Sydney Australia History

Capital of New South Wales, Sydney’s history is that of Australia’s first European settlement.

Despite previous visitors, English explorer Captain James Cook was the first European to claim Australia. In 1770, he recommended Botany Bay, south of Sydney Harbour, for settlement.

Britain used Australia to relieve its burden of increasing criminal numbers. Convicts (transported criminals) comprised more than half the people on the first 11 ships to arrive in 1788.

Expedition leader Captain Arthur Phillip immediately realised Botany Bay was unsuitable and relocated to Sydney Harbour. On 26 January — now Australia Day — convicts began clearing its shores.

Initially, European and Indigenous relations were relatively peaceful, based on trade. However, violence escalated as free settlers arrived from 1793 and took Aboriginal land. This issue was ignored for 50 years before the New South Wales government officially declared Aborigines had never actually owned the land. A second law essentially made buying land from Aborigines or believing in their land rights illegal.

The discovery of gold in 1851, the burgeoning wool industry and the end of convict transportation heralded a new era — free enterprise flourished and Sydney expanded.

This continued in the twentieth century, where good wool prices shortened the Depression and caused a building boom, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening.

Migrants from southern Europe after World War II gave the city a multi-cultural flavour and saw it grow on par with Los Angeles.

Fresh from the much-celebrated 2000 Olympic Games, modern Sydney is an international city of spectacular natural beauty with an energetic and sophisticated lifestyle.