1. Where is it?
2. Beginnings
Indigenous History
The original inhabitants of Sydney (the Cadigal people) spoke the Eora language. Other dialects of the Sydney area include Dharug, Kurringgai and Dhawawal. The Eora people were hunters and gatherers and inhabited coastal campsites. European Arrival New South Wales is Australia’s oldest state. It was named in 1770 by Captain James Cook who, after falsely proclaiming that the land was uninhabited, claimed it for Britain. On 26 January 1788 the First Fleet, eleven ships commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip, arrived in Botany Bay. The ships carried 700 convicts sent from Britain’s overflowing gaols and 150 officers and Marine guards. Botany Bay was the intended location of the penal colony, however, the site was judged unfit and Port Jackson was chosen instead. In 1793, the first free settlers arrived in NSW: five single men and two families. Over time, more free settlers arrived and convicts earned their freedom, causing Sydney’s population to increase. In 1851, Victoria separated from New South Wales, and Queensland followed in 1859. The New South Wales Parliament was founded in May 1856. In 1901, NSW joined with the other five Australian states to form the Commonwealth of Australia. |
3. Symbols
The Cross of St. George is also found on the flag.
The NSW state bird is the Laughing Kookaburra.
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The state flag displays the Union Jack in the upper left corner, The Cross of St. George and four 8 pointed yellow stars.
In 2008 The Black Opal was proclaimed the state gemstone. It is the most rare and valuable opal.
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NSW's state fish is the Eastern Blue Groper. This fish often followers divers.
The platypus is the animal emblem of NSW.
The official colour of NSW is sky blue.
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NSW has a state fossil - the Mandageria. It is 370 million years old.
NSW's floral emblem is the Waratah.
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4. Sydney
Interesting Facts About Sydney
Did you know:
Did you know:
- 20% of Australians live in Sydney. About 5.3 million people live in the city and its suburbs.
- The main languages spoken in Sydney are English, Mandarin, Greek, Arabic, Cantonese and Vietnamese.
- The most popular sport in Sydney is Rugby League, which began in the city in 1908.
- The Sydney Fish Market is the largest fish market in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Someone who lives in Sydney is known as a Sydneysider.
- Sydney is the largest city in Australia.
- It is the capital city of the state of New South Wales.
Things to See and Do in Sydney
The Sydney Opera House
One of Australia’s most famous landmarks, the Sydney Opera House. It has uniquely shaped roof that looks like sails on a ship.
Sydney Tower Eye
The Sydney Tower Eye is the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the city because it is 505 metres tall.
Luna Park
One of Sydney’s oldest amusement parks is Luna Park. You can ride rollercoasters and play sideshow games at a park inspired by a similar American beachside fun park, Coney Island.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge isn’t just for traffic! If you’re brave, you can climb to the top of this famous iron structure and view the Sydney Harbour. It is the widest, single span bridge in the world.
See the animals at Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo has many animals calling this zoo home, including koalas, tree kangaroos, giraffes, meerkats and tigers.
Surf at Manly Beach
Manly Beach was the site of Australia’s first surfing contest in 1964. It is the perfect place to ride a wave or snorkel in the clear water.
Take the Bondi to Manly Walk
If you’re up for a challenge, have a go at this amazing 80-kilometre walk. Start at Manly Beach and end at Bondi Beach. This walk goes across man-made and bush tracks.
Bondi Beach
Visit one of Australia’s most famous beaches. With stunning blue waves and pale sand, it is the perfect beach location.
The Sydney Opera House
One of Australia’s most famous landmarks, the Sydney Opera House. It has uniquely shaped roof that looks like sails on a ship.
Sydney Tower Eye
The Sydney Tower Eye is the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the city because it is 505 metres tall.
Luna Park
One of Sydney’s oldest amusement parks is Luna Park. You can ride rollercoasters and play sideshow games at a park inspired by a similar American beachside fun park, Coney Island.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge isn’t just for traffic! If you’re brave, you can climb to the top of this famous iron structure and view the Sydney Harbour. It is the widest, single span bridge in the world.
See the animals at Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo has many animals calling this zoo home, including koalas, tree kangaroos, giraffes, meerkats and tigers.
Surf at Manly Beach
Manly Beach was the site of Australia’s first surfing contest in 1964. It is the perfect place to ride a wave or snorkel in the clear water.
Take the Bondi to Manly Walk
If you’re up for a challenge, have a go at this amazing 80-kilometre walk. Start at Manly Beach and end at Bondi Beach. This walk goes across man-made and bush tracks.
