Here are some facts about Sydney.
- Sydney is the largest city in Australia. It is located in the state of New South Wales, on the country’s south east coast on one of the world’s largest natural harbours.
- The British explorer, Captain Cook discovered the area in 1770, during his first Pacific voyage. The city was established as a British penal colony in 1788 and declared a city in 1842.
- Sydney’s best known sights include the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and beautiful beaches, including the famous Bondi Beach. The Rocks area is the oldest part of the city.
- The famous Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world, at 1,149 metres long. Local residents call the bridge the coat hanger and walking across the top of it is popular.
- Rugby league is the most popular sport in Sydney, perhaps because of the many British residents. In summer, cricket is popular and widely played and sailing is popular all year round.
- The city has a population of about 4.6 million, and the residents are known as Sydneysiders. About 75 percent of the city’s population are immigrants and Chinese, Arabic, Greek and Mandarin are all widely spoken.
- Sydney’s George Street is the oldest street in Australia. The city is also home to one of the world’s most expensive residential streets, Point Piper.
- All Sydney beaches have excellent facilities, including changing rooms, play areas, barbecues and picnic shelters. World famous Bondi Beach has a burger named after it.
- Sydney is regularly considered to be one of the best cities in the world to live in.
- Sydney has many neighbourhoods and streets named after those in London, including Hyde Park, Paddington, Waterloo and Oxford Street. Several streets, squares and statues are named for Britain’s Queen Victoria.
- The city is the home to the famous Sydney Opera House.
