30 Sep 2025

Stories of The Rocks

Step back in time and wander the historic cobblestone lanes and narrow alleys of Sydney's oldest neighborhood.
Stories of The Rocks

Walk the convict-hewn roadways and explore the heritage-listed terraces, each a stone-cold witness to the early settlement. From the second oldest residential building in Sydney, Cadman's Cottage, to the stories of over 100 working-class families preserved at Susannah Place Museum, the tales are everywhere. The Rocks has transformed from a skyline once dominated by windmills to a vibrant modern hub that still echoes with tales of old—even the ghosts of its colonial past linger. Discover these Stories in Stone at free sites like The Rocks Discovery Museum and feel the spirit of early Sydney come alive.

October Events

October in The Rocks promises a blend of family fun, historical discovery, and spooky thrills. These school holidays "Build Your Own Windmill!" at The Rocks Discovery Museum. This event invites children to engage with the area's past, when windmills dominated the Sydney skyline, unlike the modern architecture of today.

A major highlight is the relaunch of the Susannah Place Museum on the 11 October with a Street Party, following a significant conservation project. This reopening will allow visitors to step back in time and explore the recently conserved terraces, which tell a story of resilience and community.

As Halloween approaches, the 'Ghost in The Rocks' event takes over from 30 October. Held in Sydney's famously haunted location, the four-day event offers horror encounters, themed food, and thrilling entertainment, tapping into the chilling tales and colonial past that reportedly linger beneath the cobblestones of The Rocks.
30
Oct
02
Nov
Ghost in The Rocks
Taking place in Sydney's spookiest location (rumoured to be haunted) get ready for four days and four long nights of horror encounters, eerie eats, and thrilling entertainment.
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11
Oct
Susannah Place Museum relaunch & Street Party
After completion of multi-year once-in-a-generation conservation project, all Susannah Place terraces will reopen to the public from Thursday to Saturday each week.
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29
Sep
10
Oct
Free School Holiday Fun: Build Your Own Windmill!
By
Catch the Wind, make it Spin!
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Stories in Stone

The Rocks is a living museum of Sydney’s past. Every street corner, terrace, and heritage-listed building tells a story of resilience, reinvention, and community. From convict-hewn roadways to some of the city’s oldest surviving pubs, these landmarks embody the spirit of early Sydney while remaining vibrant parts of the precinct today.

Windmills on the Skyline

Where the Sydney skyline is now defined by modern architecture,  two centuries ago the tallest structures to be found around  Sydney Cove were actually windmills. 

Ghosts of The Rocks

The Rocks is Sydney’s historic heart—and it’s haunted. Beneath the cobblestones, laneways, and charming façades, chilling tales from the city’s colonial past linger.
Discover Heritage Buildings for Free
Susannah Place Museum
Step inside Sydney’s past at Susannah Place Museum — a preserved row of 1840s terraces where the stories of over 100 working-class families come to life.
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The Rocks Discovery Museum
A free, family friendly museum which tells the story of The Rocks from pre-European days to the present.
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Cadman’s Cottage
Cadman’s Cottage, a jewel in the heart of The Rocks, stands as a captivating window into Sydney’s colonial past. As the second oldest residential building in the city, and a rare survivor from the first three decades of European settlement, its historical significance is profound.
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