Timeline of Sydney
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Pre-Colonial[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/View_of_Sydney_Cove_1792.jpg/300px-View_of_Sydney_Cove_1792.jpg)
Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, 1792
- 50,000–45,000 BP – Near Penrith, a far western suburb of Sydney, numerous Aboriginal stone tools were found in Cranebrook Terraces gravel sediments dating to this time period; at first when these results were new they were controversial. More recently in 1987 and 2003, dating of the same strata has revised and corroborated these dates.[1]
- 30,000 BP – Radiocarbon dating suggests human activity occurred in and around the Sydney basin, as evidenced by an archaeological dig in Parramatta, in Western Sydney.[2][3] The finds show that the Aboriginal Australians in that region used charcoal, stone tools and possible ancient campfires.[4][5]
- 21,100–17,800 BP – Stone artifact assemblages dating to this time period discovered in Shaws Creek (near Hawkesbury River) and in Blue Mountains. A rock shelter with flakes dating to this period discovered near Nepean River.[6]
- 5,000–7000 BP – The Sydney rock engravings, a form of Australian Aboriginal rock art consisting of carefully drawn images of people, animals, or symbols, date to this time period.[7]
- 4,000–2,000 BC – The first backed stone artifacts developed, such as blades and spears. The stones would drill, scrape, cut and grind material. They were also associated with woodworking.[8]
- 1,000–500 BC – Bone and shell usage dating to this period discovered. They would've been attached to fishing spear prongs, which would mean that multi-pronged fishing spears occurred at this time. The evidence of spear-throwing is suggested by an excavated shell in Balmoral Beach.[9]
18th–19th centuries[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Lycett_-_Government_House%2C_Sydney_1819.jpg/220px-Lycett_-_Government_House%2C_Sydney_1819.jpg)
Government House, 1819
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- 1770 – Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook, in command of HMS Endeavour, sighted the east coast of Australia and landed at a bay in what is now southern Sydney.
- 1788 – Sydney founded as British penal settlement following arrival of the First Fleet of eleven vessels under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip;[10] French vessels under the command of Lapérouse land in Botany Bay.
- 1792 – Burial Ground established.
- 1796 – Population: 2,953.
- 1797 – Prospect, a western Sydney suburb, became the boundary between colonists and indigenous Australians. Hostility grew where a state of guerrilla warfare existed between indigenous people and the settler communities at Prospect and Parramatta.[11] The aboriginal people were led by their leader, Pemulwuy, a member of the Bidjigal tribe who occupied the land.[12]
- 1803 – Sydney Gazette newspaper begins publication.[13]
- 1804 – construction begins.[14]
- 1808 – Rum Rebellion.
- 1810 – Macquarie Street laid out.
- 1816
- Royal Botanic Gardens open.
- Sydney Hospital built.
- 1817 – Bank of New South Wales established.[15]
- 1819 – Hyde Park Barracks built.
- 1820 – Devonshire Street Cemetery established.
- 1823 – Sydney Royal Easter Show begins.
- 1824 – St James' Church consecrated.
- 1825 – New South Wales Legislative Council established in Sydney.
- 1827 – Australian Museum established.[16]
- 1831 – Weekly Sydney Herald newspaper begins publication.[17][18]
- 1833
- Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts founded.[19]
- Randwick Racecourse opened.
- 1837 – Government House [20] and Botany-Sydney aqueduct[19] built.
- 1838 – David Jones (shop) in business.[21]
- 1839 – Cockatoo Island prison in operation.
- 1840 – Farmers & Co. in business.[22]
- 1841 – Darlinghurst Gaol in operation.
- 1842
- 1850
- University of Sydney established.
- Freeman's Journal newspaper begins publication.
- 1854
- Sydney Cricket Ground opens.
- St Paul's College founded.[25]
- 1855
- First New South Wales Government Railways train operates from Redfern to Parramatta
- Sydney Mint established in General Hospital and Dispensary building.
- 1856
- First Pyrmont Bridge built.[26]
- St Philip's Church rebuilt.
- 1857 – St John's College founded.[25]
- 1858 – Sydney Observatory built.
- 1859 – Parliamentary electoral districts of East Sydney and West Sydney created.
- 1861 – Population: 95,000 city and suburbs.[20]
- 1868
- Belmore Park opens.
- St Andrew's Cathedral consecrated.[20]
- 1869 – Sydney Free Public Library established.[27]
- 1871 – Sydney Exchange and Academy of Art founded.
- 1874 - Art Gallery of New South Wales opened.
