The Rocks - A Story Around Every Corner

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Heritage Attractions

In The Rocks, it’s not unusual for a boutique shop, gallery, restaurant or cafe to be housed in a building that is more than 100 years old.

During that period, the building may have undergone numerous transformations. The shop you see today may once have been a bank, a merchant’s home, or perhaps a popular pub. Before that, other buildings may have stood on the site.

By studying historical documents and relics — even, in some cases, interviewing the original occupants’ descendants — historians and archaeologists have pieced together the story of each building and site in The Rocks.

To find out about the history and architecture of individual buildings or locations, or to browse such information by street, visit the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Heritage Register.

Or you could take a behind-the-scenes glimpse into history at one of the following heritage attractions in The Rocks:

The Rocks Discovery Museum
The Rocks Discovery Museum, housed in a restored 1850s sandstone warehouse, tells the story of The Rocks from pre-European days to the present.

Home to a unique collection of images and archaeological artefacts found in The Rocks, the exhibits are highly interactive; using touch screens, audio and visual elements to bring the history of the area alive.

Learn about the area's traditional landowners, the Cadigal people, the establishment of the British colony and when sailors, whalers and traders made the area their home; through to the 1970s protests which preserved this unique part of Sydney for future generations to explore and enjoy. Cadman's Cottage

Cadman’s Cottage
Sydney CBD’s oldest surviving cottage was built in 1816. At that time, the convict coxswain’s residence stood at Sydney Cove’s original shoreline, before land reclamation work moved the water line back. Today the building houses a National Parks and Wildlife Service information centre.

Garrison Church
The church, officially known as the Church of Holy Trinity, was built in the 1840s. The nickname derives from the British soldiers, stationed in nearby Dawes Battery, who attended the church during its first four decades. Regimental flags and military memorial plaques adorn the interior. The church is also renowned for a fine stained-glass window crafted in England.

Garrison Gallery, Historical and Military Museum
This museum is housed within the Parish Hall, next to the Garrison Church and traces the history of the British soldiers sent to the colony. The hall was formerly the Parish School and was attended by Australia’s first Prime Minister, Sir Edmund Barton. There is a display of historic photos of Sydney, as well as military memorabilia and uniforms.

Susannah Place Museum
A row of four terrace houses and corner store, Susannah Place was built in the 1840s and occupied by working-class families. Today the houses and shop have been turned into a museum, complete with period furnishings, and they offer a glimpse of how typical residents of The Rocks lived.

Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Museum & Lookout
The Bridge Stairs in Cumberland Street lead up to the Harbour Bridge pedestrian walkway and the bridge pylons. The south eastern pylon houses a museum dedicated to the history of the bridge, an engineering marvel when it was completed in 1932. The pylon also has a lookout, which is reached by climbing 200 steps within the pylon. The effort is well rewarded with spectacular 360-degree views of the city and harbour.

Sydney Observatory
Built in 1858, the observatory is now an interactive astronomy museum featuring many high-tech displays. Visitors can use its telescopes to observe planets and stars during night time programs. The museum also stages various exhibitions, films, and talks, incorporating both the history of astronomy and the latest discoveries. A permanent exhibit, 'Cadi Eora Birrung: Under the Sydney Stars', explains how the stars were created from an Aboriginal perspective.

Other Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority Websites