The Rocks

The historic heart of Sydney, The Rocks, is where Captain Arthur Philip proclaimed the establishment of Sydney in 1788. For decades the area was little more than a slum with dingy dwellings and dubious businesses, until shipping merchants started to build impressive stone warehouses there in the 1830’s and 1840’s.

By the 1870’s, the area had fallen into disrepair as shipping was moved away from Circular Quay and gangs of larrikins moved in, to mug passers by and brawl with each other. The area became so filthy that entire street fronts were razed in 1900 in an effort to contain an outbreak of the bubonic plague.

The area remained quite run down and depressing until the 1970’s when plans to demolish the majority of the historic buildings were opposed by the building worker’s union, and the buildings were instead renovated and restored to create a historic quarter which is now one of Sydney’s most popular tourist attractions.

Start your Rocks discovery at the Sailor's Home - which contains the Sydney Visitor Centre, featuring information about the region's history, and what to see in the area. You can buy a guide and explore the area yourself, or take a guided walking tour and benefit from the knowledge of the locals.

For a tour with a twist, the night-time Ghost Tour organised by Unseen Sydney Walking Tours, is well worth the money, and an experience that will stay with you long after you leave.

The Rocks is one of the best places for duty free shopping, other than the airport, and is a great destination for a Sunday afternoon drink, with many pubs offering live music.

Visit the beautifully restored shopping complexes at Campbell’s Storehouses, Metcalfe Stores and the upmarket Argyle Stores. The tasteful boutiques are complimented with a range of upmarket restaurants and other dining options.

On the weekends, the colourful Rocks Market invades the Harbour Bridge end of George Street, as vendors of arts and crafts with an Australia theme, tender their wares.

Those with children, or merely young at heart will enjoy visiting the Rocks Toy Museum and exploring two floors of collectible toys from the 19th and 20th centuries. Next door, the Rocks Puppet Cottage hosts free puppet shows on weekends and school holidays in their 1850's sandstone coach-house.

There are still elements of the old atmosphere, late at night when trouble erupts, and police are forced to compliment camera surveillance with horseback patrols, so it is best to avoid the area in the small hours.