the Rocks, New South Wales

The formal boundaries of the suburb named The Rocks cover the western side of Sydney Cove east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge approaches. In the north it extends to the southern base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in the east to the shoreline of Circular Quay and George Street, in the south to Jamison Street (thus including the area known as Church Hill), and in the west to southern approaches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Western Distributor overpass.{{Cite web|url=https://www.microburbs.com.au/NSW/Sydney/City/City-of-Sydney/The-Rocks-(Sydney----NSW)|title=The Rocks (Sydney – NSW) – Free Property Report|website=www.microburbs.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://profile.id.com.au/sydney/about?WebID=300|title=About the profile areas | The Rocks – Millers Point – Dawes Point | profile.id|website=profile.id.com.au}}

File:Unidentified street at The Rocks.jpg

File:City of Sydney The Rocks Subdivision 1907.jpg and Harrington Streets, 1907]]

The Rocks was established shortly after the colony's formation in 1788. It was known as Tallawoladah by the Cadigal people.{{Cite journal|last=Karskens|first=Grace|year=2009|title=The Rocks|url=https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/sydney_journal/article/viewFile/1195/1200|journal=Sydney Journal|volume=2 |issue=1|via=UTS ePress}} The original buildings were first traditional vernacular houses, of wattle and daub, with thatched roofs, and later of local sandstone, from which the area derives its name. From the earliest history of the settlement, the area had a reputation as a slum and the arriving convicts' side of town, often frequented by visiting sailors and prostitutes. After November 1790, many of the inhabitants were also Aboriginal. In 1823, the district had a population of about 1,200. During the late nineteenth century, the area was dominated by a gang known as the Rocks Push. It maintained this rough reputation until approximately the 1870s.{{cite web|url=http://www.therocks.com/sydney-Education_and_Tours-Heritage_and_History.htm|title=Heritage & History|publisher=The Rocks|access-date=22 December 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/the_rocks|title=The Rocks|last =Grace|first=Karskens|date=2008|work=Dictionary of Sydney|publisher=Dictionary of Sydney Trust|access-date=11 July 2013}}

By the early 20th century many of the area's historic buildings were in serious decay. In 1900, bubonic plague broke out, and the state government resumed areas around The Rocks and Darling Harbour, with the intention of demolishing them and rebuilding them. More than 3,800 houses, buildings and wharves were inspected and hundreds demolished, but the continuation of these plans were brought to a halt due to the outbreak of World War I.[http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/the-rocks-how-the-plague-almost-demolished-it.htm/ How plague almost demolished historic Sydney], Australian Geographic, 16 August 2010. During the 1920s, several hundred buildings were demolished during the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

File: Sydney The Rocks.jpg

File:The rocks new south wales...jpg, Hickson Road]]

Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority, with the intention of demolishing most of the original buildings, re-developing them as high-density residential dwellings. In February 1971 a group of local residents formed the Rocks Residents Group to oppose the plans. They felt that the new dwellings would result in increased rents, which would force out the traditional residents of the area. The residents' group requested a green ban from the Builder's Labourers Federation, who had become increasingly active in preventing controversial developments over the previous four years.{{Cite web|url=https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/green_bans_movement|title=Green Bans movement|last=Burgmann|first=Verity and Meredith|date=2011}}

File:Sirius Apartments 135 BLG ScreenRes.jpg, a residential public housing development]]

By 1973 the union had imposed the ban, and after discussions with the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority, a 'People's Plan' was developed.{{Cite web |last=Green Bans Art Walks Project |first= |date=23 June 2023 |title=Green Bans Timeline: 1971–74 |url=https://commonslibrary.org/green-bans-timeline/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU}} By October 1973, it appeared that the redevelopment would proceed as originally planned, using non-union labour.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} For two weeks, demonstrations by local residents and unionists followed, with numerous arrests being made.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} Liberal Premier Robert Askin was in the midst of an election campaign, and used the protests as a means of conveying his law and order message to voters.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} However, the green ban stayed in place until 1975 when the state union leadership was overthrown and was ultimately successful, as can be seen in the buildings that survive today. Instead of demolishing The Rocks, renovations transformed the area into a commercial and tourist precinct.

