The Rocks

About The Rocks

The Rocks is a chic place in Sydney that grew out of the working class neighbourhood there. This historic area is located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, immediately north-west of the Sydney Central Business District, immediately adjacent to Circular Quay on Sydney Cove, site of Australia's first European settlement in 1788. The Rocks became established shortly after the colony's formation. The original buildings here were made of local sandstone which gave the name to the place. During its early history, the Rocks was a slum area frequented by visiting sailors and prostitution was rampant. By the late 1800s, it was dominated by a gang called the Rocks Push. The rough neighbourhood reputation lingered well until the 1970s.

Today the Rocks is a partly gentrified but still contains a significant proportion of Housing Commission properties. It is an area in Sydney where urban poverty and street crime continues to be an issue. Its proximity to Circular Quay makes The Rocks popular with tourists, and this has resulted in a mushrooming of souvenir and crafts shops here.

Getting there

Nearest CityRail Station: Circular Quay

Nearby Sights

Circular Quay

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Customs House

Museum of Contemporary Art

Argyle Stores

Campbell's Storehouses

Cadman's Cottage

Garrison Church

Hero of Waterloo

Justice and Police Museum

National Trust Centre

Sailors' Home

Suzannah Place

St Philip's Church

Sydney Observatory

The Rocks Discovery Museum

Westpac Museum

Wharf Theatre

Writers' Walk

The Rocks Location Map

View The Rocks in a larger map

Buildings at Circular Quay West, The Rocks, Sydney
Author: Greg O'Beirne (GFDL)

Source Attribution: Wikitravel and Wikipedia

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Sydney Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. We disclaim responsible for its usage, and encourage users to recheck the information before their trip. Some photos are provided by Panoramio. Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners. They may only be used under the terms & conditions specified by Panoramio. Photographs that belong to Tim are copyrighted and may not be reused unless you first obtain permission. All of Tim's photographs are available for commercial use under the following licensing terms. Tim is a Christian. Click here to know more about his beliefs.