Geography
Sydney is situated in the oldest and most populous state of Australia New South Wales. It is the oldest and largest city in Australia. More than 4.5 million people call Sydney their home. This city is dotted with some of the most world-famous landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Tower.
The largest industry in Sydney is tourism that offers employment to the majority of the population. It has the oldest university and library in Australia.
Enlisted below are some unique facts about Sydney.
History
Indigenous Australians have lived in Sydney for over 300 centuries. Therefore, Sydney is the perfect spot for exploring and knowing more about Aboriginal archaeological sites.
Did you know that there were about 29 clans of the Eora tribe that lived in this area before the Europeans arrived? What’s more! The western part of Sydney was inhabited more than 500 centuries ago. James Cook was the first European, who arrived in Sydney in 1770.
Cultural Wealth
The Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is an Indigenous Australian heritage site housing more than 1,500 pieces of Aboriginal rock art. The park was declared in 1894 and is the second oldest national park in Australia.
The park has a treasure trove of petroglyphs, art sites, burial sites, caves, marriage areas, birthing areas, midden sites, and tool manufacturing locations. Moreover, the park has a scenic setting on the Hawkesbury River making fishing, boating or picnic activities a must-do.
Also, the oldest natural history museum in Australia is found in Sydney. The Australian Museum first welcomed visitors in Sydney in 1827. Its main purpose was to collect and exhibit the vast national wealth of the country. It is the country’s oldest natural museum.
We all have heard about Sydney’s Opera house. But we bet you weren’t aware that it has had more than 100 million visitors…yes that’s true! More than 100,000 performances have been held here with more than 100 million people visiting the Opera House since 1973.
The oldest newspaper in Australia is still in print in Sydney. We are referring to the Sydney Morning Herald, which is Australia’s oldest newspaper. This paper was established in 1879 and is still in print.
Landmarks
We bet you didn’t know that the coat hanger is a famous nickname for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is because the top arch of the bridge resembles a hanger.
Sydney Harbour is actually the deepest natural harbour in the world. What’s fascinating is the fact that you can climb on top of the bridge, which stands at 134 metres above the harbour.
The largest market place in Sydney is the Fishmarket. This is located on the Blackwattle Bay foreshore in Pyrmont. It is 2 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the world’s third-largest fish market.
The Sydney Fish Market comprises of a working fishing port, a wholesale fish market, a fresh seafood retail market, a delicatessen, a sushi bar, a bakery, a gift shop, a fruit and vegetable market. Plus, there are daily wholesale auctions for Sydney’s seafood retailers. Truly, a haven for seafood lovers!
The Blue Mountains are an-hour-and half by road from Sydney,. So why are they the blue mountains you may ask? The mystery behind the blue colour is that they are filled with eucalyptus trees which exhale a fine bluish mist making the mountains appear bluish hued. They exude an aura of adventure and beauty with their little streams, spot shrubs peeking under rocks, and pristine tall trees atop peaks. This is a spot you simply cannot afford to miss if you happen to be in Sydney.
Demography
Sydney is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Nearly, one-third of its population was born overseas. In Parramatta, half the population speak a language other than English at home.