Today the Rocks is a partly gentrified area, but still contains a significant proportion of Housing Commission properties, and there is still a significant problem of urban poverty and street crime in this district.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} As housing stock becomes dilapidated, government policy is to sell the now extremely valuable public housing units to private owners, in the expectation that they will restore the properties. The Sirius Building and the associated "Save Our Sirius" protest group was formed to protest relocation of its residents.{{cite web|title=save our community|url=http://millerspointcommunity.com.au/save-our-community/|website=save-our-community|access-date=6 November 2014}} Overall, The Rocks continues to be an important part of Sydney's cultural landscape, offering a fascinating glimpse into the city's rich history and vibrant contemporary scene.

"Church Hill" is located in the southern part of The Rocks, sometimes identified as the northern part of the Sydney central business district.{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/church-hill.html|title=Church Hill|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810042202/http://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/church-hill.html#|archive-date=10 August 2018|url-status=live}} It is so named because the earliest churches in Australia were formed on this site, including St Patrick's (Roman Catholic),{{Cite web|url=http://stpatschurchhill.org/about-st-patricks-church-hill-sydney/|title=About St Patrick's Church Hill|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810072550/http://stpatschurchhill.org/about-st-patricks-church-hill-sydney/#|archive-date=10 August 2018|url-status=live}} St Philip's (Anglican){{Cite web|url=http://www.churchhillanglican.com/|title=St Philip's / Church Hill|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810042319/http://www.churchhillanglican.com/#|archive-date=10 August 2018|url-status=live}} and Scots Church (Presbyterian){{Cite web|url=http://scotschurchsydney.org/|title=Scots Church Sydney|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809101446/http://scotschurchsydney.org/#|archive-date=9 August 2018|url-status=live}}

The significance of Church Hill dates back to the time of Governor Arthur Phillip, who mandated compulsory Sunday church attendance for all convicts, until they rebelled and burned down the area's first church in 1798.

The area gained greater prominence as Church Hill on Wednesday 1 October 1800, when incoming Governor Philip Gidley King had the foundation stone laid for St Philip's Church, which subsequently he proclaimed one of Australia's first two parishes in 1802 (the other being St John's in Parramatta).

The site where St Patrick's Church currently stands is where the Roman Catholic Eucharist was first preserved in Australia, in May 1818. Celebrations for the bicentenary of this occasion were held in St Patrick's Church on Sunday 6 May 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/200-years-blessed-sacrament-celebrated-birthplace-church-australia/|title=200 years of the Blessed Sacrament celebrated at the "birthplace" of the Church in Australia|date=7 May 2018|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810061119/https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/200-years-blessed-sacrament-celebrated-birthplace-church-australia/#|archive-date=10 August 2018|url-status=live}}

File:103 George Street, The Rocks 1.jpg, a three-storey Victorian Regency terrace constructed in 1856]]

