Sydney is the capital city for the state of New South Wales. It has a
population of 4,041,400 (4.04 million) and is located directly upon
Sydney Harbour. Sydney is a thriving, dynamic and multicultural city.
Sydney was the first
European settlement in Australia. Lieutenant, later Capt.
Cook sailed along the Eastern coastline in April 1770, mooring in Botany Bay, but never came into the Harbour itself. It was not until 1788 that Governor Philip Arthur discovered the beauty and potential of this massive harbour. Initially it was intended to be a setttlement for convicts. However from 1825, Sydney slowly developed into a community where convicts and free settlers worked and lived together.
Sydney is most famous for it's two icons, The Harbour
Bridge and Opera House. The Harbour
Bridge took 9 years to build, it is 134 metres tall at the highest point and weighs an enormous 60,000 tonnes. The Opera House was designed by Danish Architect Joern Utzon. It cost over $100 million and took 14 years to complete. Within the building itself there are 5 theatres and many other amenities, including bars and restaurants.
The telephone code for Sydney and the state of NSW is 02. Sydney observes AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) which is GMT + 10 hours. In summer is observes AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time) which is GMT + 11 hours.