Sydney

In 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip, the first governor of New South Wales, named the cove where the first British settlement was established Sydney Cove after Home Secretary Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney.{{Cite book |last=Egan |first=Jack |title=Buried Alive, Sydney 1788–92 |publisher=Allen and Unwin |year=1999 |isbn=1865081388 |pages=10}} The cove was called Warrane by the Aboriginal inhabitants.Attenbrow (2010), p. 11 Phillip considered naming the settlement Albion, but this name was never officially used. By 1790 Phillip and other officials were regularly calling the township Sydney.{{Cite book |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-343658027/view?partId=nla.obj-343661652#page/n4/mode/1up |title=Historical Records of New South Wales |volume=1 part 2 |pages=285, 343, 345, 436, 482, passim |access-date=17 August 2022 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723112037/https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-343658027/view?partId=nla.obj-343661652#page/n4/mode/1up |url-status=live }} Sydney was declared a city in 1842.{{Cite book |last1=Birch |first1=Alan |title=The Sydney Scene, 1788–1960 |last2=Macmillan |first2=David S. |publisher=Hale and Iremonger |year=1982 |isbn=0868060178 |edition=2nd |location=Sydney |pages=105–06}}

The Gadigal (Cadigal) clan, whose territory stretches along the southern shore of Port Jackson from South Head to Darling Harbour, are the traditional owners of the land on which the British settlement was initially established, and call their territory Gadi (Cadi). Aboriginal clan names within the Sydney region were often formed by adding the suffix "-gal" to a word denoting the name for their territory, a specific place in their territory, a food source, or totem. Greater Sydney covers the traditional lands of 28 known Aboriginal clans.{{Cite book |last=Attenbrow |first=Val |title=Sydney's Aboriginal Past, investigating the archaeological and historical records |publisher=UNSW Press |year=2010 |isbn=9781742231167 |edition=2nd |location=Sydney |pages=22–26}}

{{Main|History of Sydney}}

{{For timeline|Timeline of Sydney}}

File:AboriginalSite0008.jpg of kangaroos in Heathcote National Park]]The first people to inhabit the area now known as Sydney were Aboriginal Australians who had migrated from southeast Asia via northern Australia.Attenbrow (2010). p. 152 Flaked pebbles found in Western Sydney's gravel sediments might indicate human occupation from 45,000 to 50,000 years ago,{{Cite book |last1=Attenbrow |first1=Val |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TDxldj_SLcYC&q=inauthor%3A%22Val%20Attenbrow%22&pg=PA152 |title=Sydney's Aboriginal Past: Investigating the Archaeological and Historical Records |publisher=UNSW Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-74223-116-7 |location=Sydney |pages=152–153 |access-date=11 November 2013 |archive-date=23 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923094622/https://books.google.com/books?id=TDxldj_SLcYC&q=inauthor%3A%22Val%20Attenbrow%22&pg=PA152 |url-status=live }} while radiocarbon dating has shown evidence of human activity in the region from around 30,000 years ago.{{cite news |last=Macey |first=Richard |date=2007 |title=Settlers' history rewritten: go back 30,000 years |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/settlers-history-rewritten/2007/09/14/1189276983698.html |access-date=5 July 2014 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702180036/https://www.smh.com.au/news/national/settlers-history-rewritten/2007/09/14/1189276983698.html |url-status=live }} Prior to the arrival of the British, there were 4,000 to 8,000 Aboriginal people in the greater Sydney region.Attenbrow (2010). p.17

The inhabitants subsisted on fishing, hunting, and gathering plants and shellfish. The diet of the coastal clans was more reliant on seafood whereas hinterland clans ate more forest animals and plants. The clans had distinctive equipment and weapons mostly made of stone, wood, plant materials, bone and shell. They also differed in their body decorations, hairstyles, songs and dances. Aboriginal clans had a rich ceremonial life, part of a belief system centring on ancestral, totemic and supernatural beings. People from different clans and language groups came together to participate in initiation and other ceremonies. These occasions fostered trade, marriages and clan alliances.Attenbrow (2010). pp. 28, 158

The earliest British settlers recorded the word 'Eora' as an Aboriginal term meaning either 'people' or 'from this place'.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Keith Vincent |title=Eora People |url=https://www.eorapeople.com.au/uncategorized/eora-people/ |access-date=13 July 2022 |website=Eora People |date=June 2020 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328102026/https://www.eorapeople.com.au/uncategorized/eora-people/ |url-status=live }} The clans of the Sydney area occupied land with traditional boundaries. There is debate, however, about which group or nation these clans belonged to, and the extent of differences in language and rites. The major groups were the coastal Eora people, the Dharug (Darug) occupying the inland area from Parramatta to the Blue Mountains, and the Dharawal people south of Botany Bay. Darginung and Gundungurra languages were spoken on the fringes of the Sydney area.Attenbrow (2010). pp. 22–29

The first meeting between Aboriginals and British explorers occurred on 29 April 1770 when Lieutenant James Cook landed at Botany Bay (KamayAttenbrow (2010). p. 13) and encountered the Gweagal clan.{{cite news |date=2002 |title=Once were warriors |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/10/1036308574533.html |access-date=5 July 2014 |archive-date=22 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822083939/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/10/1036308574533.html |url-status=live }} Two Gweagal men opposed the landing party and one was shot and wounded.{{Cite book |last=Blainey |first=Geoffrey |title=Captain Cook's epic voyage |publisher=Viking |year=2020 |isbn=9781760895099 |location=Australia |pages=141–43}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=22 April 2020 |title=Eight days in Kamay |url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/eight-days-in-kamay |access-date=29 May 2022 |website=State Library of New South Wales |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603002706/https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/eight-days-in-kamay/ |url-status=live }} Cook and his crew stayed at Botany Bay for a week, collecting water, timber, fodder and botanical specimens and exploring the surrounding area. Cook sought to establish relations with the Aboriginal population without success.Blainey (2020). pp. 146–57

File:The Founding of Australia. By Capt. Arthur Phillip R.N. Sydney Cove, Jan. 26th 1788.jpg R.N., Sydney Cove. Painting by Algernon Talmage.]] Britain had been sending convicts to its American colonies for most of the eighteenth century, and the loss of these colonies in 1783 was the impetus to establish a penal colony at Botany Bay. Proponents of colonisation also pointed to the strategic importance of a new base in the Asia-Pacific region and its potential to provide much-needed timber and flax for the navy.{{Cite book |last=Macintyre |first=Stuart |title=A concise history of Australia |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2020 |isbn=9781108728485 |edition=5th |location=Port Melbourne |pages=34–35}}

The First Fleet of 11 ships under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip arrived in Botany Bay in January 1788. It comprised more than a thousand settlers, including 736 convicts.{{Cite book |last=Karskens |first=Grace |title=The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume 1, Indigenous and Colonial Australia |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9781107011533 |editor-last=Bashford |editor-first=Alison |location=Cambridge |pages=91 |chapter=The early colonial presence, 1788-1822 |editor-last2=MacIntyre |editor-first2=Stuart}} The fleet soon moved to the more suitable Port Jackson where a settlement was established at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788.Peter Hill (2008) pp.141–50 The colony of New South Wales was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788. Sydney Cove offered a fresh water supply and a safe harbour, which Philip described as "the finest Harbour in the World ... Here a Thousand Sail of the Line may ride in the most perfect Security".{{cite web |date=9 October 2009 |title=SL/nsw.gov.au |url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/history_nation/terra_australis/letters/phillip/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203035645/http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/history_nation/terra_australis/letters/phillip/index.html |archive-date=3 February 2013 |access-date=14 July 2011 |publisher=SL/nsw.gov.au}}

The settlement was planned to be a self-sufficient penal colony based on subsistence agriculture. Trade and shipbuilding were banned in order to keep the convicts isolated. However, the soil around the settlement proved poor and the first crops failed, leading to several years of hunger and strict rationing. The food crisis was relieved with the arrival of the Second Fleet in mid-1790 and the Third Fleet in 1791.Macintyre (2020). pp.34–37 Former convicts received small grants of land, and government and private farms spread to the more fertile lands around Parramatta, Windsor and Camden on the Cumberland Plain. By 1804, the colony was self-sufficient in food.{{Cite book |last=Karskens |first=Grace |title=The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume I, Indigenous and colonial Australia |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9781107011533 |editor-last=Bashford |editor-first=Alison |location=Cambridge |pages=90–114 |chapter=The early colonial presence, 1788-1822 |editor-last2=MacIntyre |editor-first2=Stuart}}

A smallpox epidemic in April 1789 killed about half the region's Indigenous population.{{cite web |last=Mear |first=Craig |date=2008 |title=The origin of the smallpox outbreak in Sydney in 1789 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-180278188.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831054140/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-180278188.html |archive-date=31 August 2011 |access-date=5 July 2014 |publisher=Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society}} In November 1790 Bennelong led a group of survivors of the Sydney clans into the settlement, establishing a continuous presence of Aboriginal Australians in settled Sydney.Karskens, Grace (2013). "The early colonial presence, 1788–1822". In The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume 1. pp. 106, 117–19

Phillip had been given no instructions for urban development, but in July 1788 submitted a plan for the new town at Sydney Cove. It included a wide central avenue, a permanent Government House, law courts, hospital and other public buildings, but no provision for warehouses, shops, or other commercial buildings. Phillip promptly ignored his own plan, and unplanned development became a feature of Sydney's topography.{{Cite book |last=Karskens |first=Grace |title=The Colony, a history of early Sydney |publisher=Allen and Unwin |year=2009 |isbn=9781741756371 |location=Crows Nest, NSW |pages=71–75}}{{cite book |last1=McGillick |first1=Paul |title=Sydney architecture |last2=Bingham-Hall |first2=Patrick |year=2005 |page=14 to 15}}File:View of Sydney Cove - Thomas Watling.jpg's View of Sydney Cove, {{Circa|1794}}–1796]]After Phillip's departure in December 1792, the colony's military officers began acquiring land and importing consumer goods from visiting ships. Former convicts engaged in trade and opened small businesses. Soldiers and former convicts built houses on Crown land, with or without official permission, in what was now commonly called Sydney town. Governor William Bligh (1806{{En dash}}08) imposed restrictions on commerce and ordered the demolition of buildings erected on Crown land, including some owned by past and serving military officers. The resulting conflict culminated in the Rum Rebellion of 1808, in which Bligh was deposed by the New South Wales Corps.Karskens (2009). pp. 185–188{{cite Q |Q5273962 |chapter=Bligh, William (1754–1817) |mode=cs1}}

Governor Lachlan Macquarie (1810{{En dash}}1821) played a leading role in the development of Sydney and New South Wales, establishing a bank, a currency and a hospital. He employed a planner to design the street layout of Sydney and commissioned the construction of roads, wharves, churches, and public buildings. Parramatta Road, linking Sydney and Parramatta, was opened in 1811,{{Citation |author1=Broomham, Rosemary |title=Vital connections: a history of NSW roads from 1788 |date=2001 |page=25 |publisher=Hale & Iremonger in association with the Roads & Traffic Authority |isbn=978-0-86806-703-2}} and a road across the Blue Mountains was completed in 1815, opening the way for large-scale farming and grazing west of the Great Dividing Range.{{Cite book |last=Kingston |first=Beverley |title=A History of New South Wales |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2006 |isbn=9780521833844 |location=Cambridge |pages=118–19}}Karskens, Grace (2013). pp. 115–17

Following the departure of Macquarie, official policy encouraged the emigration of free British settlers to New South Wales. Immigration to the colony increased from 900 free settlers in 1826–30 to 29,000 in 1836–40, many of whom settled in Sydney.Haines, Robin, and Ralph Shlomowitz. "Nineteenth century government-assisted and total immigration from the United Kingdom to Australia: quinquennial estimates by colony." Journal of the Australian Population Association, vol. 8, no. 1, 1991, pp. 50–61. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41110599. Accessed 20 July 2021.{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Shirley |date=2011 |title=Sydney |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney#ref-uuid=77be765d-0fa6-addb-7d2d-99c79ef76ff3 |access-date=30 July 2022 |website=Dictionary of Sydney, State Library of New South Wales |archive-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924202005/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney#ref-uuid=77be765d-0fa6-addb-7d2d-99c79ef76ff3 |url-status=live }} By the 1840s Sydney exhibited a geographic divide between poor and working-class residents living west of the Tank Stream in areas such as The Rocks, and the more affluent residents living to its east. Free settlers, free-born residents and former convicts now represented the vast majority of the population of Sydney, leading to increasing public agitation for responsible government and an end to transportation. Transportation to New South Wales ceased in 1840.{{Cite web |date=September 2020 |title=History of City of Sydney council |url=https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/history/history-city-sydney-council |access-date=30 July 2020 |website=City of Sydney |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718070716/https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/history/history-city-sydney-council |url-status=live }}File:Castle Hill Rebellion (1804).jpg of 1804]]

In 1804, Irish convicts led around 300 rebels in the Castle Hill Rebellion, an attempt to march on Sydney, commandeer a ship, and sail to freedom.Karskens (2009). pp. 29–297 Poorly armed, and with their leader Philip Cunningham captured, the main body of insurgents were routed by about 100 troops and volunteers at Rouse Hill. At least 39 convicts were killed in the uprising and subsequent executions.{{Cite web |date=30 June 2021 |title=Castle Hill Rebellion |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/castle-hill-rebellion |access-date=31 August 2021 |website=nma.gov.au |language=en-US |archive-date=10 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810081550/https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/castle-hill-rebellion |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Whitaker, Anne-Maree |year=2009 |title=Castle Hill convict rebellion 1804 |url=http://www.dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/castle_hill_convict_rebellion_1804 |access-date=3 January 2017 |work=Dictionary of Sydney |archive-date=4 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304231534/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/castle_hill_convict_rebellion_1804 |url-status=live }}

As the colony spread to the more fertile lands around the Hawkesbury River, north-west of Sydney, conflict between the settlers and the Darug people intensified, reaching a peak from 1794 to 1810. Bands of Darug people, led by Pemulwuy and later by his son Tedbury, burned crops, killed livestock and raided settler stores in a pattern of resistance that was to be repeated as the colonial frontier expanded. A military garrison was established on the Hawkesbury in 1795. The death toll from 1794 to 1800 was 26 settlers and up to 200 Darug.Flood, Josephine (2019). p. 66Broome, Richard (2019). pp. 25–26

Conflict again erupted from 1814 to 1816 with the expansion of the colony into Dharawal country in the Nepean region south-west of Sydney. Following the deaths of several settlers, Governor Macquarie dispatched three military detachments into Dharawal lands, culminating in the Appin massacre (April 1816) in which at least 14 Aboriginal people were killed.Flood, Josephine (2019). p. 70{{Cite book |last1=Banivanua Mar |first1=Tracey |title=The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume I |last2=Edmonds |first2=Penelope |year=2013 |pages=344 |chapter=Indigenous and settler relations}}

The New South Wales Legislative Council became a semi-elected body in 1842. Sydney was declared a city the same year, and a governing council established, elected on a restrictive property franchise.File:Sydney 1888.jpgThe discovery of gold in New South Wales and Victoria in 1851 initially caused economic disruption as men moved to the goldfields. Melbourne soon overtook Sydney as Australia's largest city, leading to an enduring rivalry between the two. However, increased immigration from overseas and wealth from gold exports increased demand for housing, consumer goods, services and urban amenities.Goodman, David (2013). "The gold rushes of the 1850s". The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume I. pp. 180–81. The New South Wales government also stimulated growth by investing heavily in railways, trams, roads, ports, telegraph, schools and urban services.{{Cite book |last=Kingston |first=Beverley |title=A History of New South Wales |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2006 |isbn=9780521833844 |pages=74–80}} The population of Sydney and its suburbs grew from 95,600 in 1861 to 386,900 in 1891.{{Cite book |last=Coghlan |first=T. A |url=https://archive.org/details/wealth-and-progress-1893/page/310/mode/2up |title=The Wealth and progress of New South Wales |publisher=E. A. Petherick & Co., Sydney |year=1893 |edition=7th |location=Sydney |pages=311–15}} The city developed many of its characteristic features. The growing population packed into rows of terrace houses in narrow streets. New public buildings of sandstone abounded, including at the University of Sydney (1854–61),{{Cite web |last=Radford |first=Neil |date=2016 |title=The University of Sydney |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/university_of_sydney#ref-uuid=6e6dfb0b-dbd1-a0d2-591c-32e5959e0578 |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=Dictionary of Sydney, State Library of New South Wales |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817072226/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/university_of_sydney#ref-uuid=6e6dfb0b-dbd1-a0d2-591c-32e5959e0578 |url-status=live }} the Australian Museum (1858–66),{{Cite web |last=Ellmoos |first=Leila |date= |title=Australian Museum |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/australian_museum |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=The Dictionary of Sydney, State Library oif New South Wales |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817071732/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/australian_museum |url-status=live }} the Town Hall (1868–88),{{Cite web |title=Town Hall |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/building/sydney_town_hall |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=Dictionary of Sydney, State Library of New South Wales |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817071732/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/building/sydney_town_hall |url-status=live }} and the General Post Office (1866–92).{{Cite web |last=Ellmoos |first=Laila |date=2008 |title=General Post Office |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/general_post_office#ref-uuid=3941c435-8616-274a-c243-6eacf67fae05 |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=Dictionary of Sydney, State Library of New South Wales |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817072224/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/general_post_office#ref-uuid=3941c435-8616-274a-c243-6eacf67fae05 |url-status=live }} Elaborate coffee palaces and hotels were erected.{{cite journal |last1=Noyce |first1=Diana Christine |date=2012 |title=Coffee Palaces in Australia: A Pub with No Beer |journal=M/C Journal |volume=15 |issue=2 |doi=10.5204/mcj.464 |doi-access=free | issn=1441-2616}} Daylight bathing at Sydney's beaches was banned, but segregated bathing at designated ocean baths was popular.{{Cite web |last=McDermott, Marie-Louise |first=Marie-Louise |date=2011 |title=Ocean baths |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/ocean_baths#ref-uuid=a5211cd8-d260-5ed4-3c70-fa82884cc849 |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=Dictionary of Sydney, State Library of New South Wales |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817072225/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/ocean_baths#ref-uuid=a5211cd8-d260-5ed4-3c70-fa82884cc849 |url-status=live }}

Drought, the winding down of public works and a financial crisis led to economic depression in Sydney throughout most of the 1890s. Meanwhile, the Sydney-based premier of New South Wales, George Reid, became a key figure in the process of federation.KIngston (2006). pp. 88–89, 95–97

File:(Looking north along George Street (with tram, T-model Ford and hansom cab) from Union Line Building (incorporating the Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical culture), corner Jamieson Street), n.d. by (5955844045).jpg on George Street in 1920. Sydney once had one of the largest tram networks in the British Empire.]]

When the six colonies federated on 1 January 1901, Sydney became the capital of the State of New South Wales. The spread of bubonic plague in 1900 prompted the state government to modernise the wharves and demolish inner-city slums. The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 saw more Sydney males volunteer for the armed forces than the Commonwealth authorities could process, and helped reduce unemployment. Those returning from the war in 1918 were promised "homes fit for heroes" in new suburbs such as Daceyville and Matraville. "Garden suburbs" and mixed industrial and residential developments also grew along the rail and tram corridors. The population reached one million in 1926, after Sydney had regained its position as the most populous city in Australia.{{Cite web |last= |date=2019 |title=Australian Historical Population Statistics, 3105.0.65.001, Population distribution |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/historical-population/latest-release |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |archive-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801140830/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/historical-population/latest-release |url-status=live }} The government created jobs with massive public projects such as the electrification of the Sydney rail network and building the Sydney Harbour Bridge.Kingston (2006). p. 132

File:Sydney 1932.jpgFile:Sydney's Circular Quay at night in 1938.jpgSydney was more severely affected by the Great Depression of the 1930s than regional New South Wales or Melbourne.{{Cite book |last=Spearritt |first=Peter |title=Sydney's century, a history |publisher=UNSW Press |year=2000 |isbn=0868405213 |location=Sydney |pages=57–58}} New building almost came to a standstill, and by 1933 the unemployment rate for male workers was 28 per cent, but over 40 per cent in working class areas such as Alexandria and Redfern. Many families were evicted from their homes and shanty towns grew along coastal Sydney and Botany Bay, the largest being "Happy Valley" at La Perouse.Spearritt (2000). pp. 58–59 The Depression also exacerbated political divisions. In March 1932, when populist Labor premier Jack Lang attempted to open the Sydney Harbour Bridge he was upstaged by Francis de Groot of the far-right New Guard, who slashed the ribbon with a sabre.Spearritt (2000). p. 62

In January 1938, Sydney celebrated the Empire Games and the sesquicentenary of European settlement in Australia. One journalist wrote, "Golden beaches. Sun tanned men and maidens...Red-roofed villas terraced above the blue waters of the harbour...Even Melbourne seems like some grey and stately city of Northern Europe compared with Sydney's sub-tropical splendours." A congress of the "Aborigines of Australia" declared 26 January "A Day of Mourning" for "the whiteman's seizure of our country."Spearritt (2000). p. 72

With the outbreak of Second World War in 1939, Sydney experienced a surge in industrial development. Unemployment virtually disappeared and women moved into jobs previously typically reserved for males. Sydney was attacked by Japanese submarines in May and June 1942 with 21 killed. Households built air raid shelters and performed drills.Kingston (2006). pp. 157–59 Military establishments in response to World War II in Australia included the Garden Island Tunnel System, the only tunnel warfare complex in Sydney, and the heritage-listed military fortification systems Bradleys Head Fortification Complex and Middle Head Fortifications, which were part of a total defence system for Sydney Harbour.{{cite web |url=http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/nsw/Mosman/BradleysHeadFortificationComplex/3069 |title=Bradleys Head Fortification Complex, Mosman, NSW Profile |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518073741/http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/nsw/Mosman/BradleysHeadFortificationComplex/3069 |archive-date=18 May 2007 }}

A post-war immigration and baby boom saw a rapid increase in Sydney's population and the spread of low-density housing in suburbs throughout the Cumberland Plain. Immigrants{{Em dash}}mostly from Britain and continental Europe{{Em dash}}and their children accounted for over three-quarters of Sydney's population growth between 1947 and 1971.Spearritt (2000). p. 91 The newly created Cumberland County Council oversaw low-density residential developments, the largest at Green Valley and Mount Druitt. Older residential centres such as Parramatta, Bankstown and Liverpool became suburbs of the metropolis.Spearritt (2000). pp. 93–94, 115–16 Manufacturing, protected by high tariffs, employed over a third of the workforce from 1945 to the 1960s. However, as the long post-war economic boom progressed, retail and other service industries became the main source of new jobs.Spearritt (2000). pp. 109–11

An estimated one million onlookers, most of the city's population, watched Queen Elizabeth II land in 1954 at Farm Cove where Captain Phillip had raised the Union Jack 165 years earlier, commencing her Australian Royal Tour. It was the first time a reigning monarch stepped onto Australian soil.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=10 January 2018 |title=The 1954 Royal Tour of Queen Elizabeth II |url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/1954-royal-tour-queen-elizabeth-ii |access-date=18 August 2022 |website=State Library of New South Wales |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908092035/https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/1954-royal-tour-queen-elizabeth-ii |url-status=live }}

Increasing high-rise development in Sydney and the expansion of suburbs beyond the "green belt" envisaged by the planners of the 1950s resulted in community protests. In the early 1970s, trade unions and resident action groups imposed green bans on development projects in historic areas such as The Rocks. Federal, State and local governments introduced heritage and environmental legislation. The Sydney Opera House was also controversial for its cost and disputes between architect Jørn Utzon and government officials. However, soon after it opened in 1973 it became a major tourist attraction and symbol of the city.Kingston (2006). pp. 184–86 The progressive reduction in tariff protection from 1974 began the transformation of Sydney from a manufacturing centre to a "world city".Spearritt (2000). pp. 109–12, 259–62 From the 1980s, overseas immigration grew rapidly, with Asia, the Middle East and Africa becoming major sources. By 2021, the population of Sydney was over 5.2 million, with 40% of the population born overseas. China and India overtook England as the largest source countries for overseas-born residents.{{Cite web |last= |date=2021 |title=2021 Census of Population and Housing, General community profile, Greater Sydney, Table GO9(c) |url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/1GSYD |access-date=4 August 2020 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |archive-date=28 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628053554/https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/1GSYD |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Geography of Sydney}}

File:Sydney, Australia by Sentinel-2.jpg where the ocean level has risen to flood deep rias.]]