The Rocks has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

{{Div col|rules=yes}}

• Argyle Street: Argyle Cut{{cite NSW SHR|5053138|Argyle Cut|hr=01523|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 12–20 Argyle Street: Argyle Stores{{cite NSW SHR|5053139|Argyle Stores|hr=01524|fn=H03/00259|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 39–43 Argyle Street: British Seamen's Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053147|British Seamen's Hotel (former)|hr=01532|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 45–47 Argyle Street: Gannon House{{cite NSW SHR|5053164|Gannon House & Shop|hr=01548|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 1–7 Atherden Street: Playfair's Terrace{{cite NSW SHR|5053186|Playfair's Terrace|hr=01570|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 2–4 Atherden Street: Avery Terrace{{cite NSW SHR|5053144|Avery Terrace|hr=01529|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• Circular Quay Concourse, Circular Quay East and West: Sydney Cove railings{{cite NSW SHR|5053188|Railings, Sydney Cove|hr=01572|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 7–27 Circular Quay West: Campbell's Stores{{cite NSW SHR|5053151|Campbell's Stores|hr=01536|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• Cumberland Place: Cumberland Place and Steps{{cite NSW SHR|5053157|Cumberland Place and Steps|hr=01542|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• Cumberland Street: Argyle Bridge{{cite NSW SHR|5053137|Argyle Bridge|hr=01522|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 96–98 Cumberland Street: Glenmore Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053165|Glenmore Hotel|hr=01549|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 100–104 Cumberland Street: Australian Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053143|Australian Hotel|hr=01528|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 106–128 Cumberland Street: Cumberland Street Archaeological Site{{cite NSW SHR|5056816|Cumberland Street Archaeological Site|hr=01845|fn=S94/00423/1; H06/00295/01|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 130, 132–134, 136–138 and 140–142 Cumberland Street: Long's Lane Precinct{{cite NSW SHR|5053217|Terrace|hr=01600|access-date=18 May 2018}}{{cite NSW SHR|5053223|Terraces|hr=01606|access-date=18 May 2018}}{{cite NSW SHR|5053208|Shops and Residences|hr=01592|access-date=18 May 2018}}{{cite NSW SHR|5053216|Tenements, pair three-storey brick|hr=01599|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 176 Cumberland Street: Lilyvale{{cite NSW SHR|5053173|Lilyvale|hr=01558|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 178–180 Cumberland Street: Butchery Building{{cite NSW SHR|5053209|Shops and Residences|hr=01593|fn=EF14/5575|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 182 Cumberland Street: 182 Cumberland Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053197|Shop and Residence|hr=01581|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 182.5–188 Cumberland Street: 182.5–188 Cumberland Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053224|Terraces|hr=01607|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 212–218 Cumberland Street: Lawson House{{cite NSW SHR|5053172|Lawson House|hr=01557|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 10–14 Essex Street: Harts Buildings{{cite NSW SHR|5053166|Harts Buildings|hr=01550|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 25–27 George Street: Mercantile Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053175|Mercantile Hotel|hr=01560|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 29–31 George Street: 29–31 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053225|Terraces|hr=01608|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 33–41 George Street: Sergeant Major's Row{{cite NSW SHR|5053195|Sergeant Majors Row (terrace)|hr=01579|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 36–64 George Street: Old Mining Museum Building{{cite NSW SHR|5053178|Mining Museum (former)|hr=01555|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 43–45 George Street: Merchant's House{{cite NSW SHR|5053176|Merchants House|hr=01561|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 47 George Street: Union Bond Store{{cite NSW SHR|5053229|Union Bond Store (former), Westpac Bank|hr=01612|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 53–65 George Street: Harrington's Buildings{{cite NSW SHR|5053182|Old Sydney Holiday Inn|hr=01566|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 68–84 George Street: Metcalfe Bond Stores{{cite NSW SHR|5053177|Metcalfe Bond Stores|hr=01562|fn=EF14/5473; H03/265/1|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 69 George Street: Observer Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053181|Observer Hotel|hr=01565|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 73 George Street: Old Ambulance Station{{cite NSW SHR|5053205|Shop, Ken Duncan Gallery|hr=01589|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 75–75.5 George Street: Samson's Cottage{{cite NSW SHR|5053213|Samson's Cottage|hr=01597|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 77–85 George Street: Unwin's Stores{{cite NSW SHR|5053230|Unwin's Stores|hr=01613|fn=RE 0563.01|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 86–88 George Street: Old Bushells Factory{{cite NSW SHR|5053150|Old Bushells Factory and Warehouse and Bushells Place|hr=01535|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 87–89 George Street: Orient Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053183|Orient Hotel|hr=01567|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 91 George Street: ASN Hotel Building{{cite NSW SHR|5053142|ASN Hotel Building (former), Visa Offices|hr=01527|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 93 George Street: 93 George Street, The Rocks{{cite NSW SHR|5053207|Shop, Zia Pina Pizzeria|hr=01591|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 95–99 George Street: 95–99 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053212|Shops and Residences, Terrace|hr=01596|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 98–100 George Street: Mariners' Church{{cite NSW SHR|5053174|Mariners' Church|hr=01559|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 101 George Street: 101 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053196|Shop – Phillip's Foote Restaurant|hr=01580|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 102–104 George Street: Old Coroner's Court{{cite NSW SHR|5053156|Coroner's Court (former) – Shops & offices|hr=01541|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 103 George Street: 103 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053203|Shop and Residence – Ariel Bookshop|hr=01587|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 105 George Street: 105 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053198|Shop and Residence|hr=01582|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 106–108 George Street: Sydney Sailors' Home{{cite NSW SHR|5053192|Sailor's Home (former)|hr=01576|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 107–109 George Street: 107–109 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053206|Shop, Rockpool Restaurant|hr=01590|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 110 George Street: Cadman's Cottage{{cite NSW SHR|5045539|Cadman's Cottage, grounds, trees, space|hr=00981|fn=EF14/5355|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 111–115 George Street: Captain Tench Arcade{{cite NSW SHR|5053152|Captain Tench Arcade|hr=01537|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 112–156 George Street: Sydney Cove West Archaeological Precinct{{cite NSW SHR|5054387|Sydney Cove West Archaeological