Historic places in Sydney

Historic places in Sydney

1. SeeThe Rocks

   Argyle Cut

   Follow Argyle St through this historic sandstone road cutting made between 1843 and 1867, made with the effort of both convict and paid labour. The sights and sounds of the convict labour, still bound in chains and working only with crude tools, horrified the locals and the cutting was abandoned after just three years. A long interlude lasted before the city council eventually linked Millers Point and The Rocks together with the use of paid labour and explosives.

2. SeeCity East

   Australian Museum

   With an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous studies research, community programs and exhibitions, the Australian Museum was established as Australia's first museum in 1827 with unique and extensive collections of natural science and cultural artifacts. The skeleton room, displaying hundreds of animal skeletons, including a blue whale hanging from the roof, is an attraction in itself. The museum also has an exhibit on early man, including species like Homo heidelbergensis that did not reach Australia. There is a cafe next to the entrance that can be accessed without requiring payment for admission to the main exhibition area.

   , closed Christmas·free, temporary exhibitions have additional fee

3. SeeDarling Harbour

   Australian National Maritime Museum

   Two floors of internal exhibits, outlining the maritime role in Australia's history. Houses significant full scale exhibits. Outside there are ships and submarines to explore.

   Galleries & exhibitions: $7 adult, $3.50 child & concession, $17 family / free entry to permanent galleries on first Thursday of the month. Additional charges for vessels

4. EatCity Centre

   Bodhi

   This is an outdoor vegetarian yum cha restaurant located just down the stairs from St Mary’s Cathedral over looking Cook and Phillip Park. It's a vegan restaurant and has a wide range of enticing and tasteful healthy yum cha options (all vegan). Fantastic on a sunny day. Open on weekends too. Kids can run around safely in the park while you linger over coffee.

5. SeeEastern suburbs

   Bronte House

   An historic house up Bronte Road from the north end of the beach.

6. DoCity South

   Capitol Theatre

   Housed in a 1920s historical building and host to many theatrical productions, from plays to ballet to musicals like Wicked and Mary Poppins when they come to Sydney.

7. EatInner West

   Carlisle Castle Bistro

   Located within the backstreets close to Newtown Station, this pub is frequented by locals and has a less chaotic atmosphere compared to the pubs on King Street. The bistro has good value, high quality food within an informal dining atmosphere and makes a great place to spend an evening with a few drinks and a meal.

8. SeeEastern suburbs

   Centennial Park

   This is a large formal park in Sydney eastern suburbs with its own internal road and walking trail system, grand avenues, historic buildings, lakes and many groves of shady trees dotted with picnic areas. Bike and walking trails, horse trails and equestrian facilities, some restaurant, cafe and kiosk facilities are available. This park is both a playground and a giant green lung for the city. Popular all days but especially on the weekends. Centennial Park covers 220 hectares and draws more than 3.6 million visitors annually.

   April: 6AM-6PM, May to August: 6:30AM-5:30PM, Sept to Oct: 6AM-6PM, Oct to April: 6AM-8PM. Paddington Gates (exit gate) is the last to close every day·There are no access charges to the park, however some sporting facilities and formal activities may attract fees

9. SeeCity Centre

   Customs House

   A historic building, and imposing building. You can imagine it looking out over the port of Sydney (if you can equally imagine the absence of the Cahill Expressway). A large diorama of the Sydney area which you can walk over is on display in the foyer. The Sydney City Library occupies the building, and sometimes has exhibitions. Free.

10. DoSydney Olympic Park

    Cycle

    Sydney Olympic Park offers possibly the most extensive and pleasant recreational cycling opportunities in Sydney, with water and park views, and some interesting historical sites to explore. Bike Hire is available from the Visitors Centre in Bicentennial Park. Get a copy of the bike circuits map from the visitors centre or online. There are three planned routes that are marked by coloured discs on the edge of the path. Paths tend to be quieter away from the picnic areas of Bicentennial park.

11. SeeCity East

    Elizabeth Bay House

    Historic Houses Trust

    Built between 1835-1839 and once "the finest house in the colony", this colonial mansion preserves the lifestyle of some of Sydney's wealthiest early settlers, Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay and his family. Designed by the most fashionable and accomplished architect of the day, John Verge, Elizabeth Bay House is a superb example of colonial architecture and is elegantly and authentically furnished in the style of 1839–1845. Guided tours are available on request.