Sydney is a coastal basin with the Tasman Sea to the east, the Blue Mountains to the west, the Hawkesbury River to the north, and the Woronora Plateau to the south.

Sydney spans two geographic regions. The Cumberland Plain lies to the south and west of the Harbour and is relatively flat. The Hornsby Plateau is located to the north and is dissected by steep valleys. The flat areas of the south were the first to be developed; it was not until the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge that the northern reaches became more heavily populated. Seventy surf beaches can be found along its coastline, with Bondi Beach being the most famous.

The Nepean River wraps around the western edge of the city and becomes the Hawkesbury River before reaching Broken Bay. Most of Sydney's water storages can be found on tributaries of the Nepean River. The Parramatta River is mostly industrial and drains a large area of Sydney's western suburbs into Port Jackson. The southern parts of the city are drained by the Georges River and the Cooks River into Botany Bay.

There is no single definition of the boundaries of Sydney. The Australian Statistical Geography Standard definition of Greater Sydney covers {{cvt|12369|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}} and includes the local government areas of Central Coast in the north, Hawkesbury in the north-west, Blue Mountains in the west, Sutherland Shire in the south, and Wollondilly in the south-west.{{Cite web |date=5 October 2022 |title=Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) Edition 3 |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/australian-statistical-geography-standard-asgs-edition-3/jul2021-jun2026 |access-date=29 January 2022 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |archive-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127054537/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/australian-statistical-geography-standard-asgs-edition-3/jul2021-jun2026 |url-status=live }} The local government area of the City of Sydney covers about 26 square kilometres from Garden island in the east to Bicentennial Park in the west, and south to the suburbs of Alexandria and Rosebery.{{Cite web |date=4 August 2020 |title=Areas of Service |url=https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/areas-of-service |access-date=29 December 2022 |website=City of Sydney |archive-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229102646/https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/areas-of-service |url-status=live }}

File:South Head, Sydney Harbour.jpg.]]

Sydney is made up of mostly Triassic rock with some recent igneous dykes and volcanic necks (typically found in the Prospect dolerite intrusion, west of Sydney).[https://australian.museum/learn/minerals/shaping-earth/igneous-intrusions/ Igneous intrusions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101091122/https://australian.museum/learn/minerals/shaping-earth/igneous-intrusions/ |date=1 November 2021 }} by the Australian Museum. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2021. The Sydney Basin was formed in the early Triassic period. The sand that was to become the sandstone of today was laid down between 360 and 200 million years ago. The sandstone has shale lenses and fossil riverbeds. The continental shelf of Australia is only {{cvt|25.9|km|mi|1|abbr=off}} away from the coast of Sydney, and that is where the Tasman Abyssal Plain lies.{{cite web |publisher=Exclusive Getaway|title= Game Fishing - Seasonal Guide|url=https://www.sydneyharbourexclusive.com/sydney-game-fishing-scene/ |access-date=29 December 2024}}{{cite web |publisher=Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water|title= Seabed habitat mapping of the continental shelf of NSW|url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/-/media/OEH/Corporate-Site/Documents/Water/Coasts/Research/seabed-habitat-mapping-continental-shelf-nsw-101057.pdf |author1=Alan Jordan|author2=Peter Davies|author3=Tim Ingleton|author4=Edwina Foulsham|author5=Joe Neilson|author6=Tim Pritchard|access-date=29 December 2024}}

The Sydney Basin bioregion includes coastal features of cliffs, beaches, and estuaries. Deep river valleys known as rias were carved during the Triassic period in the Hawkesbury sandstone of the coastal region. The rising sea level between 18,000 and 6,000 years ago flooded the rias to form estuaries and deep harbours.{{cite web |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/bioregions/SydneyBasin-Landform.htm |title=Sydney Basin |access-date=12 July 2014 |archive-date=8 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708125627/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/bioregions/SydneyBasin-Landform.htm |url-status=live }} Port Jackson, better known as Sydney Harbour, is one such ria.{{cite web |last=Latta |first=David |date=2006 |url=http://qa.mpiweb.org/Archive?id=3918 |title=Showcase destinations Sydney, Australia: the harbour city |access-date=12 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409105144/http://qa.mpiweb.org/Archive?id=3918 |archive-date=9 April 2014}} Sydney features two major soil types: sandy soils (which originate from the Hawkesbury sandstone) and clay (which are from shales and volcanic rocks), though some soils may be a mixture of the two.{{cite web |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage |date=7 November 2019 |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/sydney-nature/gardens/soils |title=Soils for nature |access-date=26 September 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020204913/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/sydney-nature/gardens/soils |url-status=live }}

Directly overlying the older Hawkesbury sandstone is the Wianamatta shale, a geological feature found in western Sydney that was deposited in connection with a large river delta during the Middle Triassic. The Wianamatta shale generally comprises fine grained sedimentary rocks such as shales, mudstones, ironstones, siltstones and laminites, with less common sandstone units.{{cite book |first1=Chris |last1=Herbert |first2=Robin |last2=Helby |title=A Guide to the Sydney basin |edition=1 |publisher=Geological Survey of New South Wales |location=Maitland |year=1980 |isbn=0-7240-1250-8 |page=582}} The Wianamatta Group is made up of Bringelly Shale, Minchinbury Sandstone and Ashfield Shale.{{cite journal |last1=William |first1=E |last2=Airey |first2=DW |title=A Review of the Engineering Properties of the Wianamatta Group Shales |journal=Proceedings 8th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics: Consolidating Knowledge |location=Barton, ACT |publisher=Australian Geomechanics Society |date=1999 |pages=641–647 |url=https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=736896154066797;res=IELENG |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814224742/http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=736896154066797;res=IELENG |archive-date=14 August 2008 |isbn=1864450029}}

{{further|Ecology of Sydney}}

File:Western Sydney parklands 18.jpg woodland in the Sydney metropolitan area]]

The most prevalent plant communities in the Sydney region are grassy woodlands (i.e. savannas){{cite web |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegClass.aspx?vegclassname=Coastal+Valley+Grassy+Woodlands&habitat=C |title=Coastal Valley Grassy Woodlands |publisher=NSW Environment & Heritage |access-date=15 December 2019 |archive-date=29 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929182846/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegClass.aspx?vegclassname=Coastal+Valley+Grassy+Woodlands&habitat=C |url-status=live }} and some pockets of dry sclerophyll forests,{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegFormation.aspx?formationName=Dry+sclerophyll+forests+(shrub%2Fgrass+sub-formation) |title=Dry sclerophyll forests (shrub/grass sub-formation) |publisher=NSW Environment & Heritage |access-date=15 October 2016 |archive-date=18 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018235038/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegFormation.aspx?formationName=Dry+sclerophyll+forests+(shrub%2Fgrass+sub-formation) |url-status=live }} which consist of eucalyptus trees, casuarinas, melaleucas, corymbias and angophoras, with shrubs (typically wattles, callistemons, grevilleas and banksias), and a semi-continuous grass in the understory.{{cite web |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegFormation.aspx?formationName=Dry+sclerophyll+forests+(shrubby+sub-formation) |title=Dry sclerophyll forests (shrubby sub-formation) |publisher=NSW Environment & Heritage |access-date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719022223/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/VegFormation.aspx?formationName=Dry+sclerophyll+forests+(shrubby+sub-formation) |url-status=live }} The plants in this community tend to have rough, spiky leaves due to low soil fertility. Sydney also features a few areas of wet sclerophyll forests in the wetter, elevated areas in the north and northeast. These forests are defined by straight, tall tree canopies with a moist understory of soft-leaved shrubs, tree ferns and herbs.{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegFormation.aspx?formationName=Wet+sclerophyll+forests+(grassy+sub-formation) |title=Wet sclerophyll forests (grassy sub-formation) |publisher=NSW Environment & Heritage |access-date=16 March 2017 |archive-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304072229/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedSpeciesApp/VegFormation.aspx?formationName=Wet+sclerophyll+forests+(grassy+sub-formation) |url-status=live }}

The predominant vegetation community in Sydney is the Cumberland Plain Woodland in Western Sydney (Cumberland Plain),{{cite book |author=Earth Resource Analysis PL |year=1998 |title=Cumberland Plains Woodland: Trial Aerial Photographic interpretation of remnant woodlands, Sydney |type=Unpublished report for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife, Hurstville}} followed by the Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest in the Inner West and Northern Sydney,[https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/RecoveringCumberlandPlain.pdf Recovering bushland on the Cumberland Plain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912090255/https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/RecoveringCumberlandPlain.pdf |date=12 September 2022 }} Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW). (2005). Recovering Bushland on the Cumberland Plain: Best practice guidelines for the management and restoration of bushland. Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW), Sydney. Retrieved 12 September 2022. the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub in the coastline and the Blue Gum High Forest scantily present in the North Shore – all of which are critically endangered.{{cite web|title=Sydney Blue Gum High Forest|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/pubs/sydney-blue-gum.pdf|work=Nationally Threatened Species and Ecological Communities|publisher=Environment.gov.au|access-date=16 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618175310/http://environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/pubs/sydney-blue-gum.pdf|archive-date=18 June 2012}}{{cite web|title=Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub of the Sydney Region|work=Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment|url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/env/consultations/890806ae-857e-4034-914c-97791e6f2f36/files/consultation-guide-eastern-suburbs-banksia-scrub.pdf|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914052316/https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/env/consultations/890806ae-857e-4034-914c-97791e6f2f36/files/consultation-guide-eastern-suburbs-banksia-scrub.pdf|url-status=dead}} The city also includes the Sydney Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland found in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park on the Hornsby Plateau to the north.{{cite web|title=Urban Bushland in the Ryde LGA – Sydney Sandstone Ridgetop Woodland|work=Ryde Council|url=https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/environment/urban-bushland-in-the-ryde-lga.pdf|access-date=15 November 2018|archive-date=22 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322021413/http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/environment/urban-bushland-in-the-ryde-lga.pdf|url-status=live}}

Sydney is home to dozens of bird species,Hindwood, K. A. and McCill, A. R., 1958. The Birds of Sydney (Cumberland Plain) New South Wales. Royal Zoological Society New South Wales. which commonly include the Australian raven, Australian magpie, crested pigeon, noisy miner and the pied currawong. Introduced bird species ubiquitously found in Sydney are the common myna, common starling, house sparrow and the spotted dove.{{cite book |title=Finding Australian Birds |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6518.htm |author1=Dolby, Tim |author2=Clarke, Rohan |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=9780643097667 |access-date=10 July 2017 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112195115/http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6518.htm |url-status=live }} Reptile species are also numerous and predominantly include skinks.Cogger, H.G. (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed New Holland.Green, D., 1973. -Re reptiles of the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney. Herpetofauna 6 (2): 2–5. Sydney has a few mammal and spider species, such as the grey-headed flying fox and the Sydney funnel-web, respectively,{{cite news |url=http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/sydneys-flying-foxes-now-bundys-problem/2616870.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230091602/http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/sydneys-flying-foxes-now-bundys-problem/2616870.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 December 2012 |title=Sydney's flying foxes now Bundy's problem |publisher=North Queensland Register |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=22 February 2014}}{{Cite book |title=A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia |last1=Whyte |first1=Robert |last2=Anderson |first2=Greg |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |year=2017 |location=Clayton VIC}} and has a huge diversity of marine species inhabiting its harbour and beaches.{{Cite book |title=Underwater Sydney |last1=Falkner |first1=Inke |last2=Turnbull |first2=John |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |year=2019 |isbn=9781486311194 |location=Clayton South, Victoria}}

{{Main|Climate of Sydney|Severe weather events in Sydney}}

File:Sydney storm clouds.jpg

Under the Köppen–Geiger classification, Sydney has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa){{cite web |title=Modelling and simulation of seasonal rainfall |publisher=Centre for Computer Assisted Research Mathematics and its Applications (CARMA) |quote=Brisbane and Sydney each have a humid sub-tropical or temperate climate with no pronounced dry season...the classification is Cfa |date=20 May 2014 |url=https://www.carma.newcastle.edu.au/jon/matcom.pdf |access-date=25 February 2016 |archive-date=13 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190313193032/https://www.carma.newcastle.edu.au/jon/matcom.pdf |url-status=dead }} with "warm, sometimes hot" summers and "generally mild",{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/travel/holiday-weather/australasia/australia/sydney |title=Sydney holiday weather |publisher=Met Office |access-date=29 August 2023 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829114341/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/travel/holiday-weather/australasia/australia/sydney |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/water/nwa/2017/sydney/climateandwater/climateandwater.shtml |title=Sydney: Climate and water |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |date = April 2017|access-date=20 April 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/weather-in-australia/sydney-weather.html |title=WEATHER IN SYDNEY |website=Australia.com |date=23 May 2023 |publisher=Tourism Australia |access-date=29 August 2023 |archive-date=29 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829114342/https://www.australia.com/en/facts-and-planning/weather-in-australia/sydney-weather.html |url-status=live }} to "cool" winters.{{cite web |title=Climate and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games |work=Australian Government |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=24 September 2007 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article32000?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=1301.0&issue=2000&num=&view= |access-date=21 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610031914/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article32000?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=1301.0&issue=2000&num=&view= |archive-date=10 June 2008}} The El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the Indian Ocean Dipole and the Southern Annular Mode{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/southern-annular-mode-and-how-it-affects-our-weather/10106134 |title=Southern Annular Mode: The climate 'influencer' you may not have heard of |website=ABC News |date=14 August 2018 |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819004847/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/southern-annular-mode-and-how-it-affects-our-weather/10106134 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs71.pdf |title=Special Climate Statement 71—severe fire weather conditions in southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales in September 2019 |date=24 September 2019 |website=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=5 January 2020 |archive-date=9 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109060418/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs71.pdf |url-status=live }} play an important role in determining Sydney's weather patterns: drought and bushfire on the one hand, and storms and flooding on the other, associated with the opposite phases of the oscillation in Australia. The weather is moderated by proximity to the ocean, and more extreme temperatures are recorded in the inland western suburbs because Sydney CBD is more affected by the oceanic climate drivers than the western suburbs.{{Cite journal |title=Impact of Accelerated Climate Change on Maximum Temperature Differences between Western and Coastal Sydney |journal= Climate|date=26 March 2023 |doi=10.3390/cli11040076 |doi-access=free |last1=Bubathi |first1=Varsha |last2=Leslie |first2=Lance |last3=Speer |first3=Milton |last4=Hartigan |first4=Joshua |last5=Wang |first5=Joanna |last6=Gupta |first6=Anjali |volume=11 |issue=4 |page=76 |bibcode=2023Clim...11...76B }}

At Sydney's primary weather station at Observatory Hill, extreme temperatures have ranged from {{cvt|45.8|C|1}} on 18 January 2013 to {{cvt|2.1|C|1}} on 22 June 1932.{{BoM Aust stats|site_ref=cw_066062_All|site_name=Sydney (Observatory Hill) |access-date=15 November 2013}}Bureau of Meteorology. 2006. [http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/media_releases/nsw/20060201.shtml Climate summary for Sydney, January 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902015815/http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/media_releases/nsw/20060201.shtml |date=2 September 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Creagh |first=Sunanda |title=Sydney smashes temperature records but heatwave nearly over |url=http://theconversation.edu.au/sydney-smashes-temperature-records-but-heatwave-nearly-over-11689 |work=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation Media Group |access-date=21 January 2013 |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221025130/https://theconversation.com/sydney-smashes-temperature-records-but-heatwave-nearly-over-11689 |url-status=live }} An average of 14.9 days a year have temperatures at or above {{cvt|30|C|0}} in the central business district (CBD).{{cite web |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066062_All.shtml |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=15 November 2013 |archive-date=24 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524103834/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066062_All.shtml |url-status=live }} In contrast, the metropolitan area averages between 35 and 65 days, depending on the suburb.Torok, S. and Nicholls, N. 1996. A historical annual temperature dataset for Australia. Aust. Met. Mag., 45, 251–60. The hottest day in the metropolitan area occurred in Penrith on 4 January 2020, where a high of {{cvt|48.9|C|F}} was recorded.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/penrith-press/penrith-hits-record-temperature-of-485c-as-heatwave-strikes-nsw/news-story/dcf054647fa47a6fb4e8195515d835fc |title=Penrith hits record temperature of 48.9C as heatwave strikes NSW |website=Daily Telegraph |access-date=6 January 2020 |archive-date=5 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105001415/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/penrith-press/penrith-hits-record-temperature-of-485c-as-heatwave-strikes-nsw/news-story/dcf054647fa47a6fb4e8195515d835fc |url-status=live }} The average annual temperature of the sea ranges from {{cvt|18.5|C|F}} in September to {{cvt|23.7|C|F}} in February.[https://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/sydney.htm Sydney Sea Temperature] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705123115/https://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/sydney.htm |date=5 July 2017 }} – seatemperature.org Sydney has an average of 7.2 hours of sunshine per day{{cite web |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations Sydney Airport AMO |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066037_All.shtml |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=19 October 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923225517/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066037_All.shtml |url-status=live }} and 109.5 clear days annually.{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=066062&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |title=Sydney (Observatory Hill) Period 1991–2020 |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=14 April 2020 |archive-date=9 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200209095647/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=066062&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |url-status=dead }} Due to the inland location, frost is recorded early in the morning in Western Sydney a few times in winter. Autumn and spring are the transitional seasons, with spring showing a larger temperature variation than autumn.MacDonnell, Freda. Thomas Nelson (Australia) Limited, 1967. Before King's Cross

Sydney experiences an urban heat island effect.{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/sydney-area-an-urban-heat-island-vulnerable-to-extreme-temperatures-20160113-gm4v14.html |title=Sydney area an 'urban heat island' vulnerable to extreme temperatures |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 January 2016 |access-date=14 January 2016 |archive-date=14 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114173411/http://www.smh.com.au/environment/sydney-area-an-urban-heat-island-vulnerable-to-extreme-temperatures-20160113-gm4v14.html |url-status=live }} This makes certain parts of the city more vulnerable to extreme heat, including coastal suburbs.{{Cite journal |title=Urban Heat Island and Overheating Characteristics in Sydney, Australia. An Analysis of Multiyear Measurements |journal=Sustainability |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=712 |year=2017 |first1=Mat |last1=Santamouris |first2=Shamila |last2=Haddad |first3=Francesco |last3=Fiorito |first4=Paul |last4=Osmond |first5=Lan |last5=Ding |first6=Deo |last6=Prasad |first7=Xiaoqiang |last7=Zhai |first8=Ruzhu |last8=Wang |doi=10.3390/su9050712 |doi-access=free}} In late spring and summer, temperatures over {{cvt|35|C|0}} are not uncommon,{{cite web |title=Special Climate Statement 43 – extreme heat in January 2013 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs43e.pdf |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=2 February 2013 |date=1 February 2013 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232139/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs43e.pdf |url-status=live }} though hot, dry conditions are usually ended by a southerly buster,Batt, K, 1995: Sea breezes on the NSW coast, Offshore Yachting, Oct/Nov 1995, Jamieson Publishing. a powerful southerly that brings gale winds and a rapid fall in temperature.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18401582 |title="Southerly Buster" Relieves City. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=17 December 1953 |access-date=27 March 2015 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221023753/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18401582 |url-status=live }} Since Sydney is downwind of the Great Dividing Range, it occasionally experiences dry, westerly foehn winds typically in winter and early spring (which are the reason for its warm maximum temperatures).Sharples, J.J. Mills, G.A., McRae, R.H.D., Weber, R.O. (2010) Elevated fire danger conditions associated with foehn-like winds in southeastern Australia. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.Sharples, J.J., McRae, R.H.D., Weber, R.O., Mills, G.A. (2009) Foehn-like winds and fire danger anomalies in southeastern Australia. Proceedings of the 18th IMACS World Congress and MODSIM09. 13–17 July, Cairns.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/sydney-temperatures-to-plummet-in-cold-snap/11097536 |title=BOM predicts NSW and ACT temperatures to plummet as cold snap sweeps through |work=ABC News |author=Bellinda Kontominas |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=5 October 2021 |archive-date=5 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005111322/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-09/sydney-temperatures-to-plummet-in-cold-snap/11097536 |url-status=live }} Westerly winds are intense when the Roaring Forties (or the Southern Annular Mode) shift towards southeastern Australia,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/roaring-forties-shift-south-means-more-droughts-for-southern-australia |title=Roaring Forties' shift south means more droughts for southern Australia |work=The Guardian |author=Helen Davidson |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=2 November 2022 |archive-date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031230652/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/roaring-forties-shift-south-means-more-droughts-for-southern-australia |url-status=live }} where they may damage homes and affect flights, in addition to making the temperature seem colder than it actually is.{{cite news|url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/6319272/update-dozens-of-flights-grounded-as-wild-winds-lash-sydney-and-melbourne/|title=Cold, damaging winds blast Sydney|work=The Leader|date=9 August 2019|access-date=2 November 2022|archive-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809215130/https://www.theleader.com.au/story/6319272/update-dozens-of-flights-grounded-as-wild-winds-lash-sydney-and-melbourne/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-09/bom-weather-warnings-nsw-roof-ripped-off-nursing-home-stockton/11399816|title=BOM warns NSW to brace for worse weather as strong winds tear roof off Newcastle nursing home|work=ABC News|date=9 August 2019|access-date=2 November 2022|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107231007/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-09/bom-weather-warnings-nsw-roof-ripped-off-nursing-home-stockton/11399816|url-status=live}}

Rainfall has a moderate to low variability and has historically been fairly uniform throughout the year, although in recent years it has been more summer-dominant and erratic.[https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/11-context-statement-sydney-basin-bioregion/1123-climate Context statement for the Sydney Basin bioregion – Climate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410151105/https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/11-context-statement-sydney-basin-bioregion/1123-climate |date=10 April 2021 }} by Bioregional Assessments from the Australian Government. Retrieved 11 April 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-25/australian-rainfall-zones/7200050?nw=0 |title=Australia's new seasonal rainfall zones |website=ABC News |date=25 February 2016 |access-date=11 April 2021 |archive-date=21 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021090953/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-25/australian-rainfall-zones/7200050?nw=0 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Sydney future: high temps, erratic rain |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-future-high-temps-erratic-rain-20081028-5a7x.html |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118051756/https://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-future-high-temps-erratic-rain-20081028-5a7x.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Commuters in Sydney and eastern NSW brace for erratic weather |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/commuters-in-sydney-and-eastern-nsw-brace-for-erratic-weather/news-story/5b8e9db5c801b8a93ce86c8ad37fc5f8 |publisher=News.com.au |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124034706/https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/commuters-in-sydney-and-eastern-nsw-brace-for-erratic-weather/news-story/5b8e9db5c801b8a93ce86c8ad37fc5f8 |url-status=live }} Precipitation is usually higher in summer through to autumn, and lower in late winter to early spring.{{Cite journal|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/joc.1196|title=The latitude of the subtropical ridge over Eastern Australia: TheL index revisited|first=Wasyl|last=Drosdowsky|date=2 August 2005|journal=International Journal of Climatology|volume=25|issue=10|pages=1291–1299|access-date=2 July 2022|doi=10.1002/joc.1196|bibcode=2005IJCli..25.1291D|s2cid=140198125|archive-date=21 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221023739/https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/joc.1196|url-status=live}}Australian Bureau of Meteorology. 2005. Ellyard, D. 1994. Droughts and Flooding Rains. Angus & Robertson {{ISBN|0-207-18557-3}} In late autumn and winter, east coast lows may bring large amounts of rainfall, especially in the CBD.{{cite web |title=About East Coast Lows |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/sevwx/facts/ecl.shtml |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=6 April 2013 |archive-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402033212/http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/sevwx/facts/ecl.shtml |url-status=live }} In the warm season black nor'easters are usually the cause of heavy rain events, though other forms of low-pressure areas, including remnants of ex-cyclones, may also bring heavy deluge and afternoon thunderstorms.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15284763 |title=Black Nor-Easter. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 October 1911 |access-date=27 March 2015 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia |archive-date=12 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912221536/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15284763 |url-status=live }}Power, S., Tseitkin, F., Torok, S., Lavery, B., Dahni, R. and McAvaney, B. 1998. Australian temperature, Australian rainfall and the Southern Oscillation, 1910–1992: coherent variability and recent changes. Aust. Met. Mag., 47, 85–101 'Snow' was last alleged in 1836, more than likely a fall of graupel, or soft hail; and in July 2008 the Upper North Shore saw a fall of graupel that was mistaken by many for 'snow'.{{cite web |title=Sydney winter not snow, just hail |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/it-looked-like-snow-it-felt-like-snow/2008/07/27/1217097051268.html |quote=Mr Zmijewski doubted the 1836 snow report, saying weather observers of the era lacked the expertise of today. "We are almost in the sub-tropics in Sydney", he said. |work=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=15 November 2013 |date=27 July 2008 |archive-date=23 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723051600/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/it-looked-like-snow-it-felt-like-snow/2008/07/27/1217097051268.html |url-status=live }} In 2009, dry conditions brought a severe dust storm towards the city.{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2009.sydney.shtml |title=Sydney in 2009 |publisher=Bom.gov.au |date=4 January 2010 |access-date=10 February 2012 |archive-date=20 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320201433/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2009.sydney.shtml |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2010.sydney.shtml |title=Sydney in 2010 |publisher=Bom.gov.au |date=4 January 2011 |access-date=10 February 2012 |archive-date=12 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112162124/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/nsw/archive/2010.sydney.shtml |url-status=live }}

{{Sydney weatherbox|width=auto}}

{{main|Regions of Sydney}}

File:Satellite photo of the Greater Sydney Area at night.jpg is bottom left, and the Central Coast is at the far right.]]