- 1877 – Waverley Cemetery established near city.
- 1878 – Robinson-Finlay wedding takes place.
- 1879 St Aloysius College, Jesuit school established.
- Sydney Riot of 1879.
- Sydney International Exhibition held; Garden Palace built.
- Art Gallery of New South Wales opens.
- Dymocks Bookseller in business.
- New South Wales Zoological Society founded.[28]
- Royal National Park established near city.
- 1881 – Population: 237,300 city and suburbs.[20]
- 1882
- Sydney Showground opens.
- St Mary's Cathedral consecrated.[20]
- 1883
- 1889
- Sydney Town Hall built.[20]
- Women's College[25] and Sydney Church of England Grammar School founded.
- 1890
- Sydney Town Hall Grand Organ installed.[31]
- Kerry photography studio in business.[32]
- 1891
- General Post Office built.
- Population: 399,270 city and suburbs.[20]
- Australia Hotel in business.
- 1892 – Strand Arcade opens.
- 1893 – Technological Museum opens.
- 1894 – Photographic Society of New South Wales founded.
- 1895 – City Tattersalls Club formed.
- 1898 – Queen Victoria Building constructed.
- 1900 – Sydney Harbour Trust active, White Australia Policy founded.
20th century[]
1900s–1940s[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Electric_trams%2C_King_Street%2C_Sydney%2C_1900.jpg/220px-Electric_trams%2C_King_Street%2C_Sydney%2C_1900.jpg)
King Street, circa 1900
- 1901
- 1902 – Second Pyrmont Bridge built.
- 1903 – Glebe Island Bridge and Her Majesty's Theatre[33][34] rebuilt. Bronte Surf Club became the first Surf Club as noted in Bronte by S. Vesper in his history of the Bronte Surf Club
- 1904 – Electric street lighting installed.[34]
- 1905 – Hordern's Palace Emporium in business.
- 1906
- Central railway station opens.
- Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club active.[34]
- 1907
- 20 October: Bathing costume protests.
- Melbourne–Sydney telephone begins operating.[34]
- 1908
- Camperdown becomes part of city.[24]
- New South Wales Rugby League Premiership formed
- 1909 – City of Sydney Library established.
- 1910 – The Sun newspaper begins publication.[35]
- 1912 – Culwulla Chambers built.[34]
- 1913 – Parcel Post Office built at Railway Square.
- 1915 – Sydney Conservatorium of Music established.[25]
- 1916 – 14 February: Liverpool riot of 1916.
- 1917 – J.G. Park photography studio in business (approximate date).[32]
- 1920
- 18 February: World's "first" swimsuit competition (beauty contest) held in Sydney.[18]
- Hurlstone Park Choral Society formed.
- 1921- Bronte Splashers Winter Swimming Club was formed becoming the first Winter Swimming Club in Australia
1924
- Sydney Airport begins operating.
- Hordern Pavilion built.
- 1926
- Electric train services begin
- 1927
- St James railway station opens.
- Sydney Cenotaph erected.
- Hyde Park built.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Sydney_%28AU%29%2C_Harbour_Bridge_--_2019_--_2179.jpg/225px-Sydney_%28AU%29%2C_Harbour_Bridge_--_2019_--_2179.jpg)
Sydney Harbour Bridge
- 1928
- Capitol Theatre opens.
- Government Savings Bank building constructed.[36]
- 1929
- 1930
- Modern Art Centre opens.[37]
- Grace Building constructed.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Sydney_1932.jpg/220px-Sydney_1932.jpg)
Aerial view of Sydney, 1932
- 1932
- Sydney Harbour Bridge, Town Hall railway station, and Wynyard railway station open.
- Dymocks building constructed.[36]
- 1935 – Luna Park and Astoria Theatre[38] open.
- 1938 – City hosts 1938 British Empire Games.
- 1939 – AWA Tower built.[36]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Martin_Place%3B_Commonwealth_Bank%2C_Hotel_Australia%2C_between_1933-1939_-_photographer_Hall_%26_Co._%287946924568%29.jpg/220px-Martin_Place%3B_Commonwealth_Bank%2C_Hotel_Australia%2C_between_1933-1939_-_photographer_Hall_%26_Co._%287946924568%29.jpg)
Martin Place in 1939, prior to pedestrianisation.
- 1940 – St. James Theatre opens.[38]
- 1941 – Daily Mirror newspaper begins publication.[17]
- 1942 – May–June: Attack on Sydney Harbour by Japanese forces.
