The Rocks
The first neighborhood where British colonists landed and founded the city in 1788. It has sandstone heritage buildings, cobblestone lanes, Australia's oldest pubs and weekend markets, all at the foot of the Harbour Bridge.
The Rocks lies on the west side of Circular Quay, at the south end of the Harbour Bridge. In 1788, convicts and soldiers from the First Fleet set up Sydney's first camp on this sandstone slope. In the 19th century, it was a poor district where dockworkers, sailors and gangs gathered. In the 1970s, it was almost demolished, but it was saved through 'Green Bans' imposed by unions. Today, it is Sydney's most historically atmospheric neighborhood. Highlights include the 19th-century sandstone buildings and terrace houses along George and Playfair streets. Cadmans Cottage, built in 1816, is Sydney's oldest surviving house. There are narrow lanes such as Nurses Walk and Suez Canal, as well as Argyle Cut, a passage carved through rock by convicts. The Susannah Place Museum shows an 1844 workers' terrace house in its original state. The Rocks Discovery Museum is free, as is the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), whose rooftop café faces the Opera House. Observatory Hill is a free high point for watching the sunset over the Harbour Bridge and the harbor. Pub culture is a special feature of the area. The Fortune of War (1828) is Sydney's oldest pub. The Lord Nelson (1841) brews its own beer. The Hero of Waterloo is said to have a smuggling tunnel underground. From Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Rocks Markets offer more than 200 stalls with handcrafts, jewelry and food. Friday is the food market. Visitors can join an evening 'ghost tour' walk, or follow a free self-guided walking route using a map from the visitor center. Admission is free. Getting there: it is a 5-minute walk from Circular Quay Station, and from there you can walk up the Harbour Bridge walkway by the stairs on Cumberland Street. Notes: the streets are steep and have many stone steps. Weekend markets are crowded, and the pubs are lively on Friday nights. During Vivid Sydney, the light festival held from late May to mid-June, the neighborhood is busy with night projections and crowds.
Opening hours
Open all day (market Fri–Sun 10:00–17:00; MCA 10:00–17:00)
Nearby sights
- Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
- Circular Quay
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Sydney Opera House
- Sydney Observatory
- Barangaroo Reserve
- Luna Park Sydney
- Royal Botanic Garden Sydney