Heritage & History


The Rocks, in the heart of the cosmopolitan city, encompasses the country’s past, present and future. The Indigenous Cadigal people inhabited the rocky headland and surrounding shoreline for thousands of years. Then in 1788, Australia’s first European settlers - British convicts and their overseers - claimed the land and built their camp atop these sandstone cliffs.

The Rocks eventually grew from an open-air gaol into a vibrant port community. Its colourful history - filled with tales of shanghai’ed sailors, rough gangs, and gritty life - can still be traced in the many surviving buildings from the last two centuries. But today the renovated warehouses, sailors’ homes, and dens of iniquity house a unique mixture of fine restaurants, one-of-a-kind shops, and galleries showcasing both established and emerging talent.

The Rocks is a uniquely historical Australian quarter, one where you can explore Cadman's Cottage, eat in restaurants located in some of the oldest suriving buildings in Sydney, or browse boutique shops and galleries in the place where Australia's European settlement began. It’s a village which echoes a long and colourful past and can be enjoyed by everyone in an equally colourful present.

Foundation Park, Gloucester Walk

So come and enjoy The Rocks at your own pace, on your own terms. Wander around or relax; buy or browse; eat, drink and enjoy the ambiance. Delve into the history or let it simply surround you. Whether you’re a first-time or repeat visitor, this web site will help you easily plan your next trip. We look forward to your visit.

The Rocks is lively, scenic, and varied enough to capture anyone’s imagination. But it’s the area’s many layers of history that make it a unique Sydney destination. Fortunately, that history has been studied, preserved and documented. Visitors can tap into this wealth of information to find out about the lives of The Rocks’ previous occupants, as well as to learn the history of individual buildings and sites they see today.

For more information on the heritage of The Rocks, visit: Pre-1788; The Convict Town 1788-1820s; The Port City 1830s-1900; and The 1900s - The Fight for The Rocks. 

If you would like to learn more about the Rocks special heritage education programs and activities are scheduled throughout the year. Check this link for details.

The Rocks is proudly cared for by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, a statutory body that oversees approximately 400 hectares of prime Sydney Harbour foreshore land..

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