What is The Rocks in Sydney?
The Rocks is Sydney's oldest neighbourhood, a historic precinct on the western side of Circular Quay where the British colony began in 1788, now full of pubs, lanes and markets.
The area took its name from the rocky sandstone shore where the first convicts and soldiers built rough huts. Over the next century it grew into a crowded harbour district of sailors, warehouses and pubs, with a reputation for gangs and crime.
In the 1970s, plans to replace old buildings with high-rise towers led to protests and green bans, when building unions refused to work on demolition. The heritage streets were saved and restored, creating today's popular historic quarter.
What to see
Visitors can explore Cadmans Cottage, built in 1816 and one of Sydney's oldest surviving buildings, the Susannah Place Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia on the waterfront. The Rocks Markets run on weekends with crafts and food.
Some of Sydney's oldest pubs operate in The Rocks, and guided walking tours explain the area's convict and maritime past. The southern approach to the Sydney Harbour Bridge passes right over the precinct.
Did You Know?
The Rocks Discovery Museum shows artefacts found during archaeological digs, from Aboriginal tools to colonial pottery.