The Greater Sydney Commission divides Sydney into three "cities" and five "districts" based on the 33 LGAs in the metropolitan area. The "metropolis of three cities" comprises Eastern Harbour City, Central River City and Western Parkland City.{{Cite web|title=Greater Cities Commission Act 2022 No 8|url=https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2022-008#sch.1|access-date=29 June 2023|date=4 November 2022|website=legislation.nsw.gov.au|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629222512/https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2022-008#sch.1|url-status=live}} The Australian Bureau of Statistics also includes City of Central Coast (the former Gosford City and Wyong Shire) as part of Greater Sydney for population counts,{{Cite web |url=https://itt.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?RegionSummary®ion=1GSYD&dataset=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS2016&geoconcept=ASGS_2016&measure=MEASURE&datasetASGS=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS2016&datasetLGA=ABS_REGIONAL_LGA2018®ionLGA=LGA_2018®ionASGS=ASGS_2016 |title=Greater Sydney GCCSA |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics Data by Region |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406204609/https://itt.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?RegionSummary®ion=1GSYD&dataset=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS2016&geoconcept=ASGS_2016&measure=MEASURE&datasetASGS=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS2016&datasetLGA=ABS_REGIONAL_LGA2018®ionLGA=LGA_2018®ionASGS=ASGS_2016 |url-status=dead}} adding 330,000 people.{{cite web |title=2016 Census QuickStats |url=https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA11650?opendocument |access-date=24 April 2020 |work=Australian Bureau of Statistics |archive-date=17 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117115246/https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA11650?opendocument |url-status=dead }}

File:Lord Nelson Hotel and Former Oswald Bond and Free Store on the corner of Kent Street and Argyle Place, Millers Point.jpg, an inner suburb north of the CBD]]

The CBD extends about {{cvt|3|km|mi|1|abbr=off}} south from Sydney Cove. It is bordered by Farm Cove within the Royal Botanic Garden to the east and Darling Harbour to the west. Suburbs surrounding the CBD include Woolloomooloo and Potts Point to the east, Surry Hills and Darlinghurst to the south, Pyrmont and Ultimo to the west, and Millers Point and The Rocks to the north. Most of these suburbs measure less than {{cvt|1|km2|sqmi|1|abbr=off}} in area. The Sydney CBD is characterised by narrow streets and thoroughfares, created in its convict beginnings.{{cite news |title=Sydney unprepared for terror attack |work=The Australian |date=4 September 2007 |access-date=3 June 2017 |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/sydney-unprepared-for-terror-attack/news-story/d46c70edc3f019be98f37168a2ca3a98}}

Several localities, distinct from suburbs, exist throughout Sydney's inner reaches. Central and Circular Quay are transport hubs with ferry, rail, and bus interchanges. Chinatown, Darling Harbour, and Kings Cross are important locations for culture, tourism, and recreation. The Strand Arcade, located between Pitt Street Mall and George Street, is a historical Victorian-style shopping arcade. Opened on 1 April 1892, its shop fronts are an exact replica of the original internal shopping facades.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13849322 |title=The Strand |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |issue=16,858 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=2 April 1892 |access-date=27 October 2016 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} Westfield Sydney, located beneath the Sydney Tower, is the largest shopping centre by area in Sydney.{{cite web |title=The largest shopping centres in Australia |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-shopping-centres-in-australia.html |work=worldatlas.com |date=6 November 2019 |access-date=24 April 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807165059/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-shopping-centres-in-australia.html |url-status=live }}

Since the late 20th century, there has been a trend of gentrification amongst Sydney's inner suburbs. Pyrmont, located on the harbour, was redeveloped from a centre of shipping and international trade to an area of high density housing, tourist accommodation, and gambling.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority|date=2004 |url=http://www.shfa.nsw.gov.au/content/library/documents/FB43C542-0F79-96FE-68538841A8F3E24A.pdf |title=Ultimo and Pyrmont: a decade of renewal |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=13 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613103444/http://www.shfa.nsw.gov.au/content/library/documents/FB43C542-0F79-96FE-68538841A8F3E24A.pdf |url-status=dead }} Originally located well outside of the city, Darlinghurst is the location of the historic Darlinghurst Gaol, manufacturing, and mixed housing. For a period it was known as an area of prostitution. The terrace-style housing has largely been retained and Darlinghurst has undergone significant gentrification since the 1980s.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/business-friendly-boost-for-oxford-st-laneway/ |title=Business-friendly boost for Oxford St lane way |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=18 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018042811/http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/business-friendly-boost-for-oxford-st-laneway/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Dick |first=Tim |date=2014 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/17/1095394002499.html |title=At the crossroads |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142438/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/17/1095394002499.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Dunn |first=Mark |date=1970 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/darlinghurst |title=Darlinghurst |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019044537/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/darlinghurst |url-status=live }}

Green Square is a former industrial area of Waterloo which is undergoing urban renewal worth $8 billion. On the city harbour edge, the historic suburb and wharves of Millers Point are being built up as the new area of Barangaroo.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/major-developments/green-square |title=Green Square |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703133224/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/major-developments/green-square |url-status=live }}{{cite web |publisher=Barangaroo Delivery Authority |date=2013 |url=http://www.barangaroo.com/discover-barangaroo/overview.aspx |title=Discover Barangaroo |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=13 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813184345/http://barangaroo.com/discover-barangaroo/overview.aspx |url-status=dead }} The suburb of Paddington is known for its restored terrace houses, Victoria Barracks, and shopping including the weekly Oxford Street markets.{{cite web |last=Wotherspoon |first=Garry |date=2012 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/paddington |title=Paddington |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019044652/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/paddington |url-status=live }}

File:Newtown NSW, Cnr King Street & Enmore Road, 2019 (cropped).jpg, one of the inner-most parts of the Inner West, is one of the most complete Victorian and Edwardian era commercial precincts in Australia.]]

The Inner West generally includes the Inner West Council, Municipality of Burwood, Municipality of Strathfield, and City of Canada Bay. These span up to about 11 km west of the CBD. Historically, especially prior to the building of the Harbour Bridge,Green, A, "[https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw/2022/guide/stra Strathfield By-election – NSW Election 2022] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503051831/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw/2022/guide/stra |date=3 May 2023 }}", Australian Broadcasting Corporation the outer suburbs of the Inner West such as Strathfield were the location of "country" estates for the colony's elites. By contrast, the inner suburbs in the Inner West, being close to transport and industry, have historically housed working-class industrial workers. These areas have undergone gentrification in the late 20th century, and many parts are now highly valued residential suburbs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/seven-inner-west-suburbs-pass-the-2m-median-mark-for-houses/news-story/e644adbdea6693bea16f4588269e3b6a|title=Sydney's new prestige hotspot|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=10 June 2016|last1=McIntyre|first1=Tim|access-date=3 May 2023|archive-date=25 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025175117/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/seven-inner-west-suburbs-pass-the-2m-median-mark-for-houses/news-story/e644adbdea6693bea16f4588269e3b6a|url-status=live}} As of 2021, an Inner West suburb (Strathfield) remained one of the 20 most expensive postcodes in Australia by median house price (the others were all in metropolitan Sydney, all in Northern Sydney or the Eastern Suburbs).Sweeney, N., "[https://www.afr.com/property/residential/sydney-dominates-melbourne-for-the-20-most-expensive-postcodes-20211213-p59h08 Sydney dominates Melbourne for the 20 most expensive postcodes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629182304/https://www.afr.com/property/residential/sydney-dominates-melbourne-for-the-20-most-expensive-postcodes-20211213-p59h08 |date=29 June 2023 }}", The Australian Financial Review The University of Sydney is located in this area, as well as the University of Technology, Sydney and a campus of the Australian Catholic University. The Anzac Bridge spans Johnstons Bay and connects Rozelle to Pyrmont and the city, forming part of the Western Distributor.

The Inner West is today well known as the location of village commercial centres with cosmopolitan flavours, such as the "Little Italy" commercial centres of Leichardt, Five Dock and Haberfield,Boys, C., "[https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/eating-out/where-is-sydneys-new-little-italy-20140419-36x15.html Where is Sydney's new Little Italy?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503051831/https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/eating-out/where-is-sydneys-new-little-italy-20140419-36x15.html |date=3 May 2023 }}", Good Food, 22 April 2014 "Little Portugal" in Petersham,"[https://www.smh.com.au/national/tarting-up-petersham-with-an-ethnic-flavour-20020906-gdfm08.html Tarting up Petersham with an ethnic flavour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503051831/https://www.smh.com.au/national/tarting-up-petersham-with-an-ethnic-flavour-20020906-gdfm08.html |date=3 May 2023 }}", Sydney Morning Herald, 6 September 2002 "Little Korea" in StrathfieldBurke, K, [https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/little-korea-ready-to-rise-from-melting-pot-20120525-1za3z.html Little Korea ready to rise from "melting pot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503051832/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/little-korea-ready-to-rise-from-melting-pot-20120525-1za3z.html |date=3 May 2023 }}", Sydney Morning Herald, 26 May 2012 or "Little Shanghai" in Ashfield.West, A., "[https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/business-booms-in-little-shanghai-20110620-1gbey.html Business booms in 'little Shanghai'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718070506/https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/business-booms-in-little-shanghai-20110620-1gbey.html |date=18 July 2023 }}", Sydney Morning Herald, 18 June 2011 Large-scale shopping centres in the area include Westfield Burwood, DFO Homebush and Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre. There is a large cosmopolitan community and nightlife hub on King Street, Newtown.

The area is serviced by Sydney Trains' T1, T2 and T3 services, including the Main Suburban Line, which was the first to be constructed in New South Wales. Strathfield railway station is a secondary railway hub within Sydney, and major station on the Suburban and Northern lines. It was constructed in 1876.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nswrail.net/locations/show.php?name=NSW:Strathfield|title=Strathfield Station|website=Nswrail.net|access-date=2 July 2022|archive-date=2 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702144642/https://www.nswrail.net/locations/show.php?name=NSW:Strathfield|url-status=live}} The future Sydney Metro West will also connect this area with the City and Parramatta. The area is also serviced by the Parramatta River services of Sydney Ferries,{{Cite web |url=https://www.beyondthewharf.com.au/rivercat-class/ |title=Rivercat Class – Transdev |access-date=23 May 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207142722/https://www.beyondthewharf.com.au/rivercat-class/ |url-status=dead }} numerous bus routes and cycleways.{{Cite web |url=http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/en/community/business/urban-centres/newtown/ |title=Newtown |website=Marrickville.nsw.gov.au |language=en |access-date=23 April 2018 |archive-date=6 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506120404/http://marrickville.nsw.gov.au/en/community/business/urban-centres/newtown/ |url-status=live }}

File:(1)Bellevue Hill from Point Piper.jpg. Sydney's eastern suburbs are made up of some of the most expensive real estate in the country{{Cite web |title=State-by-state: Find out if you're living in one of the richest, or poorest, postcodes |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/richest-and-poorest-postcodes/t41wwpk9o |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=SBS News |language=en |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905133525/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/richest-and-poorest-postcodes/t41wwpk9o |url-status=live }}]]

The Eastern Suburbs encompass the Municipality of Woollahra, the City of Randwick, the Waverley Municipal Council, and parts of the Bayside Council. They include some of the most affluent and advantaged areas in the country, with some streets being amongst the most expensive in the world. As at 2014, Wolseley Road, Point Piper, had a top price of $20,900 per square metre, making it the ninth-most expensive street in the world.{{cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/10-most-expensive-streets-in-the-world-2011-3#9-wolseley-road-point-piper-2 |title=The 10 most expensive streets in the world |last=Badkar |first=Mamta |date=2011 |website=Business Insider |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=13 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713064446/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/10-most-expensive-streets-in-the-world-2011-3#9-wolseley-road-point-piper-2 |url-status=live }} More than 75% of neighbourhoods in the Electoral District of Wentworth fall under the top decile of SEIFA advantage, making it the least disadvantaged area in the country.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-06/labor-greens-or-liberal-nationals-explore-disadvantage-politics/9600250 |title=Labor, Greens, Howard's battlers: Explore the politics of disadvantage |date=6 April 2018 |work=ABC News |access-date=21 April 2018 |language=en-AU |archive-date=8 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408232956/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-06/labor-greens-or-liberal-nationals-explore-disadvantage-politics/9600250 |url-status=live }} As of 2021, of the 20 most expensive postcodes in Australia by median house price, nine were in the Eastern Suburbs.

Major landmarks include Bondi Beach, which was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2008;Sydney Morning Herald, 1 January 2009, p.18 and Bondi Junction, featuring a Westfield shopping centre and an estimated office workforce of 6,400 by 2035,{{cite web |url=https://gsc-public-1.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/forecasting_the_distribution_of_stand_alone_office_employment_across_sydney_to_2035_bis_shrapnel_2015_08_0.pdf |title=Forecasting the Distribution of Stand-Alone Office Employment across Sydney to 2035 |publisher=NSW Department of Planning and Environment |date=August 2015 |access-date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=24 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124165518/https://gsc-public-1.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/forecasting_the_distribution_of_stand_alone_office_employment_across_sydney_to_2035_bis_shrapnel_2015_08_0.pdf |url-status=dead }} as well as a railway station on the T4 Eastern Suburbs Line. The suburb of Randwick contains Randwick Racecourse, the Royal Hospital for Women, the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney Children's Hospital, and University of New South Wales Kensington Campus.{{cite web |url=https://gsc-public-1.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/eastern-district-plan-0318.pdf |title=Our Greater Sydney 2056 Eastern City District Plan – connecting communities |publisher=Greater Sydney Commission |date=March 2018 |access-date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301001314/https://gsc-public-1.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/eastern-district-plan-0318.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Construction of the CBD and South East Light Rail was completed in April 2020.[https://transportnsw.info/news/2020/sydneys-new-light-rail-now-open-from-circular-quay-to-kingsford Sydney's new light rail is now open from Circular Quay to Kingsford] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402225521/https://transportnsw.info/news/2020/sydneys-new-light-rail-now-open-from-circular-quay-to-kingsford |date=2 April 2020 }} Transport for NSW 3 April 2020 The project aims to provide reliable and high-capacity tram services to residents in the City and South-East.

Major shopping centres in the area include Westfield Bondi Junction and Westfield Eastgardens.

File:Sydney aerial view - Kurnell, La Perouse, Cronulla and Botany Bay.jpg, La Perouse, and Cronulla, along with various other suburbs, face Botany Bay.]]

The Southern district of Sydney includes the suburbs in the local government areas of the Georges River Council (collectively known as St George) and the Sutherland Shire (colloquially known as 'The Shire'), on the southern banks of the Georges River.

The Kurnell peninsula, near Botany Bay, is the site of the first landfall on the eastern coastline made by James Cook in 1770. La Perouse, a historic suburb named after the French navigator Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, is notable for its old military outpost at Bare Island and the Botany Bay National Park.

The suburb of Cronulla in southern Sydney is close to Royal National Park, Australia's oldest national park. Hurstville, a large suburb with commercial and high-rise residential buildings dominating the skyline, has become a CBD for the southern suburbs.The Book of Sydney Suburbs, Compiled by Frances Pollon, Angus & Robertson Publishers, 1990, Published in Australia {{ISBN|0-207-14495-8}}, page 149

{{further|Northern Sydney}}

File:Aerial View Chatswood to Sydney CBD.jpg is a major commercial district.]]

'Northern Sydney' includes the suburbs in the Upper North Shore, Lower North Shore and the Northern Beaches.

The Northern Suburbs include several landmarks – Macquarie University, Gladesville Bridge, Ryde Bridge, Macquarie Centre and Curzon Hall in Marsfield. This area includes suburbs in the local government areas of Hornsby Shire, Ku-ring-gai Council, City of Ryde, the Municipality of Hunter's Hill and parts of the City of Parramatta.

The North Shore includes the commercial centres of North Sydney and Chatswood. North Sydney itself consists of a large commercial centre, which contains the second largest concentration of high-rise buildings in Sydney after the CBD. North Sydney is dominated by advertising, marketing and associated trades, with many large corporations holding offices.

The Northern Beaches area includes Manly, one of Sydney's most popular holiday destinations. The region also features Sydney Heads, a series of headlands which form the entrance to Sydney Harbour. The Northern Beaches area extends south to the entrance of Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), west to Middle Harbour and north to the entrance of Broken Bay.{{Cite web|url=http://rodis.com.au/wiki/Northern-Beaches-Sydney.php|title=National Regional Profile Northern Beaches Sydney|website=Rodis.com.au|access-date=2 July 2022|archive-date=2 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302151024/https://rodis.com.au/wiki/Northern-Beaches-Sydney.php|url-status=live}} The 2021 Australian census found the Northern Beaches to have, in comparison with the rest of Sydney, a large British diaspora and high concentration of people with European ancestry.{{Cite web |title=Ancestry {{!}} Northern Beaches Council {{!}} Community profile |url=https://profile.id.com.au/northern-beaches/ancestry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240113033154/https://profile.id.com.au/northern-beaches/ancestry |archive-date=13 January 2024 |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=profile.id.com.au |language=en-au |url-status=live }}

As of the end of 2021, half of the 20 most expensive postcodes in Australia (by median house price) were in Northern Sydney, including four on the Northern Beaches, two on the Lower North Shore, three on the Upper North Shore, and one straddling Hunters Hill and Woolwich.

The Hills district generally refers to the suburbs in north-western Sydney including the local government areas of The Hills Shire, parts of the City of Parramatta Council and Hornsby Shire. Actual suburbs and localities that are considered to be in the Hills District can be somewhat amorphous. For example, the Hills District Historical Society restricts its definition to the Hills Shire local government area, yet its study area extends from Parramatta to the Hawkesbury. The region is so named for its characteristically comparatively hilly topography as the Cumberland Plain lifts up, joining the Hornsby Plateau. Windsor and Old Windsor Roads are the second and third roads, respectively, laid in Australia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ozroads.com.au/NSW/RouteNumbering/State%20Routes/40/oldwindsor%26windsorroad.htm|title=Ozroads: Old Windsor Road & Windsor Road|website=Ozroads.com.au|access-date=2 July 2022|archive-date=26 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426001422/https://www.ozroads.com.au/NSW/RouteNumbering/State%20Routes/40/oldwindsor%26windsorroad.htm|url-status=live}}

On 26 May 2019, The Sydney Metro Northwest, which went from Chatswood to Tallawong, opened, with a large portion running through the Hills District, which meant the Hills District, for the first time, started having heavy rail.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-01-14|title=Major Milestone As Metro Northwest Completes Its First Full Test|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/node/9580|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Transport for NSW|language=en-AU}}

Before this, The Hills was served by Bus Rapid Transit.

