The Sydney Traveler

Fort Denison is one of Sydney’s most significant historical sites. Located in the centre of Sydney Harbour, this heritage area offers much for visitors of all ages.
When the first settlers arrived in Sydney in 1788, Fort Denison was a popular fishing spot known to the Aboriginal people as Mat-te-wan-ye. The First Fleet renamed it Pinchgut, and began to use the rocky island as a place to confine convicts who had committed secondary crimes. Here they lived in leg irons on strict rations of bread and water.
In 1839 American warships entered the harbour and circled Pinchgut. This threatened attack led the …read more

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Are you looking for a place to stay in Sydney? Somewhere to enjoy an indulgent meal? Something fun to do with the kids? Remarkably Q Station in Manly can offer it all. Put simply, it’s a one-stop entertainment destination.
Q Station doesn’t just want to teach visitors about history, it wants them to experience it. Through their theatre production, Defiance, guests will learn more about life in quarantine than they will in any history book. Seated inside the buildings where these events actually took place, Defiance delivers and engaging and thought-provoking theatrical experience.
A range of tours step out of the everyday, …read more

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Step back in time and discover Sydney’s convict past at the Hyde Parks Barracks Museum.
The site, built by convict architect Francis Greenway, housed 15, 000 male convicts between 1819 and 1848. Later it became a female immigration depot, before being transformed into a government asylum for destitute women.
The museum lets you immerse yourself in the history of this fascinating site. You’ll learn what it was like to be a convict, be spooked by the Soundscape, and discover the fascinating stories of the Barracks’ occupants. There’s also a free archaeological display on the ground floor which is sure to delight history …read more

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Nestled in the historic Rocks district, Susannah Place Museum offers a fun day out for adults and kids alike.
The museum is actually a terrace of four houses which date back to 1844. The houses were occupied by working-class Sydney families from that time to 1990. Today the museum allows us to see how average people lived in the city throughout history.
The many layers of paint, wallpaper, and floor coverings tell us much about the tastes of the occupants, and the way these changed over time. The buildings still have the original brick privies and open laundries, which are believed to …read more

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Architecture enthusiasts and history buffs will relish a trip to Government House. This beautiful mansion was built between 1837 and 1845 for the Governor of New South Wales. But today you don’t have to be a VIP to step inside.
At the time it was built, Government House was considered the most sophisticated Gothic Revival building in the colony. And it’s not hard to see why.
The ground floor contains the dining room, drawing room, and ballroom. It’s not hard to imagine the hub of activity this floor would have been centuries ago. These rooms feature stunning 19th and 20th century furniture …read more

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Cockatoo Island may just be Sydney’s best kept secret. This heritage listed island is smack bang in the middle of stunning Sydney Harbour, and it’s just opened up for overnight camping.
This beautiful island used to be an imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory, and gaol. It was also the site of one of Australia’s biggest shipyards. Remnants of Cockatoo Island’s rich history remain today. Visitors can explore the historic sites at their own pace or join a guided tour.
History aside, Cockatoo Island offers one amazing view. It’s one of the best places in Sydney to appreciate the harbour, the city skyline, …read more

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For more than 100 years, Sydney’s Town Hall has been one of the city’s icons: a heritage site, a landmark, a meeting place, and more. But have you ever wondered what Sydney was like before this important building was constructed.
Well, you don’t need to wonder any more. As part of a major upgrade to the building, archaeological excavation is taking place underneath its floors. The site is holding an open day on Tuesday, allowing members of the public to view the site, talk to the archaeologists, and learn more about Sydney’s history.
So what can you expect to see? According to …read more

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The Justice and Police Museum reveals the fascinating history of Australia’s criminals and their punishments.
The beautiful sandstone building has been fully restored while remaining faithful to its 1800s design. Inside the museum there are many winding steps and corridors, but the map will ensure you don’t get lost or miss any of the exhibits.
The museum features a magistrates court, a recreated police charge room and remand cells, a gallery of historic Sydney mug shots, and a chilling collection of weapons.
There is also some brilliant memorabilia from the infamous Pyjama Girl case, the Graeme Thorne kidnapping, and the days of legendary bushrangers …read more

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For the history buffs, The Rocks is the site of Australia’s first European settlement. Today though, its cobbled streets and heritage buildings are a great place to explore. Many of The Rocks’ colonial buildings now house art galleries, cafés, pubs, restaurants, and kitsch souvenir stores.
One of my favourite places to visit is La Renaissance Patisserie, a little bit of France in the middle of Sydney. Paris-trained Pierre Charkos and his wife Sally established the family business in 1974. Their signature cakes are a homage to the renaissance painters that inspired the patisserie’s name. Why not try a Mousse Van Gogh, …read more

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Hyde Park is the centrepoint of Sydney, but how many of us take this gorgeous oasis for granted. It’s a great place for a picnic or a protest, but what do you really know about one of our most famous landmarks? For most of us, the answer is not a lot. But if you’d like to, you can this weekend.
History buff Mark Dunn will lead some guided tours of the park tomorrow, focusing on the history of its statues, fountains and landscapes. The tours are part of the History Council of New South Wales’ Historyweek celebrations.
The tours will depart from Archibald …read more

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