 26th public holiday). Past acts have included Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili
Peppers, the Chemical Brothers and Marilyn Manson from overseas, and Powderfinger,
Regurgitator and Gerling from Australia. It normally sells out about a fortnight after tickets
are released
Carols in the Domain - are held annually in the Domain in the city on the last
Saturday before Christmas. 100 000 people with candles sing along as night falls and
the show is also telecast live.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Sydney has one major airport (SYD, Mascot, or Kingsford-Smith):
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) is Australia's largest and most
important international and domestic airport, located 8 km from the city center at Mascot
in Southern Sydney.
There are over 35 airlines that fly in and out of Sydney Airport with multiple daily flights
linking Sydney with key city destinations in the Pacific, Asia, Europe and North America.
The Asian-Pacific transport hubs of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and Seoul
are particularly well-served, as are various European centers via Asia. Multiple flight links
also exist with New Zealand. In addition, the west coast of the US and Hawaii are popular
inbound / outbound destinations. Sydney Airport is the only airport in Australia with
connections to every continent. Travelers from Europe and the Middle East tend to travel
into Sydney via Asia, whilst travelers from South America fly via either North America or
New Zealand.
By car - It is possible to drive to Sydney from Brisbane or Melbourne in a full day.
Around 9 hours non-stop to Melbourne, or 11 hours to Brisbane. A comfortable drive
would allow two days from Melbourne or Brisbane, and three to Adelaide. The Melbourne
drive is mostly dual carriageway high quality road. The same can't be said for the
Brisbane drive, which while it has high quality sections, has some very narrow winding
sections also, and carries high traffic volumes.
By bus - Coach companies operate to Sydney from all capital cities, and many New
South Wales regional centres. The Sydney coach terminal is located adjacent to Sydney
Central train station. Follow the signs.
By train - All major train links to Sydney terminate at Sydney's Central Station in the
south of the CBD area. Travellers can transfer to Cityrail trains or the light rail service to
Darling Harbour, as well as to taxis.
New South Wales' long distance train service CountryLink (ph 13 22 32 within Australia)
runs daily services to Sydney from Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and many regions of
New South Wales including the North Coast, New England, the Central West and the
Southern Highlands. Travelling time from Melbourne and Brisbane is around 12 hours.
Fares range between $30 and $100 for standard class seats. The long distance trains
between Melbourne and Sydney, and Brisbane and Sydney are a faster and less stressful
alternative to driving.