{{further|Greater Western Sydney}}

File:Parramatta Skyline 2022.jpg, a major commercial centre of Greater Western Sydney, is often referred to as Sydney's "second CBD"]]

The greater western suburbs encompasses the areas of Parramatta, the sixth largest business district in Australia, settled the same year as the harbour-side colony,{{cite web |publisher=Parramatta Chamber of Commerce |date=2014 |url=http://www.parramattachamber.com.au/Chamber/parramatta-capital-of-western-sydney.html |title=Parramatta |access-date=13 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806000352/http://www.parramattachamber.com.au/Chamber/parramatta-capital-of-western-sydney.html |archive-date=6 August 2014}} Bankstown, Liverpool, Penrith, and Fairfield. Covering {{cvt|5800|km2}} and having an estimated population as at 2017 of 2,288,554, western Sydney has the most multicultural suburbs in the country – Cabramatta has earned the nickname "Little Saigon" due to its Vietnamese population, Fairfield has been named "Little Assyria" for its predominant Assyrian population and Harris Park is known as "Little India" with its plurality of Indian and Hindu population.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/harris-park-re-named-little-india/6qs2sc2zj|title=This part of Australia is set to be renamed 'Little India'|author = Jennifer Scherer|publisher=SBS Australia|access-date = 24 June 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/what-to-do-and-see-in-the-secret-of-fairfield/news-story/fb120fa69dd18c128c5cafbe3d70d56a|title=What to do and see in the secret of Fairfield|author = Ben McLellan|publisher=Herald Sun|access-date = 26 December 2023}}[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285039670_Enclave_Place_or_Nation_Defining_Little_Saigon_in_the_Midst_of_Incorporation_Transnationalism_and_Long_Distance_Activism Enclave, Place, or Nation? Defining Little Saigon in the Midst of Incorporation, Transnationalism, and Long Distance Activism] by Christian Collet and Hiroko Furuya from Amerasia Journal 36:3 (2010): 1–27. January 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2022.[https://www.bautruong.com.au/editorial/bautruong_press_20090619_wallstreetjournalasia.pdf Sydney] by Sam Holmes. The Wall Street Journal Asia. 21 June 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2022. The population is predominantly of a working class background, with major employment in the heavy industries and vocational trade.{{cite web |url=https://profile.id.com.au/cws/population |title=Home – WSROC Region |publisher=Profile.id.com.au |access-date=10 January 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108025946/https://profile.id.com.au/cws/population |url-status=live }} Toongabbie is noted for being the third mainland settlement (after Sydney and Parramatta) set up after British colonisation began in 1788, although the site of the settlement is actually in the separate suburb of Old Toongabbie.{{cite web |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/old_toongabbie_and_toongabbie |title=Old Toongabbie and Toongabbie |last1=McClymont |first1=John |last2=Kass |first2=Terry |date=2010 |work=Dictionary of Sydney |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney Trust |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730085650/https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/old_toongabbie_and_toongabbie |url-status=live }}

The western suburb of Prospect, in the City of Blacktown, is home to Raging Waters, a water park operated by Parques Reunidos.{{cite web |title=Water theme park planned for Sydney |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/11/3009081.htm |work=ABC News |access-date=11 September 2010 |date=11 September 2010 |archive-date=13 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100913172339/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/11/3009081.htm |url-status=dead }} Auburn Botanic Gardens, a botanical garden in Auburn, attracts thousands of visitors each year, including many from outside Australia.{{cite web |url=http://www.chah.gov.au/chabg/bg-dir/auburn-nsw.html |title=Auburn Botanical Gardens |work=chah.gov.au |access-date=4 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006140058/http://www.chah.gov.au/chabg/bg-dir/auburn-nsw.html |archive-date=6 October 2009 |url-status=dead}} The greater west also includes Sydney Olympic Park, a suburb created to host the 2000 Summer Olympics, and Sydney Motorsport Park, a circuit in Eastern Creek.{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneymotorsportpark.com.au/visitor-information#howToGetHere |title=Visitor Information – How to Get Here |publisher=Sydney Motorsport Park | access-date=21 February 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410070447/http://www.sydneymotorsportpark.com.au/visitor-information#howToGetHere | archive-date=10 April 2013}} Prospect Hill, a historically significant ridge in the west and the only area in Sydney with ancient volcanic activity,Jones, I., and Verdel, C. (2015). Basalt distribution and volume estimates of Cenozoic volcanism in the Bowen Basin region of eastern Australia: Implications for a waning mantle plume. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 62(2), 255–263. is also listed on the State Heritage Register.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/search-for-heritage/state-heritage-inventory/|title=State Heritage Inventory|date=22 October 2019|newspaper=Heritage NSW|access-date=2 July 2022|archive-date=4 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304000250/https://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/search-for-heritage/state-heritage-inventory/|url-status=live}}

To the northwest, Featherdale Wildlife Park, a zoo in Doonside, near Blacktown, is a major tourist attraction.{{cite web |url=http://blacktown-advocate.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/featherdale-beats-opera-house-to-claim-major-tourism-award/ |title=Featherdale beats Opera House to claim major tourism award |date=23 November 2009 |author=O'Maley, Christine |work=Blacktown Advocate |access-date=18 March 2012 |archive-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701155049/http://blacktown-advocate.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/featherdale-beats-opera-house-to-claim-major-tourism-award/ |url-status=live }} Sydney Zoo, opened in 2019, is another prominent zoo situated in Bungaribee.{{cite news |url=https://www.timeout.com/sydney/news/new-sydney-zoo-announces-long-awaited-opening-date-112519 |author=Boon, Maxim |title=New Sydney Zoo announces long-awaited opening date |work=TimeOut |location=Sydney, Australia |date=25 November 2019 |access-date=24 December 2019 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128010314/https://www.timeout.com/sydney/news/new-sydney-zoo-announces-long-awaited-opening-date-112519 |url-status=live }} Established in 1799, the Old Government House, a historic house museum and tourist spot in Parramatta, was included in the Australian National Heritage List on 1 August 2007 and World Heritage List in 2010 (as part of the 11 penal sites constituting the Australian Convict Sites), making it the only site in greater western Sydney to be featured in such lists.{{cite news |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world-heritage-committee-approves-australian-convict-sites-as-places-of-importance/story-e6freon6-1225899640286 |author1=Chalmers, Emma |author2=Martin, Saray |date=1 August 2010 |title=World Heritage Committee approves Australian Convict Sites as places of importance |work=The Courier–Mail |location=Australia |access-date=17 April 2018 |archive-date=3 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603125525/http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/world-heritage-committee-approves-australian-convict-sites-as-places-of-importance/story-e6freon6-1225899640286 |url-status=dead }} The house is Australia's oldest surviving public building.{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/old-government-house/index.html |title=National Heritage Places – Old Government House and Government Domain, Parramatta |first=Department of the Environment and |last=Energy |date=17 April 2018 |website=Environment.gov.au |access-date=16 April 2018 |archive-date=12 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012072820/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/old-government-house/index.html |url-status=live }}

Further to the southwest is the region of Macarthur and the city of Campbelltown, a significant population centre until the 1990s considered a region separate to Sydney proper. Macarthur Square, a shopping complex in Campbelltown, has become one of the largest shopping complexes in Sydney.{{cite report |first=Peter |last=Degotardi |publisher=Herron Todd White Property Advisors |url=http://www.htw.com.au/pages/info_centre/review/MR%20Feb%202004.pdf |title=The Month in Review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820135143/http://www.htw.com.au/pages/info_centre/review/MR%20Feb%202004.pdf |archive-date=20 August 2006 |date=1 February 2004}} The southwest also features Bankstown Reservoir, the oldest elevated reservoir constructed in reinforced concrete that is still in use and is listed on the State Heritage Register.{{cite NSW SHR|01316 |Bankstown Reservoir (Elevated) |access-date=27 March 2018}} The southwest is home to one of Sydney's oldest trees, the Bland Oak, which was planted in the 1840s by William Bland in Carramar.{{cite web |last=Boulous |first=Chris |title=Nothing Bland about our Oak tree |work=Fairfield City Champion |publisher=FAIRFAX REGIONAL MEDIA |date=20 April 2018 |url=https://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/story/5354072/nothing-bland-about-our-oak-tree/#slide=2 |access-date=29 August 2018 |archive-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829105943/https://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/story/5354072/nothing-bland-about-our-oak-tree/#slide=2 |url-status=dead }}

{{wide image|Sydney City Panorama (20155327722).jpg|1100px|The Sydney CBD with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Sydney is home to the most high-rise buildings in the nation.{{Cite web |title=Sydney – The Skyscraper Center |url=https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/sydney |access-date=2020-07-16 |website=Skyscrapercenter.com |archive-date=1 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101022939/https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/sydney |url-status=live }}|align-cap=center}}

{{See also |Architecture of Sydney|List of heritage houses in Sydney|List of tallest buildings in Sydney}}

The earliest structures in the colony were built to the bare minimum of standards. Governor Macquarie set ambitious targets for the design of new construction projects. The city now has a world heritage listed building, several national heritage listed buildings, and dozens of Commonwealth heritage listed buildings as evidence of the survival of Macquarie's ideals.{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world-heritage-list |title=Australia's World Heritage List |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=19 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719130334/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world-heritage-list |url-status=live }}{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/heritage-places/national-heritage-list |title=Australia's National Heritage List |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=19 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719064152/http://www.environment.gov.au/topics/heritage/heritage-places/national-heritage-list |url-status=live }}{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=search_results;state=NSW;list_code=CHL;legal_status=35 |title=Australian Heritage Database |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=14 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914152900/http://environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=search_results;state=NSW;list_code=CHL;legal_status=35 |url-status=live }}

File:York Street, Sydney.jpg is an example of a city street in Sydney with an array of intact Victorian heritage architecture.]]

In 1814, the Governor called on a convict named Francis Greenway to design Macquarie Lighthouse.{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105366 |title=Macquarie Lighthouse |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=26 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426163630/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105366 |url-status=live }} The lighthouse's Classical design earned Greenway a pardon from Macquarie in 1818 and introduced a culture of refined architecture that remains to this day.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Harbour Federation Trust |date=2001 |url=http://www.harbourtrust.gov.au/topics/sitesmacquarie.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209012719/http://www.harbourtrust.gov.au/topics/sitesmacquarie.html |archive-date=9 February 2006 |title=Macquarie Lightstation |access-date=20 July 2014}} Greenway went on to design the Hyde Park Barracks in 1819 and the Georgian style St James's Church in 1824.{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |year=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/hyde-park |title=Hyde Park Barracks |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=18 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018065631/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/hyde-park |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Judd |first1=Stephen |last2=Cable |first2=Kenneth |year=2000 |title=Sydney Anglicans – a history of the diocese |page=12}} Gothic-inspired architecture became more popular from the 1830s. John Verge's Elizabeth Bay House and St Philip's Church of 1856 were built in Gothic Revival style along with Edward Blore's Government House of 1845.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Architecture |date=2014 |url=http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/STYLES/search-style.htm |title=Chronology of styles in Australian architecture |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908110249/http://sydneyarchitecture.com/STYLES/search-style.htm |archive-date=8 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |publisher=Department of Premier and Cabinet |date=2014 |url=http://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/government-house/ |title=Government House |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=24 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124060409/http://www.governor.nsw.gov.au/government-house |url-status=live }} Kirribilli House, completed in 1858, and St Andrew's Cathedral, Australia's oldest cathedral,{{cite news |title=Changes not music to purists' ears |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 September 2008 |access-date=14 November 2016 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/cathedral-finds-its-organ-grinding/2008/09/07/1220725858498.html |archive-date=27 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527105742/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/cathedral-finds-its-organ-grinding/2008/09/07/1220725858498.html |url-status=live }} are rare examples of Victorian Gothic construction.{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105451 |title=Kirribilli House |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=26 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426163624/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105451 |url-status=live }}

File:General Post Office, Sydney.jpg]]

From the late 1850s there was a shift towards Classical architecture. Mortimer Lewis designed the Australian Museum in 1857.{{cite web |title=A short history of the Australian Museum |url=https://australian.museum/about/history/ |website=Australian Museum |publisher=Australia Museum |access-date=21 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822022326/https://australian.museum/about/history/ |archive-date=22 August 2020 |date=20 July 2014 |url-status=live }} [http://australianmuseum.net.au/A-short-history-of-the-Australian-Museum Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718224809/http://australianmuseum.net.au/A-short-history-of-the-Australian-Museum |date=18 July 2014 }} The General Post Office, completed in 1891 in Victorian Free Classical style, was designed by James Barnet.{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105509 |title=General Post Office |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=4 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904020740/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105509 |url-status=live }} Barnet also oversaw the 1883 reconstruction of Greenway's Macquarie Lighthouse. Customs House was built in 1844.{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105436 |title=Sydney Customs House |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=4 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904020740/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105436 |url-status=live }} The neo-Classical and French Second Empire style Town Hall was completed in 1889.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Town Hall |date=2014 |url=http://www.sydneytownhall.com.au/discover-learn/building-history/coonstruction/ |title=Construction of Sydney Town Hall |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=20 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720024240/http://www.sydneytownhall.com.au/discover-learn/building-history/coonstruction/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Town Hall |date=2014 |url=http://www.sydneytownhall.com.au/discover-learn/building-history/features/ |title=Features of Sydney Town Hall |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=20 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720024245/http://www.sydneytownhall.com.au/discover-learn/building-history/features/ |url-status=live }} Romanesque designs gained favour from the early 1890s. Sydney Technical College was completed in 1893 using both Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne approaches.{{cite web |last=Freyne |first=Catherine |date=2010 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney_technical_college |title=Sydney Technical College |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=10 August 2014 |archive-date=26 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426114930/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney_technical_college |url-status=live }} The Queen Victoria Building was designed in Romanesque Revival fashion by George McRae; completed in 1898,{{cite web |publisher=Queen Victoria Building |date=2014 |url=http://www.qvb.com.au/about-qvb/history-of-qvb |title=History of Queen Victoria Building |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819141915/http://www.qvb.com.au/about-qvb/history-of-qvb |url-status=live }} it accommodates 200 shops across its three storeys.{{cite web |last=Ellmoos |first=Laila |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/queen_victoria_building |title=Queen Victoria Building |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014 |archive-date=29 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729112404/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/queen_victoria_building |url-status=live }}

As the wealth of the settlement increased and Sydney developed into a metropolis after Federation in 1901, its buildings became taller. Sydney's first tower was Culwulla Chambers which topped out at {{cvt|50|m|ft|abbr=off}} making 12 floors. The Commercial Traveller's Club, built in 1908, was of similar height at 10 floors. It was built in a brick stone veneer and demolished in 1972.{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/GON/GON125.htm |work=Sydney Architecture Images |title=Commercial Travellers Club |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023182833/http://sydneyarchitecture.com/GON/GON125.htm |archive-date=23 October 2016 |url-status=dead}} This heralded a change in Sydney's cityscape and with the lifting of height restrictions in the 1960s there came a surge of high-rise construction.{{cite book |title=Sydney architecture |last2=Bingham-Hall |first2=Patrick |year=2005 |page=14 to 15 |last1=McGillick |first1=Paul}}

The Great Depression had a tangible influence on Sydney's architecture. New structures became more restrained with far less ornamentation. The most notable architectural feat of this period is the Harbour Bridge. Its steel arch was designed by John Bradfield and completed in 1932. A total of 39,000 tonnes of structural steel span the {{cvt|503|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} between Milsons Point and Dawes Point.{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Sydney Harbour Bridge |url=http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/sydney-harbour-bridge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512054556/http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/sydney-harbour-bridge |archive-date=12 May 2012 |access-date=6 July 2014 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105888 |title=Sydney Harbour Bridge |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=25 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825100313/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105888 |url-status=live }}

File:Dr Chau Chak Wing Building.jpg's Dr Chau Chak Wing Building]]

Modern and International architecture came to Sydney from the 1940s. Since its completion in 1973 the city's Opera House has become a World Heritage Site and one of the world's most renowned pieces of Modern design. Jørn Utzon was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2003 for his work on the Opera House.{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105738 |title=Sydney Opera House |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=13 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213204033/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105738 |url-status=live }} Sydney is home to Australia's first building by renowned Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building (2015). An entrance from The Goods Line–a pedestrian pathway and former railway line–is located on the eastern border of the site.

Contemporary buildings in the CBD include Citigroup Centre,{{cite web |publisher=Emporis |date=2014 |url=http://www.emporis.com/building/citigroupcentre-sydney-australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107184211/http://www.emporis.com/building/citigroupcentre-sydney-australia |url-status=usurped |archive-date=7 November 2012 |title=Citigroup Centre |access-date=20 July 2014}} Aurora Place,{{cite web |publisher=Emporis |date=2014 |url=http://www.emporis.com/building/auroraplace-sydney-australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910062454/http://www.emporis.com/building/auroraplace-sydney-australia |url-status=usurped |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title=Aurora Place |access-date=20 July 2014}} Chifley Tower,{{cite web |publisher=Emporis |date=2014 |url=http://www.emporis.com/building/chifleytower-sydney-australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107185132/http://www.emporis.com/building/chifleytower-sydney-australia |url-status=usurped |archive-date=7 November 2012 |title=Chifley Tower |access-date=20 July 2014}}{{cite web |last=Ellmoos |first=Laila |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/chifley_tower |title=Chifley Tower |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=8 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019051251/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/chifley_tower |url-status=live }} the Reserve Bank building,{{cite web |publisher=Department of the Environment |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105456 |title=Reserve Bank |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=4 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904020740/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=105456 |url-status=live }} Deutsche Bank Place,{{cite web |publisher=Emporis |date=2014 |url=http://www.emporis.com/building/deutschebankplace-sydney-australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105210049/http://www.emporis.com/building/deutschebankplace-sydney-australia |url-status=usurped |archive-date=5 November 2012 |title=Deutsche Bank Place |access-date=20 July 2004}} MLC Centre,{{cite web |publisher=Emporis |date=2014 |url=http://www.emporis.com/building/mlccentre-sydney-australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107192858/http://www.emporis.com/building/mlccentre-sydney-australia |url-status=usurped |archive-date=7 November 2012 |title=MLC Centre |access-date=20 July 2014}} and Capita Centre.{{cite web |publisher=Emporis |date=2014 |url=http://www.emporis.com/building/castlereagh-centre-sydney-australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011142800/http://www.emporis.com/building/castlereagh-centre-sydney-australia |url-status=usurped |archive-date=11 October 2012 |title=Castlereagh Centre |access-date=20 July 2014}} The tallest structure is Sydney Tower, designed by Donald Crone and completed in 1981.{{cite web |last=Dunn |first=Mark |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/centrepoint_tower |title=Centrepoint Tower |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=8 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019051249/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/centrepoint_tower |url-status=live }} Due to the proximity of Sydney Airport, a maximum height restriction was imposed, now sitting at 330 metres (1083 feet).{{Cite web |title='It's held Sydney back': Council reveals plan to raise CBD skyline by 100 metres |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-25/sydney-planning-controls-could-see-city-skyline-rise-by-100m/11997462 |date=25 February 2020 |website=Abc.net.au |language=en-AU |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820152935/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-25/sydney-planning-controls-could-see-city-skyline-rise-by-100m/11997462 |url-status=live }} Green bans and heritage overlays have been in place since at least 1977 to protect Sydney's heritage after controversial demolitions in the 1970s.{{cite web |title=Unlocked: Demolished Sydney |url=https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/unlocked-demolished-sydney |work=SydneyLivingMuseums.com.au |date=16 January 2017 |access-date=14 December 2018 |archive-date=13 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413133421/https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/unlocked-demolished-sydney |url-status=live }}

File:Kirribilli housing.jpg in Kirribilli]]

Sydney surpasses both New York City and Paris real estate prices, having some of the most expensive in the world.{{cite web |title=Sydney houses are so 'severely unaffordable', it's cheaper to buy in New York |work=Business Insider (Australia) |url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/sydney-houses-are-so-severely-unaffordable-its-cheaper-to-buy-in-new-york-2017-1 |date=24 January 2017 |access-date=25 January 2017 |archive-date=25 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125071309/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/sydney-houses-are-so-severely-unaffordable-its-cheaper-to-buy-in-new-york-2017-1 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.domain.com.au/news/how-sydney-house-prices-compare-with-other-global-cities-20150723-gihntf/ |title=How Sydney house prices compare with other global cities |work=Domain Group |date=25 July 2015 |access-date=25 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202023659/https://www.domain.com.au/news/how-sydney-house-prices-compare-with-other-global-cities-20150723-gihntf/ |url-status=live }} The city remains Australia's most expensive housing market, with the median house price at $1,595,310 as of December 2023.{{Cite web |author1=Tawar Razaghi |author2=Melissa Heagney-Bayliss |date=2024-01-23 |title=Sydney's median house price reaches a new peak of almost $1.6 million |url=https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/sydney-s-median-house-price-reaches-a-new-peak-of-almost-1-6-million-20240123-p5ezcm.html |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

There were 1.83 million dwellings in Sydney in 2021 including 900,000 (54%) detached houses, 218,000 (13%) semi-detached terrace houses and 550,000 (33%) units and apartments.{{Cite web |title=2021 Sydney, Census All persons QuickStats {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/1031 |access-date=27 May 2023 |website=www.abs.gov.au |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527140855/https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/1031 |url-status=live }} Whilst terrace houses are common in the inner city areas, detached houses dominate the landscape in the outer suburbs. Due to environmental and economic pressures, there has been a noted trend towards denser housing, with a 30% increase in the number of apartments between 1996 and 2006.{{cite web |last=Darcy |first=Michael |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/housing_sydney |title=Housing Sydney |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019051320/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/housing_sydney |url-status=live }} Public housing in Sydney is managed by the Government of New South Wales.{{cite web |publisher=Housing New South Wales |date=2012 |url=http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/About+Us/What+We+Do.htm |title=Services offered |access-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019062237/http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/About+Us/What+We+Do.htm |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=dead}} Suburbs with large concentrations of public housing include Claymore, Macquarie Fields, Waterloo, and Mount Druitt.

A range of heritage housing styles can be found throughout Sydney. Terrace houses are found in the inner suburbs such as Paddington, The Rocks, Potts Point and Balmain, many of which have been the subject of gentrification.{{cite book |first1=Terry |last1=Irving |first2=Terrence H. |last2=Irving |first3=Rowan J. |last3=Cahill |title=Radical Sydney: Places, Portraits and Unruly Episodes |year=2010 |publisher=UNSW Press |isbn=9781742230931 |page=306}}{{Cite news |title=A public housing terrace in Sydney sold for a staggering $2.2 million above reserve |work=Business Insider |date=10 December 2016 |url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/a-former-public-housing-terrace-in-sydney-has-sold-for-a-staggering-2-2-million-above-reserve-2015-12 |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024440/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/a-former-public-housing-terrace-in-sydney-has-sold-for-a-staggering-2-2-million-above-reserve-2015-12 |url-status=dead }} These terraces, particularly those in suburbs such as The Rocks, were historically home to Sydney's miners and labourers. In the present day, terrace houses now make up some of the most valuable real estate in the city.{{cite news |title=This $13 million Sydney property is the most expensive terrace in Australia |work=Business Insider |date=15 April 2016 |first=Sarah |last=Kimmorley |url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/this-13-million-sydney-property-is-the-most-expensive-terrace-in-australia-2016-4 |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202024920/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/this-13-million-sydney-property-is-the-most-expensive-terrace-in-australia-2016-4 |url-status=dead }} Surviving large mansions from the Victorian era are mostly found in the oldest suburbs, such as Double Bay, Darling Point, Rose Bay and Strathfield.H.J. Samuell, How to Know Sydney, 1895

Federation homes, constructed around the time of Federation in 1901, are located in a large number of suburbs that developed thanks to the arrival of railways in the late 19th century, such as Penshurst and Turramurra, and in large-scale planned "garden suburbs" such as Haberfield. Workers cottages are found in Surry Hills, Redfern, and Balmain. California bungalows are common in Ashfield, Concord, and Beecroft. Larger modern homes are predominantly found in the outer suburbs, such as Stanhope Gardens, Kellyville Ridge, Bella Vista to the northwest, Bossley Park, Abbotsbury, and Cecil Hills to the west, and Hoxton Park, Harrington Park, and Oran Park to the southwest.{{cite web |publisher=Charles Sturt University |date=2014 |url=http://hsc.csu.edu.au/geography/urban/urban/4370/sydney_culture.htm |title=Sydney's culture of place |access-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025075259/http://hsc.csu.edu.au/geography/urban/urban/4370/sydney_culture.htm |archive-date=25 October 2014}}

{{Main|Parks in Sydney}}The Anzac War Memorial in Hyde Park is a public memorial dedicated to the Australian Imperial Force of World War I.

The Royal Botanic Garden is the most iconic green space in the region, hosting both scientific and leisure activities.{{Cite web |url=https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/ |title=Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney |website=Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney |access-date=21 November 2016 |archive-date=1 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201075627/https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/ |url-status=live }} There are 15 separate parks under the City administration.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/facilities/parks/major-parks |title=Major parks |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=23 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623194514/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/facilities/parks/major-parks |url-status=live }} Parks within the city centre include Hyde Park, The Domain and Prince Alfred Park.