- 1946 – Sydney Symphony Orchestra active.
- 1947 – Population: 95,852 city; 1,484,434 metro.[25]
- 1949 – Alexandria, Darlington, Erskineville, Glebe, Newtown, Paddington, Redfern, and Waterloo become part of the city.[24]
1950s–1990s[]
- 1953 – Sydney Sun-Herald newspaper in publication.[35]
- 1954 – Sydney Film Festival begins.
- 1956 – ATN Channel 7 television begins broadcasting.[35]
- 1961 – Last Trams in Sydney operate
- 1964 – Paddington Society founded.[39]
- – Gladesville Bridge opened
- 1967 – Australia Square hi-rise built.
- 1968
- 1971 – City of Sydney Strategic Plan created.[41]
- 1971 – Green Bans begin in Hunters Hill
- 1972 – Construction workers take over the Sydney Opera House
- 1972 – Aboriginal Medical Service established in Redfern.[34]
- 1973 – Sydney Opera House opens.
- 1977
- Granville train disaster
- Sydney Festival begins.
- MLC Centre opens
- 1979
- 9 June: 1979 Sydney Ghost Train fire.
- Martin Place pedestrianised.
- Martin Place railway station opens.
- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras begins.
- Sydney Theatre Company founded.
- 1981 – Sydney Tower opened
- 1983 – Beverly Hills Twin Cinema in business.[38]
- 1985
- Parliament House rebuilt.
- Granny Smith Festival begins in Eastwood.
- 1987 – University of Sydney's Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific established.[42]
- 1988
- Sydney Monorail opens
- University of Technology, Sydney and University of Sydney's Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies[42] established.
- Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre and Powerhouse Museum open.
- Australian Bicentenary events staged.
- Bicentennial Park, Homebush Bay and Mount Annan Botanic Garden open near city.
- 1989
Sydney hosts the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- 1990 – Sydney Children's Choir founded.
- 1991 - Sydney Park established.
- 1992 – Sydney Harbour Tunnel opened
- 1993 – South Sydney Heritage Society founded.[43]
- 1994 – Sydney International Aquatic Centre opens.
- 1995 – Anzac Bridge opens.
- 1997 – Asian Australian Artists’ Association Gallery 4A opens.[44]
- The Star, Sydney casino opens
- 1998
- July: 1998 Sydney water crisis
- BridgeClimb Sydney commences
- 1999 – Sydney Super Dome, Stadium Australia, and City Recital Hall open.
- 2000
- September: City hosts 2000 Summer Olympics & 2000 Summer Paralympics
- City of Sydney Historical Association founded.[45]
21st century[]
2000s[]
- 2001
- Sydney Harbour Federation Trust established.
- Population: 4,128,272.
- 2003 – Lowy Institute for International Policy headquartered in city.[42]
- 2004
- 14 February: 2004 Redfern riots.[10]
- City of South Sydney becomes part of City of Sydney.
- 2005
- December: 2005 Cronulla riots occur near city.[10]
- Cross City Tunnel opens.
- Bankstown Bites Food Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival begin.
- 2007
- September: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meets in city.
- begins.
- 2009
- Institute for Economics and Peace headquartered in city.
- Festival of Dangerous Ideas begins.
- First Vivid Sydney festival
2010s[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Sydney_Metro_Kellyville_Sunset1.jpg/220px-Sydney_Metro_Kellyville_Sunset1.jpg)
A Sydney Metro train
- 2011
- Population: 4,028,524.[46]
- 2014
- 2014 Sydney hostage crisis
- 2017
- Population reaches 5 million, according to the 2016 Australian census.[47]
- 2019
- Completion of the Sydney Metro Northwest, the first line of the upcoming Sydney Metro, Australia's first rapid transit system.
See also[]
- History of Sydney
- List of mayors, lord mayors and administrators of Sydney
- List of Governors of New South Wales, headquartered in Sydney
References[]
- ^ Attenbrow, Val (2010). Sydney's Aboriginal Past: Investigating the Archaeological and Historical Records. Sydney: UNSW Press. pp. 152–153. ISBN 978-1-74223-116-7. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Geoffrey Blainey; A Very Short History of the World; Penguin Books; 2004; ISBN 978-0-14-300559-9
- ^ Blainey, Geoffrey (2004). A Very Short History of the World. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-300559-9.