    Open Tue-Sun 10AM–4:30PM, closed Mon (except for public holidays), Christmas Day and Good Fri·Prices: adult $7, child and concession $3, family $17

12. BuyCity Centre

    Galleries Victoria

    The modern answer to the historic QVB opposite. Some fashion and food, but also electronics, computer games, and gifts.

13. BuyInner West

    Gould's Book Arcade

    A chaotic mix with specialities including Marxism, Labour history, magazines, and Australian history.

    Open from 10am until midnight daily.

14. DoLower North Shore

    Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace

    The Orpheum shows mainstream and art house films in beautiful refurbished theatres. Call ahead to find out when the organist is playing for a real old rime treat.

15. SeeEastern suburbs

    Kamay-Botany Bay National Park

    La Perouse has a museum explaining the interesting history of the area. The Kamay Botany Bay National Park takes its name from the Kamay people (the Spear people) of the nearby Cook's river and Botany Bay. There are walks and great views over the ocean and the bay. The park contains rich marine environments and remnants of the heathland vegetation which Banks and Solander, Cook's botanists, first studied in 1770. You can explore the Banks-Solander track, with its fascinating insights into the once-widespread vegetation communities that Cook's botanists explored in 1770. Or learn about Australia's Aboriginal history and European Colonisation, told in the Lapérouse Museum and the Visitor Centre. Enjoy the Cape Baily Coast Walk, with its windswept heaths, historic sites and spectacular coastal views. All easily accessible by car or bus.

16. SeeInner West

    Macleay Museum

    The oldest natural history museum in Australia, largely kept in storage, but they have quite a collection of insects from Darwin, Raffles and other keen entomologists.

    Mon-Fri 10AM-4:30PM, first Sat of the month noon-4:30PM·Free

17. SeeThe Rocks

    Museum of Contemporary Art Australia

    Art museum focusing on work by contemporary Australian artists. Housed in a fabulous 1930s art deco building, former location of the Maritime Services Board and facing onto the western side of Circular Quay and Sydney Cove, the MCA has been dedicated since its opening in 1991 to showcasing great works of modern and contemporary art in all media. One wing is newer, contemporary architecture; the other is a historic building used for port administration until the 1930s. The museum runs some arts education programs for children and disabled people.

    Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM

18. SeeCity Centre

    Museum of Sydney

    Built on the site of the first Government House, erected in 1788 by Governor Arthur Phillip and demolished in 1846. The remains of the building were excavated after rediscovery in 1983 and the original foundations can now be viewed through glass floor panels in the museum. Fascinating changing exhibitions of art and photography, films and state-of-the-art technology spin stories of colonial life, Aboriginal culture, environment, trade, authority / law and everyday dramas and dreams in early Sydney. The Museum of Sydney Cafe, by the museum entrance is not really part of the museum, and is much more a restaurant than a cheap and casual cafe.

    Daily (closed Christmas Day and Good Fri)·Admission adult AUD 10, child / concessions AUD 5, family AUD 20, members free (run by the Historic Houses Trust)

19. DoInner West

    New Theatre

    New Theatre is one of the oldest continuously producing theatre companies in Australia with a proud history that is intertwined with much of Sydney's social development and Australian theatre history. Productions range across drama, comedy, musicals, gay theatre, family shows, political cabaret and specialised education programs. Classic texts with bold new interpretations and some of the finest contemporary writing.

20. SeeInner West

    Nicholson Museum of Antiquities

    Contains the largest collection of antiquities in Australia, featuring ancient artefacts from Egypt, the Middle East, Greece, Rome, Cyprus and Mesopotamia, collected by the University over many years. Also mummified cats and humans.

    Mon-Fri 10AM-4:30PM, first Sat of the month noon-4:30PM·Free

21. DoInner West

    Palace Cinema

    Palace Norton Street, one of Sydney's most comfortable and well-equipped cinemas, is located amongst the noted restaurants and cafés of vibrant Leichhardt. Norton Street screens a carefully selected range of quality films and is one of Sydney's premier venues for international cinema, hosting the French, Spanish, Greek, German and Italian film festivals each year.

