A Quick History of Sydney for Prospective Travelers

Sydney, a world-class tourist destination and the capital of New South Wales, is steeped in history. It is one of the must-visit destinations for tourists. With a population of over four million people, Sydney was discovered in 1788 by Arthur Phillip, a Briton who had mistaken Australia to be England.

Home to the iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge, this city is also known as ‘Harbor City’. A preferred destination for travelers with a plethora of attractions, Sydney had also hosted the Summer Olympics in the past.

The indigenous people from Australia inhabited Sydney for more than thirty thousand years before the advent of Arthur Phillip. With the passage of time, their population began to diminish till Arthur Phillip arrived. However, they still live in this area and made Sydney their home.

Sydney had primarily three distinct languages spoken earlier, which were Darug, Dharawal and Guringai. These languages had their respective dialects and spoken differently by various tribes and clans. Even though these languages are no longer in vogue, the rock carvings are still there to depict the stories of the past.

It was in 1770, when James Cook discovered Australia and announced its existence; it led to the British convict settlement founded by Arthur Phillip. Named after the British Home secretary, and founded in Sydney cove, this settlement flourished for a while. In 1789, an epidemic broke out, presumably small pox and wiped out the entire indigenous people.