File:Centennial_Park_NSW_2021,_Australia_-_panoramio_(7).jpg is the largest park in the City of Sydney, comprising {{cvt|189|ha|acre}}.{{cite web |title=Centennial Park |url=http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/places_to_visit/centennial_park |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218074857/http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/places_to_visit/centennial_park |archive-date=18 February 2017 |access-date=18 February 2017 |work=Centennial Parklands |publisher=Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust }}]]

The Centennial Parklands is the largest park in the City of Sydney, comprising {{cvt|189|ha|acre}}.

The inner suburbs include Centennial Park and Moore Park in the east (both within the City of Sydney local government area), while the outer suburbs contain Sydney Park and Royal National Park in the south, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the north, and Western Sydney Parklands in the west, which is one of the largest urban parks in the world. The Royal National Park was proclaimed in 1879 and with {{cvt|13200|ha|sqmi|0|abbr=off}} is the second oldest national park in the world.{{cite web |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0030 |title=Royal National Park |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414214842/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0030 |url-status=live }}

File:Sídney_08.jpg in Hyde Park is a public memorial dedicated to the achievement of the Australian Imperial Force of World War I."[http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/tff/memorials/nsw.html ANZAC Memorial, Sydney] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509035601/http://www.anzacday.org.au/education/tff/memorials/nsw.html|date=9 May 2015}}", ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Qld) Incorporated, 1998.]]

Hyde Park is the oldest parkland in the country.{{cite web |title=Hyde Park: Plan of Management and Masterplan |volume=1 |date=October 2006 |publisher=Sydney City Council |access-date=7 September 2012 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/138761/Vol1_HydePark_PoMAndMasterplan_Oct2006.pdf |pages=7–11 |archive-date=22 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622110417/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/138761/Vol1_HydePark_PoMAndMasterplan_Oct2006.pdf |url-status=live }} The largest park in the Sydney metropolitan area is Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, established in 1894 with an area of {{cvt|15400|ha|sqmi|0|abbr=off}}.{{cite web |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHistory.aspx?id=N0019 |title=Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park history |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=8 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008012351/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHistory.aspx?id=N0019 |url-status=live }} It is regarded for its well-preserved records of indigenous habitation – more than 800 rock engravings, cave drawings and middens.{{cite web |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage |date=2014 |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkAboriginalHeritage.aspx?id=N0019 |title=Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park heritage |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=19 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319072905/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkAboriginalHeritage.aspx?id=N0019 |url-status=live }}

The area now known as The Domain was set aside by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1788 as his private reserve.{{cite web |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage |date=2014 |url=http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome/royal_botanic_garden/history |title=Royal Botanic Gardens history |access-date=19 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708201747/http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome/royal_botanic_garden/history |archive-date=8 July 2014}} Under the orders of Macquarie the land to the immediate north of The Domain became the Royal Botanic Garden in 1816. This makes them the oldest botanic garden in Australia. The Gardens host scientific research with herbarium collections, a library and laboratories.{{cite web |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/royal_botanic_gardens |title=Royal Botanic Gardens |access-date=9 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019051841/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/royal_botanic_gardens |url-status=live }} The two parks have a total area of {{cvt|64|ha|sqmi|1|abbr=off}} with 8,900 individual plant species and receive over 3.5 million annual visits.{{cite web |publisher=Office of Environment and Heritage |date=2014 |url=http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome/royal_botanic_garden/fast_facts |title=Royal Botanic Gardens fast facts |access-date=19 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708170735/http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/welcome/royal_botanic_garden/fast_facts |archive-date=8 July 2014}}

To the south of The Domain is Hyde Park, the oldest public parkland in Australia which measures {{cvt|16.2|ha|sqmi|1|abbr=off}}.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2006 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/138761/Vol1_HydePark_PoMAndMasterplan_Oct2006.pdf |title=Hyde Park plan of management and masterplan |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=22 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622110417/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/138761/Vol1_HydePark_PoMAndMasterplan_Oct2006.pdf |url-status=live }} Its location was used for both relaxation and grazing of animals from the earliest days of the colony.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/sydneys-history/people-and-places/park-histories/hyde-park |title=Hyde Park |access-date=19 July 2014 |archive-date=22 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622125424/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/sydneys-history/people-and-places/park-histories/hyde-park |url-status=live }} Macquarie dedicated it in 1810 for the "recreation and amusement of the inhabitants of the town" and named it in honour of Hyde Park in London.

{{Main|Economy of Sydney}}

File:Sydney CBD on a sunny day.jpg. Sydney is the financial and economic centre of Australia, having the largest economy and contributing a quarter of Australia's total GDP.{{Cite web |title=Financial Centres of the World: Sydney, Australia |url=http://www.ecdconference.org/sydney.htm |access-date=16 July 2020 |website=Ecdconference.org |archive-date=21 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221001502/http://www.ecdconference.org/sydney.htm |url-status=live }}]]

Researchers from Loughborough University have ranked Sydney amongst the top ten world cities that are highly integrated into the global economy.{{cite web |publisher=Loughborough University |date=2012 |url=http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2012t.html |title=The world according to GaWC 2012 |access-date=31 August 2014 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305015239/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2097720_2097718_2097716,00.html |url-status=live }} The Global Economic Power Index ranks Sydney eleventh in the world.{{cite news |last=Florida |first=Richard |date=2014 |url=http://www.citylab.com/work/2011/09/25-most-economically-powerful-cities-world/109/ |title=The 25 most economically powerful cities in the world |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |publisher=CityLab |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=3 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203195432/http://www.citylab.com/work/2011/09/25-most-economically-powerful-cities-world/109/ |url-status=live }} The Global Cities Index recognises it as fourteenth in the world based on global engagement.{{cite web |publisher=AT Kearney |date=2014 |url=http://www.atkearney.com/documents/10192/4461492/Global+Cities+Present+and+Future-GCI+2014.pdf |title=2014 Global Cities Index |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016172215/http://www.atkearney.com/documents/10192/4461492/Global+Cities+Present+and+Future-GCI+2014.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=dead}} There is a significant concentration of foreign banks and multinational corporations in Sydney and the city is promoted as Australia's financial capital and one of Asia Pacific's leading financial hubs.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/research-and-statistics/the-city-at-a-glance/global-sydney/economic-powerhouse |title=Economic powerhouse |access-date=21 July 2014 |archive-date=22 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622114017/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/research-and-statistics/the-city-at-a-glance/global-sydney/economic-powerhouse |url-status=live }}{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://economy.id.com.au/sydney |title=Economic profile |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=23 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623211419/http://economy.id.com.au/sydney |url-status=live }}

The prevailing economic theory during early colonial days was mercantilism, as it was throughout most of Western Europe.{{cite web |last=Wotherspoon |first=Garry |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/economy |title=Economy |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019060911/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/economy |url-status=live }} The economy struggled at first due to difficulties in cultivating the land and the lack of a stable monetary system. Governor Macquarie created two coins from every Spanish silver dollar in circulation. The economy was capitalist in nature by the 1840s as the proportion of free settlers increased, the maritime and wool industries flourished, and the powers of the East India Company were curtailed.

Wheat, gold, and other minerals became export industries towards the end of the 1800s. Significant capital began to flow into the city from the 1870s to finance roads, railways, bridges, docks, courthouses, schools and hospitals. Protectionist policies after federation allowed for the creation of a manufacturing industry which became the city's largest employer by the 1920s. These same policies helped to relieve the effects of the Great Depression during which the unemployment rate in New South Wales reached as high as 32%. From the 1960s onwards Parramatta gained recognition as the city's second CBD and finance and tourism became major industries and sources of employment.

Sydney's nominal gross domestic product was AU$400.9 billion and AU$80,000 per capita{{cite web |url=http://www.sgsep.com.au/publications/gdp-major-capital-city-2015-2016 |title=GDP report: Economic Performance of Australia's Cities and Regions |website=sgsep.com.au |date=16 December 2019 |access-date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=21 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321173338/https://www.sgsep.com.au/publications/gdp-major-capital-city-2015-2016 |url-status=live }} in 2015. Its gross domestic product was AU$337 billion in 2013, the largest in Australia.{{cite web |publisher=SGS Economics and Planning |date=2014 |url=http://www.sgsep.com.au/assets/GDP-by-Major-Capital-City-1213-.pdf |title=Australian cities accounts |access-date=31 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005092254/http://www.sgsep.com.au/assets/GDP-by-Major-Capital-City-1213-.pdf |archive-date=5 October 2014 |url-status=dead}} The financial and insurance services industry accounts for 18.1% of gross product, ahead of professional services with 9% and manufacturing with 7.2%. The creative and technology sectors are also focus industries for the City of Sydney and represented 9% and 11% of its economic output in 2012.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/business/business-support/business-in-your-sector/key-industries/creative-and-digital |title=Creative and digital |access-date=22 July 2014 |archive-date=20 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820035711/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/business/business-support/business-in-your-sector/key-industries/creative-and-digital |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Wade |first=Matt |date=2014 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-dominates-creative-industries-report-20140629-zspzy.html |title=NSW dominates creative industries: report |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-date=28 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828135556/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-dominates-creative-industries-report-20140629-zspzy.html |url-status=live }}

There were 451,000 businesses based in Sydney in 2011, including 48% of the top 500 companies in Australia and two-thirds of the regional headquarters of multinational corporations.{{cite web |publisher=Regional Development Australia |date=2010 |url=http://www.rdasydney.org.au/the-sydney-region/economic-profile/ |title=Economic profile |access-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016221054/http://www.rdasydney.org.au/the-sydney-region/economic-profile/ |archive-date=16 October 2014}} Global companies are attracted to the city in part because its time zone spans the closing of business in North America and the opening of business in Europe. Most foreign companies in Sydney maintain significant sales and service functions but comparably less production, research, and development capabilities.{{cite web |publisher=Australian Business Foundation |date=2009 |url=http://www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au/NSWBC/media/Misc/Ask%20Us%20How/Global-Connections-a-study-of-multinational-companies-in-Sydney.pdf |title=Global connections: a study of multinational companies in Sydney |access-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826061145/http://www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au/NSWBC/media/Misc/Ask%20Us%20How/Global-Connections-a-study-of-multinational-companies-in-Sydney.pdf |archive-date=26 August 2014}} There are 283 multinational companies with regional offices in Sydney.{{cite web |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |date=2000 |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/la/qala.nsf/0/ca25708400173f67ca25706c0022f5a5 |title=Multinational companies regional headquarters |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019002708/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/la/qala.nsf/0/ca25708400173f67ca25706c0022f5a5 |url-status=dead}}

File:Pitt Street Mall, 2014.jpg, a major street in the CBD, runs from Circular Quay in the north to Waterloo in the south, and is home to many large high-end retailers.City of Sydney, [http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/aboutsydney/historyandarchives/SydneyHistory/StreetNames.asp Street Names] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112195451/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/aboutsydney/historyandarchives/SydneyHistory/StreetNames.asp |date=12 January 2013 }} 22 May 2009]]

Sydney has been ranked between the fifteenth and the fifth most expensive city in the world and is the most expensive city in Australia.{{cite web |publisher=UBS |date=2012 |url=http://www.ubs.com/pricesandearnings |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140925110920/http://www.ubs.com/pricesandearnings |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 September 2014 |title=Prices and earnings |access-date=20 July 2014 }} Of the 15 categories only measured by UBS in 2012, workers receive the seventh highest wage levels of 77 cities in the world. Working residents of Sydney work an average of 1,846 hours per annum with 15 days of leave.

The labour force of Greater Sydney Region in 2016 was 2,272,722 with a participation rate of 61.6%.{{Cite web |url=http://profile.id.com.au/australia/employment-status?WebID=250 |title=Employment status, Greater Sydney |work=ID: The Population Experts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161118100544/http://profile.id.com.au/australia/employment-status?WebID=250 |archive-date=18 November 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 March 2018}} It comprised 61.2% full-time workers, 30.9% part-time workers, and 6.0% unemployed individuals.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/employment-status |title=Employment status |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-date=6 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206105606/http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/employment-status |url-status=live }} The largest reported occupations are professionals, clerical and administrative workers, managers, technicians and trades workers, and community and personal service workers. The largest industries by employment across Greater Sydney are Health Care and Social Assistance (11.6%), Professional Services (9.8%), Retail Trade (9.3%), Construction (8.2%), Education and Training (8.0%), Accommodation and Food Services (6.7%), and Financial and Insurance Services (6.6%).{{cite web |url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2011~Community%20Profile~1GSYD/$File/BCP_1GSYD.zip?OpenElement |title=Greater Sydney: Basic Community Profile |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |work=2011 Census Community Profiles |date=28 March 2013 |format=xls |access-date=9 April 2014 |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107230439/https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2011~Community%20Profile~1GSYD/%24File/BCP_1GSYD.zip?OpenElement |url-status=dead }} The Professional Services and Financial and Insurance Services industries account for 25.4% of employment within the City of Sydney.{{cite web |url=http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/industries |title=Industry sector of employment |date=2016 |publisher=City of Sydney |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103143546/http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/industries |archive-date=3 November 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=28 March 2018}}

In 2016, 57.6% of working-age residents had a weekly income of less than $1,000 and 14.4% had a weekly income of $1,750 or more.{{Cite web |url=https://profile.id.com.au/australia/individual-income?WebID=250 |title=Individual income {{!}} Greater Sydney {{!}} profile.id |website=profile.id.com.au |language=en |access-date=29 March 2018 |archive-date=15 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515024755/http://profile.id.com.au/australia/individual-income?WebID=250 |url-status=live }} The median weekly income for the same period was $719 for individuals, $1,988 for families, and $1,750 for households.{{Cite web |url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1GSYD?opendocument |title=2016 Census QuickStats: Greater Sydney |website=Censusdata.abs.gov.au |language=en |access-date=29 March 2018 |archive-date=20 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320091948/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/1GSYD?opendocument |url-status=dead }}

Unemployment in the City of Sydney averaged 4.6% for the decade to 2013, much lower than the current rate of unemployment in Western Sydney of 7.3%.{{cite news |last=Wade |first=Matt |date=2014 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-daily-exodus-from-western-sydney-20140404-363zz.html |title=The daily exodus from western Sydney |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-date=17 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717043059/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/the-daily-exodus-from-western-sydney-20140404-363zz.html |url-status=live }} Western Sydney continues to struggle to create jobs to meet its population growth despite the development of commercial centres like Parramatta. Each day about 200,000 commuters travel from Western Sydney to the CBD and suburbs in the east and north of the city.

Home ownership in Sydney was less common than renting prior to the Second World War but this trend has since reversed. Median house prices have increased by an average of 8.6% per annum since 1970.{{cite web |last1=Abelson |first1=Peter |last2=Chung |first2=Demi |date=2004 |url=http://www.econ.mq.edu.au/Econ_docs/research_papers2/2004_research_papers/Abelson_9_04.pdf |title=Housing prices in Australia: 1970 to 2003 |publisher=Macquarie University |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-date=28 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228091902/http://www.econ.mq.edu.au/Econ_docs/research_papers2/2004_research_papers/Abelson_9_04.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=2014 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6416.0Main+Features1Mar%202014?OpenDocument |title=Residential property price indexes: eight capital cities |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-date=18 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718081354/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6416.0Main+Features1Mar%202014?OpenDocument |url-status=live }} The median house price in March 2014 was $630,000.{{cite web |publisher=RP Data |date=2014 |url=http://www.rpdata.com/images/stories/content/pressreleases/2014-04-01--rpdata-rismark-home-value-index.pdf |title=Home value index results |access-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415214139/http://www.rpdata.com/images/stories/content/pressreleases/2014-04-01--rpdata-rismark-home-value-index.pdf |archive-date=15 April 2014}} The primary cause of rising prices is the increasing cost of land and scarcity.{{Cite news |last=Rebecca |first=Thistleton |url=https://www.afr.com/property/residential/housing-land-so-scarce-so-expensive-20140325-ixb49 |title=Housing land: so scarce so expensive |work=Australian Financial Review |access-date=7 April 2020 |archive-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407004824/https://www.afr.com/property/residential/housing-land-so-scarce-so-expensive-20140325-ixb49 |url-status=live }} 31.6% of dwellings in Sydney are rented, 30.4% are owned outright and 34.8% are owned with a mortgage. 11.8% of mortgagees in 2011 had monthly loan repayments of less than $1,000 and 82.9% had monthly repayments of $1,000 or more. 44.9% of renters for the same period had weekly rent of less than $350 whilst 51.7% had weekly rent of $350 or more. The median weekly rent in Sydney in 2011 was $450.

File:(1)Commonwealth Bank Martin Place.jpg]]

Macquarie gave a charter in 1817 to form the first bank in Australia, the Bank of New South Wales.{{cite web |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=1998 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/money/currency/features/feat3.htm |title=Australia's banking history |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730142737/http://www.abc.net.au/money/currency/features/feat3.htm |archive-date=30 July 2014 |url-status=dead}} New private banks opened throughout the 1800s but the financial system was unstable. Bank collapses were frequent and a crisis point was reached in 1893 when 12 banks failed.

The Bank of New South Wales exists to this day as Westpac.{{cite web |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/bank_of_new_south_wales |title=Bank of New South Wales |access-date=8 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019064205/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/bank_of_new_south_wales |url-status=live }} The Commonwealth Bank of Australia was formed in Sydney in 1911 and began to issue notes backed by the resources of the nation. It was replaced in this role in 1959 by the Reserve Bank of Australia, also based in Sydney. The Australian Securities Exchange began operating in 1987 and with a market capitalisation of $1.6 trillion is now one of the ten largest exchanges in the world.{{cite web |publisher=ASX |date=2014 |url=http://www.asx.com.au/about/history.htm |title=History |access-date=31 August 2014 |archive-date=2 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902024549/http://www.asx.com.au/about/history.htm |url-status=live }}

The Financial and Insurance Services industry now constitutes 43% of the economic product of the City of Sydney. Sydney makes up half of Australia's finance sector and has been promoted by consecutive Commonwealth Governments as Asia Pacific's leading financial centre.{{cite news |last=Murray |first=Lisa |date=2005 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/Sydneys-niche-in-global-finance/2005/04/26/1114462041806.html |title=Sydney's niche in global finance |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924193743/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Business/Sydneys-niche-in-global-finance/2005/04/26/1114462041806.html |url-status=live }} In the 2017 Global Financial Centres Index, Sydney was ranked as having the eighth most competitive financial centre in the world.{{cite web |url=http://www.longfinance.net/images/gfci/gfci_21.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611000617/http://www.longfinance.net/images/gfci/gfci_21.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2017 |title=The Global Financial Centres Index 21 |date=March 2017 |publisher=Long Finance}}

In 1985 the Federal Government granted 16 banking licences to foreign banks and now 40 of the 43 foreign banks operating in Australia are based in Sydney, including the People's Bank of China, Bank of America, Citigroup, UBS, Mizuho Bank, Bank of China, Banco Santander, Credit Suisse, Standard Chartered, State Street, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Royal Bank of Canada, Société Générale, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sumitomo Mitsui, ING Group, BNP Paribas, and Investec.{{cite web |publisher=Department of Trade and Investment |date=2014 |url=http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/doing-business-in-nsw/industry-sectors/finance-and-banking/financial-services |title=Financial services |access-date=26 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621101231/http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/doing-business-in-nsw/industry-sectors/finance-and-banking/financial-services |archive-date=21 June 2014}}{{cite web |publisher=Australian Prudential Regulation Authority |date=2014 |url=http://www.apra.gov.au/adi/pages/adilist.aspx |title=List of authorised deposit-taking institutions |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730182132/http://www.apra.gov.au/adi/Pages/adilist.aspx |archive-date=30 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Manufacturing in Australia}}

Sydney has been a manufacturing city since the 1920s. By 1961 the industry accounted for 39% of all employment and by 1970 over 30% of all Australian manufacturing jobs were in Sydney.{{cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Shirley |date=2011 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney |title=Sydney |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019062156/http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney |url-status=live }} Its status has declined in recent decades, making up 12.6% of employment in 2001 and 8.5% in 2011. Between 1970 and 1985 there was a loss of 180,000 manufacturing jobs. Despite this, Sydney still overtook Melbourne as the largest manufacturing centre in Australia in the 2010s,{{cite news |title=Sydney takes manufacturing capital crown from Melbourne |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 February 2014 |access-date=4 April 2020 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-takes-manufacturing-capital-crown-from-melbourne-20140207-327c3.html |archive-date=6 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406184950/http://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-takes-manufacturing-capital-crown-from-melbourne-20140207-327c3.html |url-status=live }} with a manufacturing output of $21.7 billion in 2013.{{cite news |last=Wade |first=Matt |date=2014 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-takes-manufacturing-capital-crown-from-melbourne-20140207-327c3.html |title=Sydney takes manufacturing capital crown from Melbourne |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=20 July 2014 |archive-date=6 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406184950/http://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-takes-manufacturing-capital-crown-from-melbourne-20140207-327c3.html |url-status=live }} Observers have credited Sydney's focus on the domestic market and high-tech manufacturing for its resilience against the high Australian dollar of the early 2010s. The Smithfield-Wetherill Park Industrial Estate in Western Sydney is the largest industrial estate in the Southern Hemisphere and is the centre of manufacturing and distribution in the region.[https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/south-west/dont-forget-the-southern-hemispheres-largest-industrial-zone/news-story/479f600dcc096d0325ad60fab0372f99 Don't forget the Southern Hemisphere's Largest Industrial Zone] by Marie Hogg and Simon Benson, The Daily Telegraph, 13 November 2015

{{Main|Tourism in Sydney}}

File:2021-04-30 Darling Harbour panorama (cropped).jpg is a major entertainment and tourism precinct. ]]

Sydney is a gateway to Australia for many international visitors and ranks among the top sixty most visited cities in the world.{{cite web |url=https://ceoworld.biz/2019/12/05/these-are-the-worlds-most-visited-cities-among-international-travelers-2019/ |work=CEO World |title=These Are The World's Most Visited Cities Among International Travelers, 2019 |last=Ireland |first=Sophie |date=5 December 2020 |access-date=1 April 2023 |archive-date=1 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801055349/https://ceoworld.biz/2019/12/05/these-are-the-worlds-most-visited-cities-among-international-travelers-2019/ |url-status=live }} It has hosted over 2.8 million international visitors in 2013, or nearly half of all international visits to Australia. These visitors spent 59 million nights in the city and a total of $5.9 billion. The countries of origin in descending order were China, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong, and India.{{cite web |publisher=Destination New South Wales |date=2014 |url=http://www.destinationnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sydney-YE-Dec-13.pdf |title=Travel to Sydney |access-date=26 July 2014 |archive-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814164520/http://www.destinationnsw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Sydney-YE-Dec-13.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The city also received 8.3 million domestic overnight visitors in 2013 who spent a total of $6 billion. 26,700 workers in the City of Sydney were directly employed by tourism in 2011.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2013 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/business/business-support/business-in-your-sector/key-industries/tourism |title=Tourism |access-date=21 July 2014}} There were 480,000 visitors and 27,500 people staying overnight each day in 2012. On average, the tourism industry contributes $36 million to the city's economy per day.

