• Home
• About Sydney
• Tour Packages
• Tourist Information
• Sydney Events
• Tickets Office
• Talk Like an Aussie
• Maps

The Rocks is a place in Sydney that attracts the most number of visitors. It lies at the foot of the Harbour Bridge on the western shore of Sydney Cove, on the western side of Circular Quay. It is situated at the city centre.

The Rocks is adjacent to Circular Quay where the first European colony settled in 1788. During those times until about the 1820's, The Rocks was mostly inhabited by convicts, prostitutes and such. The settlement initially was largely along the waterfront. Traders, merchants and innkeepers followed to cater for and cash in on the needs of the colony. A hospital, a gaol, a bakehouse and storehouses were the first establishments to come up amidst the colony. The hotel The Hero of Waterloo which was renamed so after 1815 is still preserved to retain its original looks. By the 1820's, The Rocks had evolved to become more fashionable. The foundation stone was laid in 1840 for the Holy Trinity Church or the Garrison Church as it is more popularly known. An annual service is held every June to commemorate this occasion. The Argyle Cut was a passage formed around the 1860s connecting Circular Quay to Miller Point. This was chopped out by the convicts through the sandstone ridge of The Rocks, which made passage between Sydney Cove and Darling Harbour and Millers Point more viable. This was started in 1843 with the help of hammers and chisels and actually completed in 1867 with the help of explosives.

In the 1870s and 1880s, The Rocks became home to hoodlums, petty thugs and gangsters notorious for their gang rivalry. These areas were most dominated by a gang called the Rocks Push. Passage of time saw the development and establishment of the maritime industry and the area saw the sprouting of numerous warehouses and other centres of activity. Years later, plague brought about the undoing of the industry and enterprise that had hitherto made The Rocks a bustling centre. However, after the plague, the authorities cleaned up and sanitized the whole area of The Rocks and improved order was established. With the construction of the road around Dawes Point, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Cahill Expressway, The Rocks again was transformed into a busy area. Having still retained some of the old-world looks and the ancient allure, The Rocks reflects a charming fusion of the old and the new. Today, The Rocks with its cobbled avenues, pretty houses, and ancient buildings reminding of a historic era is buzzing during the day with bustling shops, cafes and stalls, and vibrant at night with lively pubs and restaurants. The Rocks is now being preserved by Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority as a national monument.

An amazing market at the weekends, live music, historical walking tours and Master Christopher's Atmospheric Night Tour are some of features that have attracted visitors to the Rocks over the years.