22. SeeCity South

    Powerhouse Museum

    The Powerhouse Museum is a large museum, essentially of popular culture. It has displays on the history of fashion and transport, decorative arts, music, and space exploration exhibits. It also partly plays on a sci-tech theme, with interactive hands-on and discovery displays of technology, design and industry There is usually a special exhibition on as well. There are in-depth displays for all ages, but also displays especially created for young children to discover and play.

    Daily 10AM-5PM·$15 adults, free for 16 and under

23. SeeCity Centre

    Royal Botanic Gardens

    One of Sydney's greatest assets, from in front of the State Art Gallery, out to Mrs Macquaries chair, across to Farm Cove and onto the Sydney Opera House. The Gardens back onto the historic Sydney Hospital and Parliament House. This is the oldest scientific institution in the country and home to an outstanding collection of plants from Australia and overseas. The Domain surrounds the Royal Botanic Gardens. The walk along the harbour's edge (Farm Cove) from the Opera House (Queen Elizabeth II gate) to Mrs Macquarie's Chair (Yurong Gate) is for many the epitome of a Sydney experience. The Gardens have an example of the Wollemi Pine, raised from a seed collected from a handful of trees discovered in the wilderness and unchanged since the dinosaurs. A tropical pyramid holds examples of tropical vegetation in a controlled humidity atmosphere. See the rose garden, herb garden and succulent section. The collection has many varieties of Australian plants and grasses. During the summer months there are often open air night time film screenings inside the Botanic Gardens, entry charges normally apply to those screenings.

    The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset. It is fully fenced, so take care not to get locked in at closing time·There are no access charges to enter the Botanic Gardens (except for the tropical pyramid)

24. SeeCity Centre

    State Library of New South Wales

    Includes a large exhibition space with changing artistic, historical and cultural exhibits. The Mitchell Reading Room is a historical large open book-lined room, and worth a look inside. The reference library is a modern addition, and really only of interest for research. The library collection includes a copy of every volume published in New South Wales, and many rare texts. There is a cafe on the ground floor near the entrance to the reference library and the bookshop.

    Free

25. SeeDarling Harbour

    Sydney Heritage Fleet

    Sydney Maritime Museum Ltd

    The Fleet restores and operates a number of historic vessels including the barque James Craig. In 2003 the International Congress of Maritime Museums gave the James Craig the Maritime Heritage Award. The offices, model workshop, some displayed boats, and the library are on Wharf 7 located in Darling Harbour. The James Craig is alongside the wharf.

    10AM to 4PM daily·$2 child, $5 adult, $12 family

26. SeeCity East

    Sydney Jewish Museum

    The museum documents the Holocaust and explores the history of the Jewish people worldwide and also in Australia.

    Mon–Thu, Fri, Sun (closed Sat and on certain Jewish holidays)·AUD 15 for adults, AUD 12 for seniors, AUD 9 for students. Children under 10 enter free

27. SeeInner West

    Sydney Park

    A large park (40 hectares) at the very southern end of Newtown's King Street, it is a former brick pit that was filled with the city's rubbish in the 1970s and 1980s before being topped with soil and landscaped. The 3 former trash hills make excellent viewing locations, where you have views from the airport to the city. Rolling hills, native plantings, engineered wetlands and the historic remains of the brick works make this park an inner Sydney landmark. Almost the entire park is an off-leash area for dogs, making it a destination for pet-owners while the open fields and steep grassy hills make it a favoured destination for determined exercisers.

28. SeeCity South

    The Goods Line and The Dr Chau Chak Wing Building

    The Goods Line is a modern horizontal urban parkland similar to the 'High Line' in New York. The space occupies an unused section of a historic freight line that connected the ports near Darling Harbour to the main railway lines near Central Station. At the park you will find many skaters practicing their tricks and also students from the nearby University of Technology, Sydney. Next to the park is Dr Chau Chak Wing Building designed by Frank Gehry which is famous for resembling a scrunched up brown paper bag.

29. SeeEastern suburbs

    Vaucluse Bay Range Rear Light

    Active lighthouse located on the east side of the entrance to Vaucluse Bay and one of four such lighthouses designed by architect Maurice Festu in a style now sometimes called "Disney Castle".

30. DrinkInner West Not mapped

    AB Hotel

    formerly the Ancient Briton

    This hotel has just undergone major renovations and is looking great with a Russian theme inside. The AB claims to have Sydney's coldest beer on tap. It's a large and not terribly crowded local pub with pool tables, couches and a bar made out of a fishtank. Cajun food is served daily, about $15 mains including Jambalaya, fried chicken, fish cakes and sweet potato pie.

