A guide to Sydney Harbour: History, attractions, things to do, and more!

Before European settlement, Sydney and its surrounding areas were home to Aboriginal tribes, including the Gadigal, Eora, Cammeraygal, and Wanegal. Archaeological finds, such as stone tools near Penrith, date back 50,000–45,000 BCE, highlighting the region’s rich Indigenous history.

In 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip arrived from England with 732 convicts and a few soldiers to establish a penal colony, marking the start of European settlement in Australia. They landed at Sydney Cove, named after Lord Sydney (Thomas Townshend), the British Home Secretary who played a crucial role in organizing and supporting the First Fleet’s journey.

The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, Australia’s oldest scientific institution, was originally focused on cultivating plants for the colony. Today, it remains a hub for botanical research and conservation, offering visitors curated landscapes and diverse plant collections while advancing biodiversity studies.

In 1840, the convict ship Eden became the last to dock in Sydney, marking the end of its penal colony era. With free settlers arriving, Sydney rapidly grew into a thriving, modern city of culture, commerce, and innovation.

The Commonwealth of Australia was inaugurated at Centennial Park after the federation of six British colonies—Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia, marking Australia’s emergence as a Dominion within the British Empire.

Opened in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge linked the northern and southern shores, boosting transport and city expansion. It soon became a symbol of Australia’s engineering achievement and ambition.

In 1942, Prime Minister John Curtin enacted the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act, granting Australia full legislative independence as a self-governing dominion within the British Empire.

When the Sydney Opera House opened in 1973, it transformed Sydney Harbour into a bustling tourism hub. Cargo ships gave way to yachts and cruises, making the harbor a major international destination renowned for its beauty, culture, and history.

Known as Boambilly by the local Aboriginal people, Shark Island lies east of Sydney Harbour between the Harbour Bridge and the harbor entrance. Part of Sydney Harbour National Park, it features the active Shark Island Light, visible between Shark Point and Point Piper.

Just off Darling Point in eastern Sydney Harbour, is part of Sydney Harbour National Park. Named after First Fleet Lieutenant Ralph Clark, it’s a popular picnic spot but remains uninhabited to preserve its natural environment.

Northeast of the Royal Botanic Garden and east of the Opera House, is a heritage-listed island in Sydney Harbour National Park. Known as Mattewanye or Muddawahnyuh by the Eora people, it’s valued for its historical role as a defensive fort and cultural significance.

Located at the junction of Darling Harbour and Sydney Harbour’s main channel, Cockatoo Island is a heritage-listed site. Once a shipyard, arsenal, and storage facility, it now serves as an education and interpretation center within Sydney Harbour National Park.

At the confluence of the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Formerly a convict penal site and major shipyard, it is now a cultural hub hosting festivals and events.

Upstream of the Sydney Harbour Bridge near Drummoyne is the most modified harbor island, expanded seven times through land reclamation. It serves as a Sea Cadets training depot and museum.