Precinct|hr=01860|fn=10/15901-1|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 117–119 George Street: Julian Ashton Art School{{cite NSW SHR|5053171|Julian Ashton Art School|hr=01556|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 121 George Street: 121 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053204|Shop and Residence – Bakers Oven|hr=01588|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 123–125 George Street: 123–125 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053199|Shop and Residence|hr=01583|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 127–129 George Street: Old Police Station{{cite NSW SHR|5053187|Police Station (former) – Australian Craftworks Gallery|hr=01571|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 131–135 George Street: English, Scottish and Australian Bank{{cite NSW SHR|5053160|English Scottish & Australian Chartered Bank (former) – Amo Roma Restaurant|hr=01544|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 137 George Street: Fortune of War Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053163|Fortune of War Hotel|hr=01547|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 139–141 George Street: 139–141 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053211|Shops and Residences – stone|hr=01595|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 143–143a George Street: Russell Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053191|Russell Hotel and shop|hr=01575|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 145 George Street: 145 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053200|Shop and Residence|hr=01584|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 147 George Street: 147 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053201|Shop and Residence|hr=01585|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 149–151 George Street: 149–151 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053210|Shops and Residences|hr=01594|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 153–155 George Street: New York Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053179|New York Hotel (former) – DFS (Duty Free Store)|hr=01563|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 229 George Street: Brooklyn Hotel{{cite NSW SHR|5053148|Brooklyn Hotel|hr=01533|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 231 George Street: 231 George Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053155|Commercial building|hr=01540|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 233–235 George Street: Johnson's Building{{cite NSW SHR|5053170|Johnson's Building|hr=01554|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 26–30 Gloucester Street: View Terrace facades{{cite NSW SHR|5053231|View Terrace N & W Facades|hr=01614|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 32–36 Gloucester Street: 32–36 and 38–40 Gloucester Street facades{{cite NSW SHR|5053221|Terrace|hr=01604|access-date=18 May 2018}}{{cite NSW SHR|5053222|Terrace|hr=01605|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 46–56 Gloucester Street: 46–56 Gloucester Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053226|Terraces|hr=01609|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 58–64 Gloucester Street: Susannah Place{{cite NSW SHR|5001030|Susannah Place|hr=01310|fn=H99/00488; S96/00465 [S170]|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 66–68, 70–72 Gloucester Street: Baker's Terrace{{cite NSW SHR|5053145|Baker's Terrace|hr=01530|access-date=18 May 2018}}{{cite NSW SHR|5053146|Baker's Terrace|hr=01531|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 103–111 Gloucester Street: Jobbins Terrace{{cite NSW SHR|5053169|Jobbins Terrace|hr=01553|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 113–115 Gloucester Street: 113–115 Gloucester Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053218|Terrace|hr=01601|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 117–117a Gloucester Street: 117–117a Gloucester Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053215|Tenements|hr=01598|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 120 Gloucester Street: Model Factory and Dwelling{{cite NSW SHR|5053168|Housing Board Building|hr=01552|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 157–169 Gloucester Street and Essex Street: Science House{{cite NSW SHR|5053194|Science House (including original interiors)|hr=01578|fn=H03/00266|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 16–18 Grosvenor Street: NSW Housing Board Building, Grosvenor Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053180|NSW Housing Board Building (former)|hr=01564|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 24–30 Grosvenor Street: Federation Hall{{cite NSW SHR|5053162|Federation Hall and courtyard|hr=01546|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 32–34 Grosvenor Street: Royal Naval House{{cite NSW SHR|5053190|Royal Naval House|hr=01574|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 28–30 Harrington Street: Reynolds' Cottages{{cite NSW SHR|5053189|Reynolds's Cottages|hr=01573|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 32 Harrington Street: 32 Harrington Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053202|Shop and Residence|hr=01586|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 34–40 Harrington Street: Evans' Stores{{cite NSW SHR|5053161|Evans' Stores, Harbour Rocks Hotel|hr=01545|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 42–52 Harrington Street: 42–52 Harrington Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053228|Harbour Rocks Hotel|hr=01611|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 55–59 Harrington Street: 55–59 Harrington Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053227|Terraces|hr=01610|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 61–65 Harrington Street: 61–65 Harrington Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053219|Terrace|hr=01602|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 67 Harrington Street: 67 Harrington Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053220|Terrace|hr=01603|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 71 Harrington Street: 71 Harrington Street{{cite NSW SHR|5053167|House|hr=01551|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 117–119 Harrington Street: Accountants House{{cite NSW SHR|5053136|Accountants House|hr=01521|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 121–127 Harrington Street: Bushells Building{{cite NSW SHR|5053149|Bushells Building|hr=01534|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• Hickson Road: Dawes Point Battery remains{{cite NSW SHR|5053114|Dawes Point Battery remains|hr=01543|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 1–5 Hickson Road: ASN Co building{{cite NSW SHR|5053141|ASN Co Building|hr=01526|fn=H03/00260/|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 4–6 Kendall Lane: Raphael Mackeller Stores{{cite NSW SHR|5053154|Coach House|hr=01539|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 8 Kendall Lane: Samson's Cottage wall remains{{cite NSW SHR|5053193|Samson's Cottage (wall remains)|hr=01577|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 13–15 Playfair Street: Argyle Terrace{{cite NSW SHR|5053140|Argyle Terrace – Caminetto's Restaurant|hr=01525|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 17–31 Playfair Street: Playfair Street Terraces{{cite NSW SHR|5053185|Playfair Street Terraces|hr=01569|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 22–26 Playfair Street: Penrhyn House{{cite NSW SHR|5053184|Penrhyn House|hr=01568|access-date=18 May 2018}}
• 33 Playfair Street: Cleland Bond Store{{cite NSW SHR|5053153|Cleland Bond Store (part of Argyle Stores)|hr=01538|access-date=18 May 2018}}