- ^ Macey, Richard (2007). "Settlers' history rewritten: go back 30,000 years". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Mulvaney, D J and White, Peter, 1987, Australians to 1788, Fairfax, Syme & Weldon, Sydney
- ^ V Attenbrow, G Robertson and P Hiscock, 'The changing abundance of backed artefacts in south-eastern Australia: a response to climate change?', Journal of Archaeological Science, vol 36, no 2009, pp 2765–70
- ^ McDonald, J. 1999. Bedrock notions and isochrestic choice: evidence for localised stylistic patterning in the engravings of the Sydney region. Archaeology in Oceania 34(3): 145–160.
- ^ P Hiscock, Archaeology of Ancient Australia, Routledge, New York, 2008
- ^ J McDonald, Dreamtime Superhighway. An Analysis of Sydney Basin Rock Art and Prehistoric Information Exchange, Terra Australis 27, ANU EPress, Canberra, 2008
- ^ a b c "Australia Profile: Timeline". BBC News. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ Collins, D., An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 1, Cadell and Davies, London, 1798.
- ^ Willey, K., When the sky fell down : the destruction of the tribes of the Sydney region, 1788-1850s, Collins, Sydney, 1979
- ^ Townsend 1867.
- ^ "Colonial fort that never was". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ Bain 2007.
- ^ Waugh's Australian Almanac. Sydney: Sherriff and Downing. 1863.
- ^ a b "Sydney (N.S.W.) Newspapers". WorldCat. USA: Online Computer Library Center. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ a b Steven Anzovin and Janet Podell, ed. (2000). Famous First Facts. H.W. Wilson Co. ISBN 0824209583.
- ^ a b Heaton 1879.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Britannica 1910.
- ^ Old Times 1903.
- ^ Reekie 1987.
- ^ Golder 1995.
- ^ a b c d e f "City Boundaries and Wards, 1842–2004". Historical Atlas of Sydney. City of Sydney Archives. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Leon E. Seltzer, ed. (1952), "Sydney", Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of the World, New York: Columbia University Press, p. 1856, OL 6112221M
- ^ Proudfoot 1986.
- ^ Moore's Australian Almanac. Sydney: J.J. Moore. 1878.
- ^ Yearbook 1891.
- ^ a b Haydn 1910.
- ^ "Australian Trade Union Archives". Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ Annual Report 1903.
- ^ a b Sydney University Museums. "Commercial Photographers". Collections. University of Sydney. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ Annual Report 1904.
- ^ a b c d e f Board of Studies. "Australian 20th Century Timeline". Teaching Heritage. New South Wales Government. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ a b c Rod Kirkpatrick (2012). "Press Timeline". Australian Newspaper Plan. National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c d e Exchange 2011.
- ^ "Australia, 1900 A.D.–present: Key Events". Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "Movie Theaters in Sydney, New South Wales". CinemaTreasures.org. Los Angeles: Cinema Treasures LLC. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Our History". Paddington Society. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "San Francisco Sister Cities". USA: City & County of San Francisco. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ^ Punter 2004.
- ^ a b c "Organizations". International Relations and Security Network. Switzerland: Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Local history groups". City of Sydney. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
- ^ "Australia". Art Spaces Directory. New York: New Museum. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "City of Sydney Historical Association". Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Population of Capital Cities and Cities of 100,000 or More Inhabitants". Demographic Yearbook 2012. United Nations Statistics Division. 2013.
- ^ "Sydney population hits 5 million". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
Bibliography[]
Published in the 19th century[]
- Description of a view of the town of Sydney. London: Printed by J. and C. Adlard. 1830.
Now exhibiting in the Panorama, Leicester-square, painted by R. Burford
- David Brewster, ed. (1832). "Sydney". Edinburgh Encyclopædia. Philadelphia: Joseph and Edward Parker. hdl:2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t82j6q872.
- Picture of Sydney; and Strangers' Guide in New South Wales. Sydney: J. Maclehose. 1838.
- Sydney in 1848. 1848–1850. (1962 facsimile published by Ure Smith)
- John Dunmore Lang (1852), "City of Sydney", Australian Emigrant's Manual, London: Partridge and Oakey
- Sands' Sydney Directory. 1858–1933.
- Stranger's Guide to Sydney. Sydney: James William Waugh. 1861. ISBN 9780908120215.
- Charles Knight, ed. (1866). "Sydney". Geography. English Cyclopaedia. Vol. 4. London: Bradbury, Evans, & Co. hdl:2027/nyp.33433000064810.
- Handbook to Sydney and Suburbs. Sydney: S.T. Leigh & Company. 1867.
- George Henry Townsend (1867), "Sydney", A Manual of Dates (2nd ed.), London: Frederick Warne & Co.
