As the state capital of New South Wales in
Australia, Sydney is certainly full of rich history that any traveller would like to discover for themselves.
Established in 1788 when Briton Arthur Phillip claimed Australia for England, Sydney has grown to be one of the
more famous cities in the world, boasting over four million people for the population.
Situated along the Sydney Harbour, Sydney
is known as the ‘Harbour City’ in which travellers and residents can enjoy such sights as the Sydney Opera House
and Harbour Bridge. A previous host of the Summer Olympics, Sydney is certainly creating a destination for the
travellers of today and the future.
The indigenous Australians once roamed the
lands of Sydney and the surrounding areas for approximately thirty thousand years. And while their numbers
dwindled before the arrival of Arthur Phillips, they still inhabited the area and made their homes in the
region.
In the past, there were three different
languages spoken in Sydney: Darug, Dharawal, and Guringai. Many of these languages also have separate dialects
for various tribes and clans. These languages are all but gone now, but rock carvings remain to tell the stories
of these ancient peoples.
In 1770, James Cook was the first to see
Australia and note its existence. This led to the British convict settlement as founded by Arthur Phillip.
Founded in Sydney Cove, this settlement was named after the British home secretary. A few years later in 1789, a
virulent disease spread over the land, killing the indigenous populations—many believe that this was the result
of smallpox.
By 1820, there were few aborigines left
and the period of civilization began: the education and Christianization of the natives. With the leadership of
Governor Macquarie, the city of Sydney began to take a more organized form. Roads and wharves were constructed
and local development was rapid. People began arriving from Britain and Ireland in order to find a new life for
themselves.
This influx of people led to some of the
first villages and later towns in Sydney. As the era of gold rushes came and went, the development of suburbs
and improved transportation also blossomed. The construction of railways and tramways in the nineteenth century
aided this rapid development. By the twentieth century, Sydney already had a population of over a million
people. While the Great Depression hit Sydney hard, the Harbour Bridge was still completed during that
time.
With the second highest immigrant
population of any larger world city, Sydney is an interesting mix of culture and expression. In fact, forty-five
percent of the population is said to be migrants of some relation. This makes for a different feeling in the
city—one of acceptance and sharing, rather than segregation.
This allows Sydney to be an ideal vacation
destination for those travellers that want a sense of history and development as well as great weather and
nearby activities. Sydney is more than a vacation hotspot; it’s where time has shown that anything can be
achieved with patience and hard work.
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