{{Div col end}}

File:Sydney Rocks market.jpg

At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, 629 people were living in The Rocks. 46.4% of people were born in Australia with the next most common countries of birth including England at 7.6%, China (excluding Special Administrative Regions (SARs) and Taiwan) at 5.1%, New Zealand at 2.7%, the United States of America 2.7%, and India 2.5%. 65.5% of people only spoke English at home with the next most common languages spoken at home including Mandarin 4.9%, Cantonese 4.1%, Spanish 2.7%, Japanese 1.9%, and Italian 1.6%. The most common religious affiliations included No Religion at 39.4%, Catholic at 21.0%, Anglican at 8.4%, and Buddhism at 4.1%; a further 7.9% of respondents for this area elected not to disclose their religious status.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL13856|name=The Rocks (Sydney – NSW)|access-date=5 December 2022|quick=on}}

File:The-Rocks.jpg Museum]]

The close proximity to Circular Quay and the views of the iconic Harbour Bridge, as well as the historic nature of many of the buildings, makes the Rocks very popular with tourists. It features a variety of souvenir and craft shops, as well as many themed and historic pubs. The Rocks Market operates each weekend, with around 100 stalls. During the week, shopping options include galleries exhibiting Australian artists as well as Australian clothing and Australian opal shops. There are numerous historic walks through the area, visiting historical buildings such as Cadmans Cottage and Sydney Observatory, and the Dawes Point Battery, which was the first fortified position in New South Wales.{{cite web|url=http://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-city/the-rocks|title=The Rocks|publisher=NSW Government|access-date=22 December 2012}}

A passenger boat terminal and the Museum of Contemporary Art is also situated beside the Rocks area. The precinct can also be accessed by rail, as it is within walking distance of Circular Quay station.

Water Polo by the Sea is held there every year by Australian Water Polo with the Australia men's national water polo team take on the International All Stars.{{Cite web|url=https://waterpolobythesea.com/|title=Home|website=Water Polo by the Sea}}

Susannah Place Museum is a historic house museum situated in The Rocks. It is a block of four terrace houses that was built in 1844 and had domestic occupants until 1990. It is a documentation of the urban working class community in The Rocks. The terraces in various states of modernity show the evolution of occupation over 150 years

The Rocks, as it was in 1873, is the setting for the time-slip portion of the novel Playing Beatie Bow.