- "Australia: Sydney". Street's Indian and Colonial Mercantile Directory. London: G. Street. 1869.
- J.H. Heaton (1879). "Sydney". Australian Dictionary of Dates. Sydney: G. Robertson.
- "New South Wales: Sydney". Wright's Australian and American Commercial Directory and Gazetteer. New York: George Wright. 1881.
- "Towns in New South Wales: Sydney". Australian Handbook (incorporating New Zealand, Fiji, and New Guinea): Shippers' and Importers' Directory & Business Guide. Gordon and Gotch. 1888.
- "New South Wales and its Metropolis". Year-book of Australia for 1891. London. 1891.
- George Lacon James (1892), "City of Sydney", Shall I Try Australia?, London: L.U. Gill, OCLC 8559275
Published in the 20th century[]
- "Sydney". Chambers's Encyclopaedia. London. 1901.
- Illustrated Guide to Sydney. Sydney: Dymock's Book Arcade and Circulating Library. 1901.
- Old Times, Sydney: Commercial Publishing Co., April 1903
- Annual Report for ... 1903, City of Sydney, 1903
- Annual Report for ... 1904, City of Sydney, 1903
- J.D. Fitzgerald (1906). Greater Sydney and Greater Newcastle. Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Company.
- Norddeutscher Lloyd (1906). "Sydney". 'Lloyd' Guide to Australasia. London: Edward Stanford.
- Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). 1910. pp. 278–280. .
- Benjamin Vincent (1910), "Sydney", Haydn's Dictionary of Dates (25th ed.), London: Ward, Lock & Co.
- K. W. Robinson, 'Sydney, 1850–1952, A Comparison of Developments in the Heart of the City', Australian Geographer, Vol. 6, 1952–1956
- Nineteenth Century Sydney: Essays in Urban History, M. Kelly (ed.), Sydney University Press, 1978
- P.R. Proudfoot (1986). "Changing Patterns of Maritime Activity in Central Sydney". The Great Circle. Australian Association for Maritime History. 8 (1): 33–53. JSTOR 41562715.
- Gail Reekie (1987). ""Humanising Industry": Paternalism, Welfarism and Labour Control in Sydney's Big Stores 1890–1930". Labour History (53): 1–19. JSTOR 27508857.
- Sydney Street Directory, Macquarie Park, N.S.W: Gregory's, 1987, OL 24208759M
- P. Webber, ed. (1988), The Design of Sydney. Sydney: Law Book Company.
- Shirley H. Fitzgerald, Sydney 1842–1992 (Hale and Iremonger, Sydney, 1992)
- Paul Ashton (1993). The accidental city: planning Sydney since 1788. Hale & Iremonger. ISBN 0868064874.
- Hilary Golder (1995), "Electoral History of Sydney 1842–1992", Sydney's History, City of Sydney
- J. Birmingham. (1999), Leviathan: The Unauthorised Biography of Sydney. Knopf.
Published in the 21st century[]
- Sydney: the Emergence of a World City. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 2000.
- P. Spearritt. (2000), Sydney's Century: a History. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.
- Sydney, Condensed Guides, Lonely Planet, 2000, OL 8647599M
- "Sydney: On Top of the World Down Under", National Geographic Magazine, USA, vol. 198, 2000
- Ken Bernstein (2003), "Sydney", Pocket Guide Australia, Berlitz, OL 9196697M
- "Sydney". Understanding Slums: Case Studies for the Global Report 2003. United Nations Human Settlements Programme and University College London. 2003.
- John Punter (2004). "From the Ill-Mannered to the Iconic: Design Regulation in Central Sydney 1947–2002". Town Planning Review. 75 (4): 405–445. doi:10.3828/tpr.75.4.3. JSTOR 40112621.
- Jim Bain (2007). A Financial Tale of Two Cities: Sydney and Melbourne's Remarkable Contest for Commercial Supremacy. UNSW Press. ISBN 978-0-86840-963-4.
- History Program (2011). "Exchange: Commercial & Retail Sydney". Historical Walking Tours. City of Sydney.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to History of Sydney. |
- "Historical Atlas of Sydney". City of Sydney Archives.
- "Dictionary of Sydney".
- Items related to Sydney, various dates (via Europeana).
- Items related to Sydney, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America).
Coordinates: 33°51′36″S 151°12′40″E / 33.859972°S 151.211111°E
Categories:
- History of Sydney
- Sydney-related lists
- Timelines of cities in Australia
- New South Wales timelines