Bondi Beach
Visit one of Australia’s most famous beaches. With stunning blue waves and pale sand, it is the perfect beach location.
History
The area Sydney stands on has been lived on by the Eora people for over 20,000 years. They lived by hunting, fishing and gathering food.
In 1770, the HMS Endeavour landed at Botany Bay and 18 years later the first British settlement was established in Port Jackson (now known as Sydney Harbour).
The city of Sydney got its name from Lord Sydney, the British home secretary of that time.
The area Sydney stands on has been lived on by the Eora people for over 20,000 years. They lived by hunting, fishing and gathering food.
In 1770, the HMS Endeavour landed at Botany Bay and 18 years later the first British settlement was established in Port Jackson (now known as Sydney Harbour).
The city of Sydney got its name from Lord Sydney, the British home secretary of that time.
5. population
In 2021, there were 278,043 people living in NSW who identified as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
6. Jennolan Caves
Jenolan Caves are limestone caves in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Scientists determined the age of the clay in the caves to be approximately 340 million years old, making the cave complex the world's oldest known, and dated, open cave system.
The cave network is very large, with over 40 km of multi-level passages, and the complex is still undergoing active exploration. The word Jenolan is believed to be an indigenous word for "high place". It comes from the Tharawal word, Genowlan, for a "high place shaped like a foot". For tens of thousands of years, the Jenolan area has been part of the culture of local indigenous peoples. |
7. Sydney harbour bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a major landmark and tourist attraction found in Sydney, Australia. It is the world’s largest, but not the longest, steel arch bridge. It connects the southern and northern shores of the Sydney Harbour. The bridge is also known as “The Coathanger” because of its arch-based construction.
- Its total length is 1149 metres.
- Its arch span is 503 metres.
- The top arch is 134 metres above sea level.
- It contains 6 million hand-driven rivets.
- The total steelwork weighs 52,800 tonnes, with 39,000 tonnes in the arch.
- It contains eight vehicle lanes, two train lines, a footway and a cycleway.
8. Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains are located in southeast New South Wales and are part of the Great Dividing Range.
Mount Kosciuszko is in the Snowy Mountains and is the highest mountain in Australia, at 2228m above sea level. The Snowy Mountains were used by Banjo Paterson to set his famous ballad, ‘The Man from Snowy River'. Visitors to the Snowy Mountains can ski, snowboard, hike, mountain bike, go horse riding, camping and explore caves. |
9. Native Animals
The laughing kookaburra is the world's largest kingfisher. It measures up to 46 centimetres from the tip of its beak to the tip of its tail. Its plumage is shades of whites and browns, which help it to blend easily into its environment.
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Ever been swooped by a magpie in spring? It's only defending its family during the nesting season.
Magpies are easily recognised and have the following features:
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Echidnas
Echidnas are monotremes, or egg-laying mammals. In NSW, we have the short-beaked echidna, it is not often seen in the wild because of its quiet and solitary nature. The short-beaked echidna vary in colour depending on their location. In the northern, hotter regions, echidnas are light brown, but they become darker with thicker hair further south. All echidnas have sharp spines covering the back of their short, stocky bodies. The short-beaked echidna's snout is between 7 and 8 cm long and is stiffened to enable the animal to break up logs and termite mounds when searching for food. |
The spotted-tailed quoll is about the size of a domestic cat but has shorter legs and a more pointed face than a cat. Its fur is rich red to dark brown and covered with white spots on the back which continue down the tail.
The spotted-tailed quoll is found along both sides of the Great Dividing Range from the Victorian to the Queensland borders. Spotted-tailed quolls live in various environments, including forests, woodlands, coastal heathlands and rainforests. They are mainly solitary animals and will make their dens in rock shelters, small caves, hollow logs and tree hollows. They use these dens for shelter and to raise young. |
10. national Parks
Activities
Colour Fun
1. Download the worksheet and print to the library printer. 2. Have fun colouring the picture. |
Sydney Questions.
1. Download and print the worksheet. 2. Go to section 4 on the website for your answers. |
Map Reading
1. Download the worksheet and print to the library printer. 2. Find the NSW 3. Colour the states that share a border with the NSW and label them. 4. Use section 1 to help you. |
Distances in the NSW
1. Download the worksheet and print to the library printer. 2. Look at the map and choose 3 towns. 3. Using Google search find the distance between each of the 3 towns and Sydney - e.g. Sydney to Byron Bay. 4. Record your answers. |
References.