Popular destinations include the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Watsons Bay, The Rocks, Sydney Tower, Darling Harbour, the Royal Botanic Garden, the Australian Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Queen Victoria Building, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Taronga Zoo, Bondi Beach, Luna Park and Sydney Olympic Park.{{cite web |last1=Greenwood |first1=Justine |last2=White |first2=Richard |date=2011 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/tourism |title=Tourism |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=10 August 2014}}

Major developmental projects designed to increase Sydney's tourism sector include a casino and hotel at Barangaroo and the redevelopment of East Darling Harbour, which involves a new exhibition and convention centre, now Australia's largest.{{cite news |title=For the good of Sydney, back this plan |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/for-the-good-of-sydney-back-this-plan-20121102-28p9t.html#ixzz2BFtdMao9 |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald}}{{cite web |title=Barangaroo timeline |url=http://barangaroo.com.au/discover-barangaroo/timeline.aspx |publisher=Barangaroo Delivery Authority |access-date=2 June 2016 |archive-date=15 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215072208/http://barangaroo.com.au/discover-barangaroo/timeline.aspx |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.beabeats.com.au/business-events-australia-newsletter-march-2015/ |title=BEA – Business Events Australia Newsletter – March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610203820/http://www.beabeats.com.au/business-events-australia-newsletter-march-2015/ |archive-date=10 June 2015}}

Sydney is the highest-ranking city in the world for international students. More than 50,000 international students study at the city's universities and a further 50,000 study at its vocational and English language schools.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alexandra |date=2014 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/sydney-named-top-destination-in-the-world-for-international-students-20140427-zqz2a.html |title=Sydney named top destination in the world for international students |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=26 July 2014}} International education contributes $1.6 billion to the local economy and creates demand for 4,000 local jobs each year.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/business/business-support/business-in-your-sector/key-industries/international-education |title=International education |access-date=23 July 2014}}

In 2023, Sydney was ranked the least affordable city to buy a house in Australia and the second least affordable city in the world, after Hong Kong,{{cite report |url=http://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf |title=Demographia International Housing Affordability - 2024 Edition |last=Cox |first=Wendell}} with the average Sydney house price in late 2023 costing A$1.59 million, and the average unit price costing A$795,000.{{cite web | url=https://www.afr.com/property/residential/sydney-median-house-price-hits-record-1-6m-unit-values-fall-behind-20240122-p5ez7v#:~:text=Sydney%20house%20prices%20increased%20by,peak%20recorded%20in%20March%202022 | title=Sydney median house price hits record | date=23 January 2024 }} As of early 2024, Sydney is often described in the media as having a housing shortage, or suffering a housing crisis.{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/homelessness-tsunami-housing-shortage-crisis-facing-sydney/news-story/d0b425b3fda8cf66c948e12ac6702e3e |title='Homelessness tsunami': Housing shortage crisis facing Sydney |last=Wang |first=Jessica |date=12 February 2024 |publisher=NCA NewsWire}}{{cite web | url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/the-shocking-statistic-that-illustrates-sydney-s-housing-crisis-20231229-p5eu87.html | title=The shocking statistic that illustrates Sydney's housing crisis | date=January 2024 }}

{{Main|Demographics of Sydney}}

File:Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown Sydney.jpg celebrations in Chinatown. Sydney is home to the nation's largest population of Chinese Australians.{{cite web |url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2011~Community%20Profile~1GSYD/%24File/BCP_1GSYD.zip?OpenElement |title=2011 Census of Population and Housing: Basic Community Profile |website=www.censusdata.abs.gov.au |access-date=24 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160620142956/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2011~Community%20Profile~1GSYD/%24File/BCP_1GSYD.zip?OpenElement |archive-date=20 June 2016 |url-status=dead}}]]

The population of Sydney in 1788 was less than 1,000.{{cite web |last=Jupp |first=James |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/immigration |title=Immigration |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} With convict transportation it almost tripled in ten years to 2,953.{{cite web |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=2006 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/3105.0.65.001Main+Features12006 |title=Australian historical population statistics, 2006 |access-date=27 July 2014}} For each decade since 1961 the population has increased by more than 250,000.{{cite web |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=2008 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/3105.0.65.001 |title=Australian historical population statistics, 2008 |access-date=27 July 2014}} The 2021 census recorded the population of Greater Sydney as 5,231,150.{{r|ABSGCCSA}} The Australian Treasury expects the population will grow to 6.5 million in 2033–34.{{Cite news |date=2024-12-20 |title=Australians to vote with feet for crowded city life, Treasury predicts |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-20/treasury-predicts-capital-city-population-growth-outpace-regions/104750974 |access-date=2024-12-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The four most densely populated suburbs in Australia are located in Sydney with each having more than 13,000 residents per square kilometre (33,700 residents per square mile).{{cite web |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=2013 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/3218.0Media%20Release12011-12 |title=Regional population growth, Australia, 2011 to 2012 |access-date=18 October 2014}} Between 1971 and 2018, Sydney experienced a net loss of 716,832 people to the rest of Australia, but its population grew due to overseas arrivals and a healthy birth rate.{{Cite web |last=Hanna |first=Conal |title=The world loves Sydney. Australians aren't that fussed |url=https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2018/the-world-loves-sydney-australians-arent-that-fussed/ |access-date=25 February 2021 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

The median age of Sydney residents is 37 and 14.8% of people are 65 or older. 48.6% of Sydney's population is married whilst 36.7% have never been married. 49.0% of families are couples with children, 34.4% are couples without children, and 14.8% are single-parent families.

At the 2021 census, the most common ancestries were:

{{columns-list|colwidth=12em|

• English (21.8%)
• Australian (20.4%){{refn|group="N"|The Australian Bureau of Statistics has stated that most who nominate "Australian" as their ancestry are part of the Anglo-Celtic group.{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/49f609c83cf34d69ca2569de0025c182!OpenDocument|title=Feature Article – Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Australia (Feature Article)|author=Dr James Jupp|website=www.abs.gov.au|date=January 1995}}}}
• Chinese (11.6%)
• Irish (7.2%)
• Scottish (5.6%)
• Indian (4.9%)
• Italian (4.3%)
• Lebanese (3.5%)
• Filipino (2.7%)
• Greek (2.6%)
• Vietnamese (2.5%)
• German (2.2%)
• Korean (1.4%)
• Nepalese (1.4%)
• Australian Aboriginal (1.4%){{refn|Indigenous identification is separate to the ancestry question on the Australian Census and persons identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may identify any ancestry.}}
• Maltese (1.1%)

}}

At the 2021 census, 40.5% of Sydney's population was born overseas. Foreign countries of birth with the greatest representation are mainland China, India, England, Vietnam, Philippines and New Zealand.

At the 2021 census, 1.7% of Sydney's population identified as being Indigenous — Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders.{{refn|group="N"|Indigenous identification is separate to the ancestry question on the Australian Census and persons identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may identify any ancestry.}}{{Cite web |title=2021 Greater Sydney, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/1GSYD |access-date=2 July 2022 |website=Abs.gov.au}}

42% of households in Sydney use a language other than English, with the most common being Mandarin (5%), Arabic (4.2%), Cantonese (2.8%), Vietnamese (2.2%) and Hindi (1.5%).

File:St Mary's Cathedral - panoramio.jpg is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.]]

In 2021, Christianity was the largest religious affiliation at 46%, the largest denominations of which were Catholicism at 23.1% and Anglicanism at 9.2%. 30.3% of Sydney residents identified as having no religion. The most common non-Christian religious affiliations were Islam (6.3%), Hinduism (4.8%), Buddhism (3.8%), Sikhism (0.7%), and Judaism (0.7%). About 500 people identified with traditional Aboriginal religions.

The Church of England was the only recognised church before Governor Macquarie appointed official Catholic chaplains in 1820.O'Brien, Anne (2013). "Religion". The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume I. pp. 419–20 Macquarie also ordered the construction of churches such as St Matthew's, St Luke's, St James's, and St Andrew's. Religious groups, alongside secular institutions, have played a significant role in education, health and charitable services throughout Sydney's history.{{cite web |last=Carey |first=Hilary |date=2008 |title=Religion |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/religion |access-date=9 August 2014 |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney}}

{{Main|Crime in Sydney}}

Crime in Sydney is low, with The Independent ranking Sydney as the fifth safest city in the world in 2019.{{cite news |title=Tokyo ranks as the world's safest city for the third time |work=The Independent |date=30 August 2019 |access-date=1 September 2019 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tokyo-safest-cities-world-singapore-osaka-amsterdam-economist-intelligence-unit-safe-cities-index-a9083236.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tokyo-safest-cities-world-singapore-osaka-amsterdam-economist-intelligence-unit-safe-cities-index-a9083236.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}} However, drug use is a significant problem. Methamphetamine is heavily consumed compared to other countries, while heroin is less common.{{Cite web |date=30 June 2022 |title=Australia is high on ice, eclipsing 24 other countries |url=https://unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2022/australia-is-high-on-ice-eclipsing-24-other-countries/ |access-date=25 August 2022 |website=UniSA |language=en}} One of the biggest crime-related issues in recent times was the introduction of lockout laws in February 2014,{{cite press release |url=http://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/media-news/media-releases/2014/lockouts-to-commence-feb.aspx |first=Barry |last=O'Farrell |author-link=Barry O'Farrell |date=5 February 2014 |title=Lockout to commence from 24 February |publisher=NSW Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615154959/http://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/media-news/media-releases/2014/lockouts-to-commence-feb.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2016}} in an attempt to curb alcohol-fuelled violence. Patrons could not enter clubs or bars in the inner-city after 1:30am, and last drinks were called at 3am. The lockout laws were removed in January 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-14/nsw-police-increase-patrols-after-sydney-lockout-laws-scrapped/11863296 |title=Bars, clubs celebrate as Sydney's lockout laws get lifted |date=14 January 2020 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU |access-date=6 March 2020}}

{{Main|Culture of Sydney}}

File:Art Gallery of New South Wales at night.jpg, located in The Domain, is the fourth largest public gallery in Australia.]]

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is rich in Indigenous Australian heritage, containing around 1,500 pieces of Aboriginal rock art – the largest cluster of Indigenous sites in Australia. The park's indigenous sites include petroglyphs, art sites, burial sites, caves, marriage areas, birthing areas, midden sites, and tool manufacturing locations, which are dated to be around 5,000 years old. The inhabitants of the area were the Garigal people.{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkAboriginalHeritage.aspx?id=N0019 |title=Aboriginal heritage |work=Office of Environment and Heritage |publisher=Government of New South Wales |access-date=7 May 2011}}{{Cite book |title=Discover Australia's National Parks |last=Hema Maps |year=1997 |publisher=Random House Australia |location=Milsons Point, New South Wales |isbn=1-875992-47-2 |pages=116{{endash}}7 }} Other rock art sites exist in the Sydney region, such as in Terrey Hills and Bondi, although the locations of most are not publicised to prevent damage by vandalism, and to retain their quality, as they are still regarded as sacred sites by Indigenous Australians.Basedow, H. 1914. "Aboriginal rock carvings of great antiquity in S.A." J. R. Anthropol. Inst., 44, 195–211.

File:Public Library of New South Wales (30670032690).jpg holds the oldest library collections in Australia.]]

The Australian Museum opened in Sydney in 1827 with the purpose of collecting and displaying the natural wealth of the colony.{{cite web |last=Ellmoos |first=Laila |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/australian_museum |title=Australian Museum |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=8 August 2014}} It remains Australia's oldest natural history museum. In 1995 the Museum of Sydney opened on the site of the first Government House. It recounts the story of the city's development.{{cite web |last1=Ellmoos |first1=Laila |last2=Walden |first2=Inara |date=2011 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/museum_of_sydney |title=Museum of Sydney |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} Other museums include the Powerhouse Museum and the Australian National Maritime Museum.{{cite web |publisher=Powerhouse Museum |date=2014 |url=http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/about/about-museum.php |title=About the Powerhouse Museum |access-date=11 October 2014 |archive-date=3 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003062038/http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/about/about-museum.php |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |publisher=Australian National Maritime Museum |date=2014 |url=http://www.anmm.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/our-museum |title=Our Museum: history and vision |access-date=11 October 2014 |archive-date=11 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011090848/http://www.anmm.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/our-museum |url-status=dead }}

The State Library of New South Wales holds the oldest library collections in Australia, being established as the Australian Subscription Library in 1826.{{cite web |url=http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/about/history/index.html |title=History of the Library | State Library of New South Wales | access-date=7 February 2011 |publisher=State Library of New South Wales}} The Royal Society of New South Wales, formed in 1866, encourages "studies and investigations in science, art, literature, and philosophy". It is based in a terrace house in Darlington owned by the University of Sydney.{{cite web |last=Tyler |first=Peter |date=2010 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/royal_society_of_new_south_wales |title=Royal Society of New South Wales |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} The Sydney Observatory building was constructed in 1859 and used for astronomy and meteorology research until 1982 before being converted into a museum.{{cite web |last=Ellmoos |first=Laila |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney_observatory_building |title=Sydney Observatory building |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=10 August 2014}}

The Museum of Contemporary Art was opened in 1991 and occupies an Art Deco building in Circular Quay. Its collection was founded in the 1940s by artist and art collector John Power and has been maintained by the University of Sydney.{{cite web |last=Ellmoos |first=Laila |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/museum_of_contemporary_art |title=Museum of Contemporary Art |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} Sydney's other significant art institution is the Art Gallery of New South Wales which coordinates the Archibald Prize for portraiture.{{cite web |publisher=Art Gallery of New South Wales |date=2014 |url=http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/about-us/ |title=About us |access-date=11 October 2014}} Sydney is also home to contemporary art gallery Artspace, housed in the historic Gunnery Building in Woolloomooloo, fronting Sydney Harbour.{{Cite web |last=NSW Department of Customer Service |first=Transport for NSW |date=28 April 2023 |title=Artspace Sydney {{!}} NSW Government |url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/artspace-sydney |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=www.nsw.gov.au |language=en-AU}}

File:Atrium of State Theatre IMG 4687a.jpg on Market Street was opened in 1929.]]

Sydney's first commercial theatre opened in 1832 and nine more had commenced performances by the late 1920s. The live medium lost much of its popularity to the cinema during the Great Depression before experiencing a revival after World War II.{{cite web |last=McPherson |first=Ailsa |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/theatre |title=Theatre |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=10 August 2014}} Prominent theatres in the city today include State Theatre, Theatre Royal, Sydney Theatre, The Wharf Theatre, and Capitol Theatre. Sydney Theatre Company maintains a roster of local, classical, and international plays. It occasionally features Australian theatre icons such as David Williamson, Hugo Weaving, and Geoffrey Rush. The city's other prominent theatre companies are New Theatre, Belvoir, and Griffin Theatre Company. Sydney is also home to Event Cinemas' first theatre, which opened on George St in 1913, under its former Greater Union brand; the theatre currently operates, and is regarded as one of Australia's busiest cinema locations.

The Sydney Opera House is the home of Opera Australia and Sydney Symphony. It has staged over 100,000 performances and received 100 million visitors since opening in 1973. Two other important performance venues in Sydney are Town Hall and the City Recital Hall. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is located adjacent to the Royal Botanic Garden and serves the Australian music community through education and its biannual Australian Music Examinations Board exams.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Conservatorium of Music |date=2014 |url=http://music.sydney.edu.au/about/history/ |title=History |access-date=11 October 2014}}

File:Interior of Sydney Opera House Concert Hall during performance.jpg]]

Many writers have originated in and set their work in Sydney. Others have visited the city and commented on it. Some of them are commemorated in the Sydney Writers Walk at Circular Quay. The city was the headquarters for Australia's first published newspaper, the Sydney Gazette.{{cite book |last=Isaacs |first=Victor |title=Two hundred years of Sydney newspapers: a short history |year=2003 |publisher=Rural Press |location=North Richmond |pages=3–5 |url=http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/eserv/UQ:11092/sydnews.pdf}} Watkin Tench's A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay (1789) and A Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson in New South Wales (1793) have remained the best-known accounts of life in early Sydney.{{cite web |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/literature |title=The Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=3 March 2018}} Since the infancy of the establishment, much of the literature set in Sydney were concerned with life in the city's slums and working-class communities, notably William Lane's The Working Man's Paradise (1892), Christina Stead's Seven Poor Men of Sydney (1934) and Ruth Park's The Harp in the South (1948).{{Cite news |last=Maunder |first=Patricia |title=Novelist shone a light on slums |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=17 December 2010 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/novelist-shone-a-light-on-slums-20101216-18zid.html |access-date=6 March 2018}} The first Australian-born female novelist, Louisa Atkinson, set several novels in Sydney.Maguire, M., 'Atkinson, (Caroline) Louisa Waring', in R. Aitken and M. Looker (eds), Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens, South Melbourne, Oxford University Press, 2002, p. 35. Contemporary writers, such as Elizabeth Harrower, were born in the city and set most of their work there–Harrower's debut novel Down in the City (1957) was mostly set in a King's Cross apartment.{{cite magazine |title=Rediscovering Elizabeth Harrower |magazine=The New Yorker |date=20 October 2014 |access-date=6 March 2018 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/time-lies}}{{cite book |title=Text Publishing – Down in the City |url=https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/down-in-the-city |date=23 October 2013 |access-date=22 March 2018 |isbn=9781922147042 |last1=Harrower |first1=Elizabeth|publisher=Text Publishing Company }}{{cite web |title=Review: Down in the City by Elizabeth Harrower |work=Readings.com.au |date=25 October 2013 |access-date=22 March 2018 |url=https://www.readings.com.au/review/down-in-the-city-by-elizabeth-harrower}} Well known contemporary novels set in the city include Melina Marchetta's Looking for Alibrandi (1992), Peter Carey's 30 Days in Sydney: A Wildly Distorted Account (1999), J. M. Coetzee's Diary of a Bad Year (2007) and Kate Grenville's The Secret River (2010). The Sydney Writers' Festival is held annually between April and May.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.swf.org.au/about-us/ |work=Sydney Writers' Festival (SWF) Official Site |access-date=25 March 2018}}

Filmmaking in Sydney was prolific until the 1920s when spoken films were introduced and American productions gained dominance.{{cite web |last1=Balint |first1=Ruth |last2=Dolgopolov |first2=Greg |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/film |title=Film |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} The Australian New Wave saw a resurgence in film production, with many notable features shot in the city between the 1970s and 80s, helmed by directors such as Bruce Beresford, Peter Weir and Gillian Armstrong.{{cite news |title=Australian pride is its 'new wave' of films |work=The New York Times |date=1981 |access-date=25 March 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/02/15/movies/australia-s-pride-is-it-s-new-wave-of-films.html}} Fox Studios Australia commenced production in Sydney in 1998. Successful films shot in Sydney since then include The Matrix, Lantana, Mission: Impossible 2, Moulin Rouge!, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Australia, Superman Returns, The Great Gatsby and Anyone but You. The National Institute of Dramatic Art is based in Sydney and has several famous alumni such as Mel Gibson, Judy Davis, Baz Luhrmann, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Jacqueline Mckenzie.{{cite web |publisher=National Institute of Dramatic Art |date=2014 |url=http://www.nida.edu.au/about-nida/history |title=History |access-date=11 October 2014 |archive-date=17 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017134650/http://www.nida.edu.au/about-nida/history |url-status=dead }}

Sydney hosts several festivals throughout the year. The city's New Year's Eve celebrations are the largest in Australia.{{cite web |last=Kaur |first=Jaskiran |date=2013 |url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/531947/20131227/party-new-year-s-eve-australia-sydney.htm |title=Where to party in Australia on New Year's Eve |website=International Business Times |access-date=27 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708231528/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/531947/20131227/party-new-year-s-eve-australia-sydney.htm |archive-date=8 July 2014}} The Royal Easter Show is held every year at Sydney Olympic Park. Sydney Festival is Australia's largest arts festival.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Festival |date=2014 |url=http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/About/About-Us/ |title=About us |access-date=11 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927103437/http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/About/About-Us/ |archive-date=27 September 2014}} The travelling rock music festival Big Day Out originated in Sydney. The city's two largest film festivals are Sydney Film Festival and Tropfest. Vivid Sydney is an annual outdoor exhibition of art installations, light projections, and music. In 2015, Sydney was ranked the 13th top fashion capital in the world.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20151026005716/http://www.languagemonitor.com/fashion/paris-towers-over-world-of-fashion-as-top-global-fashion-capital-for-2015/ The Top Global Fashion Capitals for 2016]}} – The Global Language Monitor, 2016 It hosts the Australian Fashion Week in autumn. Sydney Mardi Gras has commenced each February since 1979.

Sydney's Chinatown has had numerous locations since the 1850s. It moved from George Street to Campbell Street to its current setting in Dixon Street in 1980.{{cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Shirley |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/chinatown |title=Chinatown |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} Little Italy is located in Stanley Street.

Restaurants, bars and nightclubs can be found in the entertainment hubs in the Sydney CBD (Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, The Rocks and George Street), Oxford Street, Surry Hills, Newtown and Parramatta.{{Cite web |title=Nightlife Archives |url=https://concreteplayground.com/melbourne/category/food-drink/nightlife |access-date=28 January 2021 |website=Concrete Playground |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=The best clubs in Sydney |url=https://www.timeout.com/sydney/nightlife/the-best-clubs-in-sydney |access-date=28 January 2021 |website=Time Out Sydney |language=en}} Kings Cross was previously considered the red-light district. The Star is the city's casino and is situated next to Darling Harbour while the new Crown Sydney resort is in nearby Barangaroo.{{Cite web |title=Discover the best of Crown Sydney |url=http://www.crownsydney.com.au/home |access-date=28 January 2021 |website=Crown Sydney |archive-date=25 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025131306/https://www.crownsydney.com.au/home |url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Media in Sydney}}

File:Ultimo ABC - cropped.jpg, is headquartered in Ultimo.]]

The Sydney Morning Herald is Australia's oldest newspaper still in print; it has been published continuously since 1831.{{cite news |last=Lagan |first=Bernard |date=2012 |url=http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/breaking-news-and-hearts-at-the-herald/277/ |title=Breaking: news and hearts at the Herald |work=The Global Mail |access-date=27 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623194413/http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/breaking-news-and-hearts-at-the-herald/277/ |archive-date=23 June 2012}} Its competitor is The Daily Telegraph, in print since 1879.{{cite journal |last=Clancy |first=Laurie |date=2004 |title=The media and cinema |journal=Culture and Customs of Australia |page=126}} Both papers have Sunday tabloid editions called The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Telegraph respectively. The Bulletin was founded in Sydney in 1880 and became Australia's longest running magazine. It closed after 128 years of continuous publication.{{cite web |last=Wotherspoon |first=Garry |date=2010 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/the_bulletin |title=The Bulletin |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=27 July 2014}} Sydney heralded Australia's first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette, published until 1842.