Campbell's Cove night pano, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW.jpg|Christmas night panoramic view at Campbell's Cove

TheRocksBackstreets.jpg|Harrington Street

SydneyTheRocks3_gobeirne.jpg|Arts Exchange building from Hickson Street

SydneyTheRocks5 gobeirne.jpg|Terrace Houses, Lower Fort Street

Sydney (AU), The Rocks, Observer Hotel -- 2019 -- 3568.jpg|Observer Hotel

Cad0001.jpg|The rear of Cadmans Cottage

SydneyTheRocks2 gobeirne.jpg|Campbell's Stores

City of Sydney Essex and Harrington Street Subdivision.jpg|Essex and Harrington Street subdivision plan

Princes St - the first hotel on The Rocks from The Powerhouse Museum Collection.jpg|Princes Street, showing the first hotel on The Rocks

Therocks-historicalphoto-powerhousemuseum.jpg|Princes Street, looking south

Argyle Cut.jpg|A transverse section showing the bridges over the Argyle Cut, 1832

Argyle Cutting, The Rocks, Sydney (cropped, retouched).jpg|Argyle Cut, pictured in the 1870s

Argyle Cut 001.jpg|The Argyle Cut, constructed with convict labour

Cahill expressway from bridge.jpg|Southern approach of the Sydney Harbour Bridge with The Rocks to the left

Argyle Street2.JPG|Argyle Street

City of Sydney Observatory Hill auction 1910.jpg|Observatory Hill, lands auction, 1910

Harbour Bridge over terrace housing in Sydney.jpg|Terrace houses in The Rocks

Harbour Bridge from The Rocks.jpg|Sydney Harbour Bridge from The Rocks. The bridge is visible from most areas of the district.

Playfair's Terrace - The Rocks, Sydney, NSW (7875762514).jpg|Playfair's Terrace

Former English, Scottish & Australian Chartered Bank - The Rocks, Sydney, NSW (7889979044).jpg|The former ES&A Bank branch building (middle) and Old Police Station (right)

• Ambrose Pratt: King of the Rocks, novel. Hutchinson, London 1900
• D. Manning Richards. Destiny in Sydney: An epic novel of convicts, Aborigines, and Chinese embroiled in the birth of Sydney, Australia. First book in Sydney series. Washington DC: Aries Books, 2012. {{ISBN|978-0-9845410-0-3}}
• Grace Karskens, The Rocks: Life in Early Sydney, Melbourne University Press, 1997.

{{Reflist}}

{{Sister project links | commons = Category:The Rocks, New South Wales| wikt=no | b=no | n=no | q=no | s=no | v=no | voy=Sydney/The Rocks | species=no | d=no }}

• [http://www.therocks.com The Rocks]

• {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/place/the_rocks | title = The Rocks | access-date = 29 September 2015 | author = Grace Karskens – UNSW | date = 2008 | work=Dictionary of Sydney}} [CC-By-SA]
• {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/painting_old_sydney | title = Painting Old Sydney | access-date = 5 October 2015 | author = Caroline Butler-Bowden – Sydney Living Museums and Grace Karskens – UNSW | date = 2014 | work=Dictionary of Sydney| publisher = Dictionary of Sydney Trust}} [CC-By-SA]
• {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/building/reynolds_cottages | title = Reynolds' cottages | access-date = 16 October 2015 | author = Melissa Holmes | date = 2012 | work = Dictionary of Sydney | publisher = Dictionary of Sydney Trust}} [CC-By-SA]
• {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/building/st_patricks_catholic_church_church_hill | title = St Patrick's Catholic church Church Hill | access-date = 16 October 2015 | author = Mark Dunn | date = 2008 | work = Dictionary of Sydney | publisher = Dictionary of Sydney Trust}} [CC-By-SA]

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{{The Rocks historical attractions|state=collapsed}}

{{Sydney City of Sydney suburbs}}

{{Sydney landmarks}}

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Rocks, Sydney

Category:Slums in Australia

Category:Green bans