31. SeeEastern suburbs Not mapped

    Bare Island Fort

    It sits in the entrance to Botany Bay linked to the mainland by a wooden bridge. Was built to protect the entrance to Botany Bay, and later used as a Veterans Home. Old fortifications and bay views.

    open for tours on Sundays

32. SeeCity East Not mapped

    Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre

    opposite the north eastern corner of Hyde Park near St Mary’s Cathedral

    Centre provides world-class swimming, fitness, sporting and recreational facilities including a gym. Sited within a picturesque parkland setting. Swimming facilities include an eight-lane 50-m heated indoor pool and a wave machine.

    Mon-Fri 6AM-10PM, Sat Sun and public holidays 7AM-8PM, closed on Good Fri and Christmas Day·Adult $6.00, concession $4.50, family $16.00, additional family member $2, spectator $2.70

33. EatCity East Not mapped

    Harry's Cafe de Wheels

    A piece of Sydney history, right on the water at Woolloomooloo. Stand up against the van, and grab a pie, peas and mash. There are another couple of franchises open now, in Capitol Square and at the airport. Ignore them, this is the original, and it isn't about the pies. Open early, and late.

34. DoThe Rocks Not mapped

    Southeast Bridge Pylon

    Climb up to the Pylon Lookout. Entrance is from the pedestrian walkway on Bradfield Highway approach to the bridge. (There is no entrance at the base of the Pylon in Dawes Point.) As you climb the 200 steps within the pylon, you pass 3 levels of exhibits describing pictorially the history of the bridge. The view at the Pylon Lookout is as good as from the Sydney tower, maybe better, as you are out in the open air and next to the harbour. It may be the cheapest way to take aerial photos of the harbour, including the Opera House. (You cannot take a camera with you on the bridge climb.)

    The pylon is open 10AM-5PM every day except Christmas Day·Admission is $13 adults, $6.50 children under 13, and free for children under 7

35. Do Not mapped

    Sydney French Film Festival

    The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival

    Offers an impressive and ambitious panoramic view of contemporary French cinema, screening the films at Palace Academy Twin in Oxford St, Darlinghurst, Verona in Paddington & Norton Street in Leichhardt.

36. DrinkInner West Not mapped

    Sydney Rowing Club

    Sydney's original rowing club, established in 1870, is a historic site with a chic and contemporary venue on a glorious riverside setting, a 20-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay (adjacent to Abbotsford Wharf). With fresh seafood available everyday for lunch and dinner, an expansive beverage list and live music on the riverside deck Thursday, Friday and Sunday, it's the ultimate setting for the archetypal Sydney experience.

37. SeeLower North Shore Not mapped

    Tambourine Bay Reserve

    The reserve has a park adjacent to it with a variety of barbecue facilities. The park is also a peculiar meeting place for dogs and their owners. On most days, usually between 2-5PM, a group will gather and the dogs will play while the owners socialise. Not far from the park is a distinctive mangrove swamp and a reserve with many bush walking trails. The bay is picturesque with its yachts and native vegetation in the foreshore. A sea scouts clubhouse is located in the area, and is popular with rowers and sailors alike. Also nearby is the historic St Ignatius (Catholic) college, a prestigious secondary school in Sydney. The school has football fields and outdoor basketball courts that are often used freely by members of the public.

38. SeeInner West Not mapped

    The Bay Run

    A car-free and mostly flat 7 km circular foot and cycling track that sticks close to the Iron Cove Bay waterfront and crosses the bay on the Iron Cove Bridge. It connects picturesque parks, marinas, historic sights, cafes, restaurants and a major shopping centre at Birkenhead Point in Drummoyne. It passes through 7 Inner West suburbs and is particularly popular on weekends. Best accessed from Marion light rail stop or buses.

39. DrinkThe Rocks Not mapped

    The Orient

    Housed in an historic building of the 1850s. Multiple floors, dance floor.

40. SeeEastern suburbs Not mapped

    Vaucluse House

    (Historic Houses Trust). Built in 1803, Vaucluse House is one of Sydney's oldest residences on a grand scale. The house and gardens are open to the public.

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Sydney (CC BY-SA 4.0).