Each of Australia's three commercial television networks and two public broadcasters is headquartered in Sydney. Nine's offices and news studios are in North Sydney, Ten is based in Pyrmont, and Seven is based in South Eveleigh in Redfern.{{Cite web |title=Channel 9 to move into North Sydney skyscraper | date=6 March 2017|last=Wilmot|first=Ben|url=https://www.realcommercial.com.au/news/channel-9-to-move-into-north-sydney-skyscraper |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=www.realcommercial.com.au |language=en}}{{cite web |publisher=Network 10 |url=http://tenplay.com.au/contact-us |title=Contact us |access-date=24 August 2014}}{{Cite web |date=26 June 2023 |title=7NEWS Sydney to broadcast from new home after 19 years at Martin Place |url=https://7news.com.au/business/media/7news-sydney-to-broadcast-from-new-home-after-19-years-at-martin-place-c-11091970 |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=7NEWS |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mediaweek |date=27 June 2023 |title=In Pictures: 7NEWS Sydney's new newsroom and studios at South Eveleigh |url=https://www.mediaweek.com.au/in-pictures-7news-sydneys-new-newsroom-and-studios-at-south-eveleigh/ |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=Mediaweek |language=en-AU}} The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is located in Ultimo,{{cite web |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2014 |url=http://about.abc.net.au/where-to-find-us/abc-offices/ |title=ABC offices |access-date=24 August 2014}} and the Special Broadcasting Service is based in Artarmon.{{cite web |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service |date=2014 |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/contact/index/id/141/h/Contact-Details |title=Contact |access-date=24 August 2014 |archive-date=18 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718023845/http://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/contact/index/id/141/h/Contact-Details |url-status=dead}} Multiple digital channels have been provided by all five networks since 2000. Foxtel is based in North Ryde and sells subscription cable television to most of the urban area.{{cite web |publisher=Foxtel |date=2014 |url=http://www.foxtel.com.au/about-foxtel/contact/default.htm |title=Contact Foxtel |access-date=24 August 2014}} Sydney's first radio stations commenced broadcasting in the 1920s. Radio has managed to survive despite the introduction of television and the Internet.{{cite web |last=Griffen-Foley |first=Bridget |author-link=Bridget Griffen-Foley |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/commercial_radio |title=Commercial radio |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=27 July 2014}} 2UE was founded in 1925 and under the ownership of Nine Entertainment is the oldest station still broadcasting. Competing stations include the more popular 2GB, ABC Radio Sydney, KIIS 106.5, Triple M, Nova 96.9 and 2Day FM.{{cite news |last=Bodey |first=Michael |date=2010 |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/major-players-maintain-leading-shares-in-second-radio-ratings-survey-of-2010/story-e6frg996-1225847441946 |title=Major players maintain leading shares in second radio ratings survey of 2010 |work=The Australian |access-date=27 July 2014}}

{{Main|Sport in Sydney}}

Sydney's earliest migrants brought with them a passion for sport but were restricted by the lack of facilities and equipment. The first organised sports were boxing, wrestling, and horse racing from 1810 in Hyde Park.{{cite web |last=Cashman |first=Richard |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sport |title=Sport |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=27 July 2014}} Horse racing remains popular and events such as the Golden Slipper Stakes attract widespread attention. The first cricket club was formed in 1826 and matches were played within Hyde Park throughout the 1830s and 1840s. Cricket is a favoured sport in summer and big matches have been held at the Sydney Cricket Ground since 1878. The New South Wales Blues compete in the Sheffield Shield league and the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder contest the national Big Bash Twenty20 competition.

First played in Sydney in 1865, rugby grew to be the city's most popular football code by the 1880s. One-tenth of the state's population attended a New South Wales versus New Zealand rugby match in 1907. Rugby league separated from rugby union in 1908. The New South Wales Waratahs contest the Super Rugby competition, while the Sydney Rays represent the city in the National Rugby Championship. The national Wallabies rugby union team competes in Sydney in international matches such as the Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship, and World Cup. Sydney is home to nine of the seventeen teams in the National Rugby League competition: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Roosters, and Wests Tigers. New South Wales contests the annual State of Origin series against Queensland.

Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers compete in the A-League Men and A-League Women competitions. The Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants are local Australian rules football clubs that play in the Australian Football League and the AFL Women's. The Sydney Kings compete in the National Basketball League. The Sydney Uni Flames play in the Women's National Basketball League. The Sydney Blue Sox contest the Australian Baseball League. The NSW Pride are a member of the Hockey One League. The Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs play in the Australian Ice Hockey League. The Swifts are competitors in the national women's netball league.

File:State of Origin Game II 2018 (cropped).jpg|Stadium Australia

File:Sydney Cricket Ground (24509044622).jpg|Sydney Cricket Ground

File:View Inside Western Sydney Stadium on Opening Day (cropped).jpg|Western Sydney Stadium

File:SydneyFootballStadium Aug2022 Pre-open.jpg|Sydney Football Stadium

File:Sydney Harbour welcomes Jessica Watson.jpg]]

Women were first allowed to participate in recreational swimming when separate baths were opened at Woolloomooloo Bay in the 1830s. From being illegal at the beginning of the century, sea bathing gained immense popularity during the early 1900s and the first surf lifesaving club was established at Bondi Beach.{{cite journal |last=Fenner |first=Peter |date=2005 |title=Surf Life Saving Australia |journal=South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal |pages=33–43}} Disputes about appropriate clothing for surf bathing surfaced occasionally and concerned men as well as women. The City2Surf is an annual {{cvt|14|km|mi|1|abbr=off|adj=on}} running race from the CBD to Bondi Beach and has been held since 1971. In 2010, 80,000 runners participated which made it the largest run of its kind in the world.{{cite web |publisher=City2Surf |date=2014 |url=http://www.city2surf.com.au/timeline/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222180620/http://www.city2surf.com.au/timeline/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2014 |title=Timeline |access-date=27 July 2014}}

Sailing races have been held on Sydney Harbour since 1827.{{cite web |last=de Montfort |first=Carlin |date=2010 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sailing |title=Sailing |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} Yachting has been popular amongst wealthier residents since the 1840s and the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was founded in 1862. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race is a {{cvt|1170|km|mi|0|abbr=off|adj=on}} event that starts from Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day.{{cite web |publisher=About.com |date=2014 |url=http://goaustralia.about.com/od/eventsandfestivals/a/sydhob.htm |title=Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race |access-date=27 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712074730/http://goaustralia.about.com/od/eventsandfestivals/a/sydhob.htm |archive-date=12 July 2014}} Since its inception in 1945 it has been recognised as one of the most difficult yacht races in the world.{{cite news |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=2001 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/sailing/1721104.stm |title=Tough legacy of a Sydney classic |access-date=27 July 2014}} Six sailors died and 71 vessels of 115 failed to finish in the 1998 edition.{{cite web |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney_to_hobart_yacht_race |title=Sydney to Hobart yacht race |access-date=10 August 2014}}

File:Sydney Olympic Park, NSW.jpg was built for the 2000 Olympics and has become a major sporting and recreational precinct.]]

The Royal Sydney Golf Club is based in Rose Bay and since its opening in 1893 has hosted the Australian Open on 13 occasions. Royal Randwick Racecourse opened in 1833 and holds several major cups throughout the year.{{cite web |publisher=Royal Randwick Racecourse |date=2014 |url=http://www.randwickracecourse.com.au |title=Randwick Race Course |access-date=30 August 2014}}

Sydney benefitted from the construction of significant sporting infrastructure in preparation for its hosting of the 2000 Summer Olympics. The Sydney Olympic Park accommodates athletics, aquatics, tennis, hockey, archery, baseball, cycling, equestrian, and rowing facilities. It also includes the high capacity Stadium Australia used for rugby, soccer, and Australian rules football. The Sydney Football Stadium was completed in 1988 and was used for rugby and soccer matches. Sydney Cricket Ground was opened in 1878 and is used for both cricket and Australian rules football fixtures.

Sydney was one of the host cities during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Sydney Football Stadium and Stadium Australia were selected as venues, with the later hosting the final.{{cite news|title=Football Australia celebrates hosting the most successful FIFA Women's World Cup ever|url=https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/football-australia-celebrates-hosting-most-successful-fifa-womens-world-cup-ever|work=Football Australia|access-date=2 June 2024}}

The Sydney International tennis tournament is held here at the beginning of each year as the warm-up for the Grand Slam in Melbourne. Two of the most successful tennis players in history (Ken Rosewall and Todd Woodbridge) were born in and live in the city.

Sydney co-hosted the FIBA Oceania Championship in 1979, 1985, 1989, 1995, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

{{See also|Local government areas of New South Wales}}

File:Parliament house sydney nsw b..jpg holds the Government of New South Wales and is the oldest public building in Australia.]]The first five governors had near autocratic power in the colony of New South Wales, subject only to the laws of England and the supervision of the Colonial Office in London. Sydney was the seat of government for the colony which encompassed over half the Australian continent.Kingston (2006). pp. 1–2, 27–28 The first Legislative Council met in 1826,Kingston (2006). p. 28 and in 1842, the imperial parliament expanded and reformed the council, making it partly elected.Hirst, John (2014), pp. 51–54 In the same year, the town of Sydney officially became a city and an elected municipal council was established.{{cite web |title=History of Sydney City Council |url=https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/-/media/corporate/files/publications/history/history-of-sydney-city-council/hs_chos_history_of_council_1001.pdf?download=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617055655/https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/-/media/corporate/files/publications/history/history-of-sydney-city-council/hs_chos_history_of_council_1001.pdf?download=true |archive-date=17 June 2021 |access-date=17 June 2021 |publisher=City of Sydney |format=PDF }}{{cite book |author=Hilary Golder |url=https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/-/media/corporate/files/publications/history/history-of-sydney-city-council/hs_chos_electoral_history.pdf?download=true |title=A Short Electoral History of the Sydney City Council 1842–1992 |publisher=City of Sydney |year=1995 |isbn=0-909368-93-7 |format=PDF |access-date=17 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617055958/https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/-/media/corporate/files/publications/history/history-of-sydney-city-council/hs_chos_electoral_history.pdf?download=true |archive-date=17 June 2021 }} The council had limited powers, mostly relating to services such as street lighting and drainage.{{cite conference |author=Kelly, A. H. |date=4–8 July 2011 |title=The Development of Local Government in Australia, Focusing on NSW: From Road Builder to Planning Agency to Servant of the State Government and Developmentalism |url=http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1542&context=lawpapers |format=Paper |location=Perth |publisher=University of Wollongong |access-date=1 January 2017 |event=World Planning Schools Congress 2011 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011225005/http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1542&context=lawpapers |url-status=dead }} Its boundaries were restricted to an area of 11.6 square kilometres, taking in the city centre and the modern suburbs of Woolloomooloo, Surry Hills, Chippendale, and Pyrmont. As Sydney grew, other municipal councils were formed to provide local administration.{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Shirley |date=2011 |title=Sydney |url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydney |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=The Dictionary of Sydney, State Library of New South Wales}}

In 1856, New South Wales achieved responsible government with the introduction of a bicameral parliament, based in Sydney, comprising a directly elected Legislative Assembly and a nominated Legislative Council.Kingston, Beverley (2006). pp. 36, 55–57, 61–62 With the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901, Sydney became the capital of the state of New South Wales and its administration was divided between the Commonwealth, State and constituent local governments.

File:Sydney Town Hall, 2022, 06.jpg is the seat of the City of Sydney; the oldest local government in the city]]

In common with other Australian capital cities, Sydney has no single local government covering its whole area. Local government areas have responsibilities such as local roads, libraries, child care, community services and waste collection, whereas the state government retains responsibility for main roads, traffic control, public transport, policing, education, and major infrastructure project.{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Three levels of government |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Publications/Fact_Sheets/three_lvls.htm |access-date=27 July 2014 |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission}} There are 33 local government areas which are wholly or mostly within Greater Sydney as defined by the Australian Statistical Geography Standard.{{Cite web |title=ABS maps |url=https://maps.abs.gov.au/ |access-date=21 January 2023 |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• Bayside
• Canterbury-Bankstown
• Blacktown
• Blue Mountains
• Burwood
• Camden
• Campbelltown
• Canada Bay
• Central Coast
• Cumberland
• Fairfield
• Georges River
• Hawkesbury
• The Hills
• Hornsby
• Hunter's Hill
• Inner West
• Ku-ring-gai
• Lane Cove
• Liverpool
• Mosman
• North Sydney
• Northern Beaches
• Parramatta
• Penrith
• Randwick
• Ryde
• Strathfield
• Sutherland
• Sydney
• Waverley
• Willoughby
• Wollondilly
• Woollahra

{{div col end}}

File:Government House, Sydney, Australia.jpg is the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales]]

Sydney is the location of the secondary official residences of the Governor-General and Prime Minister – Admiralty House and Kirribilli House respectively.{{cite web |url=https://www.gg.gov.au/about-governor-general/official-residences |title=Official Residences |publisher=Governor-General of Australia |access-date=1 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530161014/http://www.gg.gov.au/about-governor-general/official-residences |archive-date=30 May 2017 |url-status=dead}} The Parliament of New South Wales sits in Parliament House on Macquarie Street. This building was completed in 1816 and first served as a hospital. The Legislative Council moved into its northern wing in 1829 and by 1852 had entirely supplanted the surgeons from their quarters.{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Governor Lachlan Macquarie |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/HistoryGovernorLachlanMacquarie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912191250/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/web/common.nsf/key/HistoryGovernorLachlanMacquarie |archive-date=12 September 2014 |access-date=17 August 2014 |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales}} Several additions have been made as the Parliament has expanded, but it retains its original Georgian façade.{{cite web |last=Ellmoos |first=Laila |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/parliament_house |title=Parliament House |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} Government House was completed in 1845 and has served as the home of 25 Governors and 5 Governors-General.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Living Museums |date=2014 |url=http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/behold-palace |title=Behold a palace |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-date=1 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701172133/http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/behold-palace |url-status=dead }} The Cabinet of Australia also meets in Sydney when needed.

The highest court in the state is the Supreme Court of New South Wales, located in Queen's Square.{{cite web |publisher=Supreme Court of New South Wales |date=2014 |url=http://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/supremecourt/SCO2_court_locations.html |title=Court locations |access-date=17 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125221814/http://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/supremecourt/SCO2_court_locations.html |archive-date=25 November 2014}} The city is also the home of numerous branches of the intermediate District Court of New South Wales and the lower Local Court of New South Wales.{{cite web |publisher=New South Wales Courts |date=2014 |url=http://nswcourts.com.au/courts/ |title=Find a court |access-date=17 August 2014}}

In the past, the state has tended to resist amalgamating Sydney's more populated local government areas as merged councils could pose a threat to its governmental power.{{cite book |last=Golder |first=Hilary |year=2004 |title=Sacked: removing and remaking the Sydney City Council}} Established in 1842, the City of Sydney is one such local government area and includes the CBD and some adjoining inner suburbs.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2005 |url=http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/AboutSydney/documents/history/hs_chos_history_of_council_1001.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050709222141/http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/AboutSydney/documents/history/hs_chos_history_of_council_1001.pdf |archive-date=9 July 2005 |title=History of Sydney City Council |access-date=13 July 2014}} It is responsible for fostering development in the local area, providing local services (waste collection and recycling, libraries, parks, sporting facilities), promoting the interests of residents, supporting organisations that target the local community, and attracting and providing infrastructure for commerce, tourism, and industry.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=2014 |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/council/about-council |title=About Council |access-date=17 August 2014}} The City of Sydney is led by an elected Council and Lord Mayor.{{cite web |publisher=State Records |date=2014 |url=http://investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/Entity.aspx?Path=%5COrganisation%5C21 |title=Organisation detail |access-date=12 October 2014}}

In federal politics, Sydney was initially considered as a possibility for Australia's capital city; the newly created city of Canberra ultimately filled this role.{{Cite book |title=The Oxford Companion to Australian History |editor1-last=Davison |editor1-first=Graeme |editor2-last=Hirst |editor2-first=John |editor3-last=Macintyre |editor3-first=Stuart |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=464–465, 662–663 |isbn=9780195535976}} Seven Australian Prime Ministers have been born in Sydney, more than any other city, including first Prime Minister Edmund Barton and current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Essential public emergency services are provided and managed by the State Government. Greater Sydney is served by:

• New South Wales Police Force
• New South Wales Ambulance
• Fire and Rescue NSW

{{Main|Education in Sydney}}

File:Usydcampuspicture.jpg]]

Education became a focus for the colony from the 1870s when public schools began to form and schooling became compulsory.{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Craig |last2=Sherington |first2=Geoffrey |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/education |title=Education |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}} By 2011, 90% of working age residents had completed some schooling and 57% had completed the highest level of school. 1,390,703 people were enrolled in an educational institution in 2011 with 45.1% of these attending school and 16.5% studying at a university. Undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications are held by 22.5% of working age Sydney residents and 40.2% of working age residents of the City of Sydney.{{cite web |publisher=.id |date=2014 |url=http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/qualifications |title=Educational qualifications |access-date=27 July 2014 |archive-date=23 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223221803/http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/qualifications |url-status=dead }} The most common fields of tertiary qualification are commerce (22.8%), engineering (13.4%), society and culture (10.8%), health (7.8%), and education (6.6%).

File:112 N7A8606 UTS Central Andy Roberts hr.jpg]]

There are six public universities based in Sydney: The University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University, Western Sydney University, and Australian Catholic University. Five public universities maintain secondary campuses in the city: the University of Notre Dame Australia, Central Queensland University, Victoria University, University of Wollongong, and University of Newcastle. Charles Sturt University and Southern Cross University operate secondary campuses only designated for international students. In addition, four public universities offer programs in Sydney through third-party providers: University of the Sunshine Coast, La Trobe University, Federation University Australia and Charles Darwin University. 5.2% of residents of Sydney are attending a university.{{cite web |publisher=.id |date=2014 |url=http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/education |title=Education institution attending |access-date=27 July 2014 |archive-date=26 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226220401/http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/education |url-status=dead }} The University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney are ranked equal 19th in the world,{{Cite web |title=UNSW Sydney rockets into the global top 20 in latest QS Rankings |url=https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/06/unsw-sydney-rockets-into-the-global-top-20-in-latest-qs-rankings |access-date=14 April 2024 |website=UNSW Sites |language=en}} the University of Technology Sydney is ranked in the top 100, while Macquarie University is ranked 237, and Western Sydney University is ranked 474.{{cite web |title=QS World University Rankings 2021 |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2021 |website=Top Universities |access-date=2 January 2020 |language=en |date=5 June 2019}}

Sydney has public, denominational, and independent schools. 7.8% of Sydney residents are attending primary school and 6.4% are enrolled in secondary school. There are 935 public preschool, primary, and secondary schools in Sydney that are administered by the New South Wales Department of Education.{{cite web |publisher=Department of Education and Communities |date=2014 |url=http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/? |title=School locator |access-date=27 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709210937/http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/schoolfind/locator/ |archive-date=9 July 2014 |url-status=dead}} 14 of the 17 selective secondary schools in New South Wales are based in Sydney.{{cite web |publisher=Department of Education and Communities |date=2014 |url=http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotoschool/types/shs_ahs_details.php |title=List of selective and agricultural high schools |access-date=27 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613233227/http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotoschool/types/shs_ahs_details.php |archive-date=13 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}

Public vocational education and training in Sydney are run by TAFE New South Wales and began with the opening of the Sydney Technical College in 1878. The college became the Sydney Institute in 1992 and now operates alongside its sister TAFE facilities across the Sydney metropolitan area, namely the Northern Sydney Institute, the Western Sydney Institute, and the South Western Sydney Institute. At the 2011 census, 2.4% of Sydney residents are enrolled in a TAFE course.

File:Sydney Hospital. - panoramio.jpg, completed in 1816]]

The first hospital in the new colony was a collection of tents at The Rocks. Many of the convicts that survived the trip suffered from dysentery, smallpox, scurvy, and typhoid. Healthcare facilities remained inadequate despite the arrival of a prefabricated hospital with the Second Fleet and the construction of new hospitals at Parramatta, Windsor, and Liverpool in the 1790s.{{cite web |last=Godden |first=Judith |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/hospitals |title=Hospitals |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=9 August 2014}}

Governor Macquarie arranged for the construction of Sydney Hospital, completed in 1816. Parts of the facility have been repurposed for use as Parliament House but the hospital itself still operates. The city's first emergency department was established at Sydney Hospital in 1870. Demand for emergency medical care increased from 1895 with the introduction of an ambulance service. The Sydney Hospital also housed Australia's first teaching facility for nurses, the Nightingale Wing, established with the input of Florence Nightingale in 1868.Judith Godden, Lucy Osburn, A Lady Displaced, Sydney: Sydney University Press, 2006

Healthcare was recognised as a right in the early 1900s and Sydney's public hospitals came under the oversight of the Government of New South Wales. The administration of healthcare across Sydney is handled by eight local health districts: Central Coast, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains, Northern Sydney, South Eastern Sydney, South Western Sydney, and Western Sydney.{{cite web |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=2014 |url=http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/lhd/Pages/default.aspx |title=Local health districts |access-date=23 August 2014}} The Prince of Wales Hospital was established in 1852 and became the first of several major hospitals to be opened.{{cite web |publisher=South Eastern Sydney Local Health District |date=2014 |url=http://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/POWH/history/powhistory.asp |title=Prince of Wales Hospital |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019082609/http://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/POWH/history/powhistory.asp |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=dead}} St Vincent's Hospital was founded in 1857, followed by Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in 1880,{{cite web |publisher=The Children's Hospital at Westmead |date=2014 |url=http://bandagedbear.org.au/about-us/our-history/ |title=Our history |access-date=23 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621081851/http://bandagedbear.org.au/about-us/our-history/ |archive-date=21 June 2014}} the Prince Henry Hospital in 1881,{{cite web |publisher=South Eastern Sydney Local Health District |date=2014 |url=http://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/POWH/history/henryhistory.asp |title=Prince Henry Hospital |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019082311/http://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/POWH/history/henryhistory.asp |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=dead}} the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in 1882,{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Local Health District |date=2014 |url=http://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/rpa/about_us.html |title=Royal Prince Alfred Hospital |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-date=18 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218045210/http://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/rpa/about_us.html |url-status=dead}} the Royal North Shore Hospital in 1885,{{cite web |publisher=Northern Sydney Local Health District |date=2014 |url=http://www.nslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Hospitals/RNSH/Pages/Aboutus.aspx |title=About us |access-date=23 August 2014}} the St George Hospital in 1894,{{cite web |publisher=South Eastern Sydney Local Health District |date=2014 |url=http://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/SGH/about_us.asp |title=About us |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816045336/http://www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/SGH/about_us.asp |archive-date=16 August 2014 |url-status=dead}} and the Nepean Hospital in 1895.{{cite web |publisher=Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District |date=2014 |url=http://www.nbmlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Nepean-Hospital/About-Us |title=About Nepean Hospital |access-date=23 August 2014}} Westmead Hospital in 1978 was the last major facility to open.{{cite web |publisher=Western Sydney Local Health District |date=2014 |url=http://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Westmead-Hospital/About-us/Our-History |title=Our history |access-date=23 August 2014}}

{{Main|Transport in Sydney}}

File:Light Horse Interchange (aerial view).jpg, the largest of its kind in Australia]]

The motor vehicle, more than any other factor, has determined the pattern of Sydney's urban development since World War II.{{cite web |last=Wotherspoon |first=Garry |date=2008 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/transport |title=Transport |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=10 August 2014}} The growth of low-density housing in the city's outer suburbs has made car ownership necessary for hundreds of thousands of households. The percentage of trips taken by car has increased from 13% in 1947 to 50% in 1960 and 70% in 1971. The most important roads in Sydney were the nine Metroads, including the {{cvt|110|km|mi|0|abbr=off|adj=on}} Sydney Orbital Network. Sydney's reliance on motor vehicles and its sprawling road network has been criticised by proponents of mass public transport and high-density housing.{{cite web |title=Australian Social Trends, July 2013 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features40July+2013 |work=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=21 August 2016 |date=5 March 2014}}{{cite news |title=Sydney is Australia's most valuable location, but public transport is its weakness |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=4 April 2015 |first=Matt |last=Wade |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-is-australias-most-valuable-location-but-public-transport-is-its-weakness-20150402-1mdv7i.html |access-date=21 August 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/comment/sydney-not-yet-a-true-global-city-20140411-zqtpy.html |title=Sydney not yet a true global city |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 April 2014 |access-date=21 August 2016}} The Light Horse Interchange in western Sydney is the largest in the southern hemisphere.{{cite web |url=http://www.westlinkm7.com.au/cmsAdmin/uploads/Fact_Sheet_Light_Horse_Interchange.pdf |title=Fact Sheet – Light Horse Interchange |publisher=Westlink Motorway Limited |date=May 2006 |access-date=3 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233919/http://www.westlinkm7.com.au/cmsAdmin/uploads/Fact_Sheet_Light_Horse_Interchange.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}

There can be up to 350,000 cars using Sydney's roads simultaneously during peak hour, leading to significant traffic congestion. 84.9% of Sydney households own a motor vehicle and 46.5% own two or more. With a rate of 26.3% in 2014, Sydney has the highest utilisation of public transport for travel to work of any Australian capital.{{cite web |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=2008 |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Chapter10102008 |title=Australian social trends |access-date=10 August 2014}} In contrast, in 2014 only 25.2% of working residents in the City of Sydney use a car, whilst 15.8% take a train, 13.3% use a bus, and 25.3% walk.{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Method of travel to work |url=http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/travel-to-work |access-date=27 July 2014 |publisher=.id |archive-date=23 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223224108/http://profile.id.com.au/sydney/travel-to-work |url-status=dead }} Several significant infrastructure projects have been completed since. The CBD features a series of alleyways and lanes that provide off-street vehicular access to city buildings and as well as pedestrian routes through city buildings.{{cite web |publisher=City of Sydney |date=1 January 1993 |url=https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1750473 |title=Policy for the management of laneways in Central Sydney/ Sydney City Council |access-date=18 November 2022}}

{{Main|Sydney Trains}}

File:Central Station Concourse Hall.jpg is the busiest railway station in Australia, and the city's main public transport hub.]]

Established in 1906, Central station is the largest and busiest railway station in the state and is the main hub of the city's rail network.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Trains |date=2014 |url=http://www.sydneytrains.info/about/history/central_station.htm |title=Central Station |access-date=10 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625093221/http://sydneytrains.info/about/history/central_station.htm |archive-date=25 June 2014}} Sydney Trains is the suburban rail service. Its tracks form part of the New South Wales railway network. It serves 168 stations across the city and had an annual ridership of 302 million passenger journeys in 2023–24.{{Cite web |date=19 December 2024 |title=Sydney Trains Annual Report |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2024/sydney-trains-annual-report-2023-24-volume-1.pdf |access-date=19 December 2024 |website=Transport for NSW}} Sydney's railway was first constructed in 1854 with progressive extension to the network to serve both freight and passengers. The main station is the Central railway station in the southern part of the CBD. In the 1850s and 1860s, the railway reached areas that are now outer suburbs of Sydney.

{{main|Sydney Metro}}

Sydney Metro, a driverless rapid transit system separate from the suburban commuter network, commenced operation in May 2019 and was extended through the city to Sydenham on 19 August 2024. This line will be extended to Bankstown in 2025 and a new line through the inner west to Parramatta is planned to be built by 2030.{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/transport-minister-andrew-constance-says-new-sydney-metro-train-line-a-massive-city-shaping-project-20150616-ghoy0v.html |title=Transport minister Andrew Constance says new Sydney Metro train line a 'massive city shaping project' |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=16 June 2015 |access-date=20 June 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/new-metro-train-stations-in-sydney-could-be-built-in-crows-nest-or-st-leonards-and-artarmon-by-2024/story-fngr8h9d-1227392848894 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150921142445/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/new-metro-train-stations-in-sydney-could-be-built-in-crows-nest-or-st-leonards-and-artarmon-by-2024/story-fngr8h9d-1227392848894 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 September 2015 |title=New metro train stations in Sydney could be built in Crows Nest or St Leonards and Artarmon by 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 June 2015 |access-date=20 June 2015 }} It currently serves 21 stations. A line to serve the greater west is planned for 2026 and will include a station for the second international airport.

{{Main|Light rail in Sydney}}

File:CBD light rail 001.jpg connects Sydney's CBD with the Eastern Suburbs.]]

Sydney once had one of the largest tram networks in the British Empire after London.{{cite web |date=12 May 2014 |title=Shooting Through: Sydney by Tram |url=https://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/shooting-through-sydney-tram |access-date=31 May 2019 |work=Sydney Living Museums}} It served routes covering {{cvt|291|km|mi|0|abbr=off}}. The internal combustion engine made buses more flexible than trams and consequently more popular, leading to the progressive closure of the network with the final tram operating in 1961. From 1930 there were 612 buses across Sydney carrying 90 million passengers per annum.{{cite web |last=Wotherspoon |first=Garry |date=2008 |title=Buses |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/buses |access-date=8 August 2014 |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney}}

In 1997, the Inner West Light Rail opened between Central station and Wentworth Park. It was extended to Lilyfield in 2000 and then Dulwich Hill in 2014. It links the Inner West and Darling Harbour with Central station and facilitated 9.1 million journeys in the 2016–17 financial year.{{Cite web |date=8 June 2017 |title=Light Rail Patronage – Monthly Comparison |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/performance-and-analytics/passenger-travel/light-rail-patronage/light-rail-patronage-monthly |access-date=25 August 2017 |website=Transport for NSW |language=en-AU}} A second, the CBD and South East Light Rail {{cvt|12|km|1}} line serving the CBD and Eastern Suburbs opened in 2019–2020.{{cite web |title=CBD and South East Light Rail contract awarded with earlier delivery date |url=http://www.sydneylightrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/latest/media-releases/2013-(1)/transforming-sydney-cbd-and-south-east-light-rail |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513081808/http://www.sydneylightrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/latest/media-releases/2013-(1)/transforming-sydney-cbd-and-south-east-light-rail |archive-date=13 May 2015 |website=Sydney Light Rail |publisher=Transport for NSW}} A light rail line serving Western Sydney opened in 2024.

{{Main|Buses in Sydney}}

Bus services are conducted by private operators under contract to Transport for NSW. Integrated tickets called Opal cards operate on bus routes. In total, nearly 225 million boardings were recorded across the bus network.{{Cite report |url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/publications/annual_reports/tfnsw-annual-report-2013-2014.pdf |title=TfNSW 2013–2014 Annual Report |author=Transport for NSW |date=2014 |pages=35, 36 |author-link=Transport for NSW |access-date=29 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529174646/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/publications/annual_reports/tfnsw-annual-report-2013-2014.pdf |archive-date=29 May 2015 |url-status=dead}} NightRide is a nightly bus service that operate between midnight and 5am.

{{Main|Sydney Ferries|List of Sydney Harbour ferries|Timeline of Sydney Harbour ferries}}

File:Freshwater class ferry Queenscliff on its way to Manly at Circular Quay.jpg Departing Circular Quay to Manly]]

At the time the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932, the city's ferry service was the largest in the world.{{cite web |publisher=Transport for New South Wales |date=2014 |url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/content/sydney-ferries |title=Sydney Ferries |access-date=10 August 2014}} Patronage declined from 37 million passengers in 1945 to 11 million in 1963 but has recovered somewhat in recent years. From its hub at Circular Quay, the ferry network extends from Manly to Parramatta. Ferries in sydney are operated by Transdev Sydney Ferries and operates 10 routes.

Sydney Airport, officially "Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport", is located in Mascot. It services 46 international and 23 domestic destinations. As the busiest airport in Australia, it handled 37.9 million passengers in 2013 and 530,000 tonnes of freight in 2011.

A second airport, Western Sydney Airport, is under construction at Badgerys Creek and will open in late 2026,{{Cite web |title=Welcome to WSI – Sydney's new airport {{!}} Western Sydney International Airport |url=https://wsiairport.com.au/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=wsiairport.com.au}} at a cost of $2.5 billion.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Lisa |last2=Massola |first2=James |date=2014 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-confirms-badgerys-creek-as-site-of-second-sydney-airport-20140415-zqv0d.html |title=Tony Abbott confirms Badgerys Creek as site of second Sydney airport |newspaper=The Age |access-date=24 August 2014}} Notably, it will not feature a curfew, unlike Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport, which imposes a suspension of all aircraft operations between 11{{nbsp}}pm and 6{{nbsp}}am. Bankstown Airport is Sydney's second busiest airport, and serves general aviation, charter and some scheduled cargo flights. Bankstown is also the fourth busiest airport in Australia by number of aircraft movements.{{cite web |url=http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/Airport_Movement_Calendar_Year_2011.pdf |title=Movements at Australian Airports |date=17 February 2012 |website=Airservices Australia |access-date=6 November 2016 |archive-date=30 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530202523/http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/wp-content/uploads/Airport_Movement_Calendar_Year_2011.pdf |url-status=dead}} Port Botany has surpassed Port Jackson as the city's major shipping port. Cruise ship terminals are located at Sydney Cove and White Bay.

File:Warragamba Dam (January 2014).jpg is Sydney's largest water supply dam.]]

Obtaining sufficient fresh water was difficult during early colonial times. A catchment called the Tank Stream sourced water from what is now the CBD but was little more than an open sewer by the end of the 1700s.{{cite web |last=North |first=MacLaren |date=2011 |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/water |title=Water |publisher=Dictionary of Sydney |access-date=10 August 2014}} The Botany Swamps Scheme was one of several ventures during the mid-1800s that saw the construction of wells, tunnels, steam pumping stations, and small dams to service Sydney's growing population.

The Upper Nepean Scheme came into operation in 1886. It transports water {{cvt|100|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} from the Nepean, Cataract, and Cordeaux rivers and continues to service about 15% of Sydney's water needs. Dams were built on these three rivers between 1907 and 1935. In 1977 the Shoalhaven Scheme brought several more dams into service.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Water |date=2014 |url=http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/teachers-students/facts-about-water/secondary-students/history-of-water-in-sydney/sydney-water-timeline/index.htm |title=Sydney Water timeline |access-date=10 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630004351/http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/teachers-students/facts-about-water/secondary-students/history-of-water-in-sydney/sydney-water-timeline/index.htm |archive-date=30 June 2014}}

The state-owned corporation WaterNSW now manages eleven major dams: Warragamba, one of the largest domestic water supply dams in the world,{{cite web |title=Sydney's Largest Water Supply Dam |url=http://www.waternsw.com.au/supply/visit/warragamba-dam |website=Water NSW |access-date=15 February 2016}} Woronora, Cataract, Cordeaux, Nepean, Avon, Wingecarribee Reservoir, Fitzroy Falls Reservoir, Tallowa, the Blue Mountains Dams, and Prospect Reservoir.{{cite web |publisher=Sydney Catchment Authority |date=2014 |url=http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/water/supply/dams |title=Dams and reservoirs |access-date=10 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926021711/http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au/water/supply/dams |archive-date=26 September 2014}} Water is collected from five catchment areas covering {{cvt|16000|km2|mi2|0|abbr=off}} and total storage amounts to {{cvt|2.6|TL|mi3|1|abbr=off}}. The Sydney Desalination Plant came into operation in 2010. WaterNSW supplies bulk water to Sydney Water, a state-owned corporation that operates water distribution, sewerage and storm water management services.

Sydney's electricity infrastructure is maintained by Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy.{{cite web |publisher=Ausgrid |year=2014 |url=http://www.ausgrid.com.au/Common/About-us/Contact-us/About-Ausgrid.aspx |title=About Ausgrid |access-date=12 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019073329/http://www.ausgrid.com.au/Common/About-us/Contact-us/About-Ausgrid.aspx |archive-date=19 October 2014}}{{cite web |publisher=Endeavour Energy |year=2014 |url=http://www.endeavourenergy.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/EE/NSW/NSW+Homepage/aboutUsNav |title=About us |access-date=12 October 2014 |archive-date=13 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013005639/http://www.endeavourenergy.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/EE/NSW/NSW+Homepage/aboutUsNav |url-status=dead}} Their combined networks include over 815,000 poles and {{cvt|83000|km|mi|abbr=off}} of cables. Submarine communications cable systems in Sydney include the Australia–Japan Cable, Telstra Endeavour and the Southern Cross Cable, which link Australia and countries in the Pacific.{{Cite web|url=https://www.southerncrosscables.com/home/company/faq|title=FAQ|website=www.southerncrosscables.com|access-date=30 July 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://ajcable.com/ajc-network/cable-system-facts/ |title = Cable System Facts| website= Australia-Japan Cable| access-date= 30 July 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telstra.com.au/aboutus/media/media-releases/telstra-hits-100g-on-key-asia-pac-submarine-cables|title=Telstra hits 100G on key Asia-Pac submarine cables|website=Telstra|access-date=21 July 2023|archive-date=21 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721131200/https://www.telstra.com.au/aboutus/media/media-releases/telstra-hits-100g-on-key-asia-pac-submarine-cables|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Environmental issues in Australia}}

{{Further|Climate change in Australia|Renewable energy in Australia}}

File:Sydney_bushfire_smoke_on_George_St_(49197319478).jpg and bushfire smoke in December 2019]]

As climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and pollution have become a major issue for Australia, Sydney has in the past been criticised for its lack of focus on reducing pollution and emissions and maintaining water quality.{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/look-whos-polluting-sydney-waters-shame-20111022-1mdjr.html |title=Look who's polluting: Sydney Water's shame |date=23 October 2011 |access-date=3 February 2015}} The release of the Metropolitan Air Quality Scheme (MAQS) led to a broader understanding of the causation of pollution in Sydney, allowing the government to form appropriate responses.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/5CBB690F207683B5CA256ECF000843DE/$File/11-98.pdf |title=Air Pollution in Sydney: An Update Briefing Paper |date=August 1998 |access-date=3 February 2015 |archive-date=23 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623064945/http://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/5CBB690F207683B5CA256ECF000843DE/$File/11-98.pdf |url-status=dead}}

The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season significantly impacted outer Sydney and dramatically reduced air quality, leading to a smoky haze that lingered for days. The air quality was 11 times the hazardous level in some days,{{Cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/sydney-smoke-haze-reaches-11-times-the-hazardous-level/video/1d45b28f8c2459ee9ecfb9fee65fbbfe |title=Sydney smoke haze reaches 11 times the hazardous level |date=10 December 2019 |access-date=1 January 2020}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2019/dec/10/sydneys-top-landmarks-smothered-in-smoke-in-pictures |title=Sydney smoke: bushfires haze smothers landmarks – in pictures |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 December 2019 |access-date=1 January 2020 |last1=Hromas |first1=Jessica}} worse than New Delhi's;{{Cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/temperature-inversion-traps-smoke-in-sydney/news-story/b6d804cc21eaaaf9b88ec6a448285be8 |title=Bushfire smoke makes Sydney air quality worse than Delhi |date=3 December 2019 |access-date=1 January 2020}} it was compared to "smoking 32 cigarettes" by Brian Oliver, a respiratory diseases scientist at the University of Technology Sydney.{{Cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/sydney-fire-haze-equal-to-smoking-32-cigarettes/news-story/7ab680a39edd6d87ae76e35894f949f6 |title=Sydney fire haze equal to 'smoking 32 cigarettes' |newspaper=News |date=22 November 2019 |access-date=1 January 2020}} Since Sydney is surrounded by bushland and forest,{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/lessons-learnt-and-perhaps-forgotten-from-australia-s-worst-fires-20190108-p50qol.html |title=Lessons learnt (and perhaps forgotten) from Australia's 'worst fires'|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 January 2019}} bushfires can ring the region in a natural phenomena that is labelled "ring of fire".{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-bushfires-idUSKBN1YM2KN |title=Ring of fire: Australian state declares emergency as wildfires approach Sydney|work=Reuters|date=19 December 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.wionews.com/photos/ring-of-fire-australian-declares-state-emergency-as-wildfires-approach-sydney-269117/#three-blazes-ringing-sydney-269110 |title=Ring of fire: Australian state declares emergency as wildfires approach Sydney|work=WION|date=19 December 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/ring-of-fire-surrounds-sydney-20191221-p53m53.html |title=Ring of fire surrounds Sydney|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=21 December 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/teenagers-arrested-as-ring-of-fire-surrounds-sydney-1.408598 |title=Teenagers arrested as ring of fire surrounds Sydney|work=Irish Times|date=28 December 2001}}{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/sydney-blade-runner-smoke-photos-australia-bushfires|title=Blade Runner 2019: Smoke from terrifying 'ring of fire' turns Sydney's skies apocalypse red|work=Mashable|date=9 December 2019}}

The City of Sydney became the first council in Australia to achieve formal certification as carbon-neutral in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Sydney-Water-to-become-carbon-neutral/2007/07/19/1184559926917.html |title=Sydney Water to become carbon neutral |work=The Age |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=3 February 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/sydney-becomes-australias-first-carbon-neutral-government-body.html |title=Sydney Becomes Australia's First Carbon-Neutral Government Body |work=treehugger.com |date=5 September 2008 |access-date=3 February 2015}} The city has reduced its 2007 carbon emissions by 6% and since 2006 has reduced carbon emissions from city buildings by up to 20%.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/vision/sustainable-sydney-2030/achievements |title=Achievements: City of Sydney |work=cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au |access-date=3 February 2015}}{{cite press release |url=http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/4772-its-official-sydney-is-first-carbon-neutral-council/ |title=It's official, Sydney is first carbon neutral council |date=9 November 2011 |publisher=City of Sydney |access-date=3 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203061048/http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/4772-its-official-sydney-is-first-carbon-neutral-council/ |archive-date=3 February 2015}} The Sustainable Sydney 2030 program presented a guide to reducing energy in homes and offices by 30%.{{cite web |url=http://www.climatecontrolnews.com.au/news/building-owners-applaud-city-s-ambitious-master-plan |title=Building owners applaud city's ambitious master plan |date=25 February 2015 |website=climatecontrolnews.com.au |access-date=18 March 2015}} Reductions in energy consumption have slashed energy bills by $30 million a year.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/18/sydney-businesses-cotton-on-climate-change-action-is-good-for-the-bottom-line |title=Sydney businesses cotton on: climate change action is good for the bottom line |work=The Guardian (UK) |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=19 March 2015}} Solar panels have been established on many CBD buildings to minimise carbon pollution by around 3,000 tonnes a year.{{cite web |url=http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/city-sydney-extends-solar-roll-historic-rocks-88330 |title=City of Sydney extends solar roll out to historic Rocks |date=16 June 2014 |access-date=3 February 2015 |work=RenewEconomy.com}}

The city also has an "urban forest growth strategy", in which it aims to regularly increase the tree coverage in the city by frequently planting trees with strong leaf density and vegetation to provide cleaner air and create moisture during hot weather, thus lowering city temperatures.{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/132249/Urban-Forest-Strategy-Adopted-Feb-2013.pdf |title=Urban Forest Strategy |date=February 2013 |access-date=6 May 2015}} Sydney has also become a leader in the development of green office buildings and enforcing the requirement of all building proposals to be energy-efficient. The One Central Park development, completed in 2013, is an example of this implementation.{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/greenest-sydney-building-using-rainforest-timber-20110727-1hz71.html |title='Greenest' Sydney building using rainforest timber |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 July 2011 |access-date=3 February 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.centralparksydney.com/gardens/ |title=One Central Park Gardens |publisher=Frasers Property |access-date=3 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923041440/http://www.centralparksydney.com/gardens/ |archive-date=23 September 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.centralparksydney.com/architecture/ |title=Central Park Sydney – Architecture |publisher=Frasers Property |access-date=3 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005163802/http://www.centralparksydney.com/architecture |archive-date=5 October 2013}}{{cite news |url=http://www.afr.com/p/202020_vision/sydney_central_park_project_shows_IFwlwOc7VqwlXPkqUD85GN |title=Sydney Central Park project shows sustainable living |work=Financial Review |date=28 November 2013 |access-date=3 February 2015 |last1=Gliddon |first1=Josh }}

File:Warringah Freeway2.jpg on the Warringah Freeway, Milsons Point]]

Australian cities are some of the most car-dependent cities in the world,{{cite web |url=http://www.socsci.flinders.edu.au/geog/geos/PDF%20Papers/Amphlett.pdf |title=Car dependence in Australian cities: a discussion of causes, environmental impact and possible solutions |work=Flinders University study |access-date=3 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301005900/http://www.socsci.flinders.edu.au/geog/geos/PDF%20Papers/Amphlett.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2011}} especially by world city standards, although Sydney's is the lowest of Australia's major cities at 66%.[https://chartingtransport.com/#mode Charting Transport], retrieved 27 October 2017 Sydney also has the highest usage of public transport in an Australian city, at 27%–comparable with New York City, Shanghai and Berlin. Despite its high ranking for an Australian city, Sydney has a low level of public transport services, with a historically low-density layout and significant urban sprawl, thus increasing the likelihood of car dependency.{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/comment/sydney-not-yet-a-true-global-city-20140412-zqtpy.html |title=Sydney not yet a true global city |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=12 April 2014 |access-date=3 February 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/cbds-turning-into-no-car-zones-as-the-great-divide-grows/story-e6frg9jx-1226493122243 |title=CBDs turning into no-car zones as the great divide grows |work=The Australian |date=11 October 2015 |access-date=3 February 2015}}

Strategies have been implemented to reduce private vehicle pollution by encouraging public transport,{{cite web |url=http://www.statetransit.info/bus-fleet/buses-and-the-environment |title=Buses and the Environment |work=statetransit.info |access-date=3 February 2015 |archive-date=3 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203054323/http://www.statetransit.info/bus-fleet/buses-and-the-environment |url-status=dead}} initiating the development of high density housing and introducing a fleet of 10 new electric cars, the largest order of the pollution-free vehicle in Australia.{{cite press release |url=http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/city-clears-the-way-on-pollution-free-car-fleet/ |title=City clears the way on pollution-free car fleet |publisher=City of Sydney |date=15 February 2013 |access-date=3 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504082128/http://www.sydneymedia.com.au/city-clears-the-way-on-pollution-free-car-fleet/ |archive-date=4 May 2013 |url-status=dead}} Electric cars do not produce carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, which contribute to climate change.{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html |title=Causes of Climate Change |work=epa.gov |date=12 August 2013 |access-date=10 February 2015}}{{cite book |date=2021 |author=IPCC|title=Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |chapter=Global carbon and other biogeochemical cycles and feedbacks |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, US |chapter-url= https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Chapter_05.pdf |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1 }} Cycling trips increased by 113% across Sydney's inner-city from 2010 to 2015, at which point about 2,000 bikes were passing through top peak-hour intersections on an average weekday. Transport developments in the north-west and east of the city have been designed to encourage use of the expanding public transportation system.

Sister cities of Sydney include:

• San Francisco, United States of America
• Wellington, New Zealand
• Florence, Italy
• Nagoya, Japan
• Portsmouth, United Kingdom
• Guangzhou, China

{{Portal|New South Wales}}

• List of museums in Sydney
• List of people from Sydney
• List of public art in the City of Sydney
• List of songs about Sydney
• Outline of Sydney

{{reflist|group=N}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/ Official Sydney, NSW government site]
• [http://www.sydney.com/ Official Sydney tourism site]
• [http://aso.gov.au/titles/tags/Sydney/ Historical film clips of Sydney] on the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's [http://aso.gov.au/ australianscreen online]
• {{YouTube|id=itQaxQMZfCk|title=Qantas Farewell Flight B747-400 Queen of the Skies – Sydney Final Flight QF747}} – includes a low-level joyflight around Sydney showing various aspects of the city on 13 July 2020 (starts at 05:20)
• {{OSM relation|5750005}}
• [http://home.dictionaryofsydney.org/ Dictionary of Sydney – the history of Sydney] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324110321/http://home.dictionaryofsydney.org/ |date=24 March 2019 }})
• [http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/history/archives Sydney Official History Archives]
• [http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/ State Records New South Wales]
• [http://www.naa.gov.au/ National Archives of Australia]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150502103309/http://john.curtin.edu.au/society/ Understanding Society Through its Records – John Curtin Library]
• [https://directory.archivists.org.au/ Directory of Archives in Australia]

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Category:1788 establishments in Australia

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