Sydney

Introduction & Top Questions
Landscape
- Climate
- City layout
People
Economy
- Manufacturing and services
- Tourism
- Transportation
Administration
Cultural life
History
- Early settlement
- Growth of the modern city

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

The Sydney Harbour Bridge spans across Port Jackson with its large steel arch and stone pylons, with waterfront buildings and palm trees in the foreground.

Gehry, Frank: Dr Chau Chak Wing Building

At a Glance

Sydney summary

Quizzes

Graduation cap sitting over a speech bubble with an Australian flag on a blue background. (education)

Australian Vocabulary Quiz

Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.

Guess the City by Its River Quiz

High detailed Australia physical map with labeling.

Australian Government and Political System

Aerial view of Geneva, Switzerland from the north tower of St-Pierre Cathedral over the city's waterfronts on both sides of Rhone river as it flows out of Lake Geneva (Lake Leman). Most of the city's landmarks are visible, starting with the famous Jet D'E

Match The City To Its Nickname Quiz

Related Questions

How did Lachlan Macquarie change Sydney between 1810 and 1821?
How did Sydney Cove receive its name?
How did Sydney develop as a British penal colony?
How did Sydney host the 2000 Summer Olympic Games?
How did Sydney prepare Sydney Olympic Park for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games?
How did Sydney’s population change between 1850 and 1890?
How did the 1930s Great Depression affect New South Wales?
How did the 2004 merger with the City of South Sydney change the City of Sydney?
How did wool exports help transform Sydney into a major colonial city?
How does Sydney’s climate encourage outdoor activities?
How does Sydney’s compact central business district differ from its suburbs?
How has the service sector shaped Sydney’s economy?
How is Sydney’s summer weather affected by the Southerly Buster?
How much rainfall does Sydney receive in an average year?
How tall is Sydney Tower and what can visitors do there?
How was Jørn Utzon selected to design the Sydney Opera House?
What are Sydney’s average temperatures in January and July?
What performance spaces are inside the Sydney Opera House?
What responsibilities does the New South Wales state government retain in the Sydney region?
What social and environmental problems have accompanied Sydney’s growth as a large city?
When did the Sydney Opera House open?
When was the University of Sydney founded?
Which Sydney buildings were designed by the convict-architect Francis Greenway?
Which industries attract international corporate headquarters to Sydney?
Which national parks surround or lie within the Sydney region?
Which outdoor sports are popular in Sydney because of its harbour and beaches?
Which performing arts organizations are associated with Sydney’s cultural life?
Which public buildings did Lachlan Macquarie’s program add to Sydney?
Who designed the Sydney Opera House?
Who was F.E. De Groot and what did he do at the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening?
Who was Pemulwuy and how did he resist colonial expansion near Botany Bay?
Why are Sydney oysters a well-known local food?
Why are many buildings in central Sydney much taller than suburban homes?
Why did Aboriginal activists organize a Day of Mourning on January 26, 1938?
Why did Melbourne overtake Sydney in size and importance during the 19th century?
Why do Sydney’s harbour, bays, and beaches strongly influence the city’s character?
Why do some Sydney suburbs have Greek or Italian character?
Why has manufacturing employment declined in Sydney since 1980?
Why have the boundaries of the City of Sydney changed several times?
Why is Sydney Harbour well suited to sailing and yachting?
Why is Sydney an important destination for international tourists?
Why is The Rocks important to Sydney’s history?
Why is the Sydney Opera House considered a major arts centre rather than only an opera venue?
Why was Francis Greenway sent to Australia?
Why was New South Wales premier Jack Lang dismissed in 1932?
Why was Sydney Cove chosen as the site of Sydney’s first settlement?
Why was the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening disrupted in 1932?
Why was the Sydney Opera House built on Bennelong Point’s harbour site?
What is the capital of Australia?
What are some notable features of Australia’s geography?
How many times has Australia qualified for the FIFA World Cup?

Geography & Travel Cities & Towns Cities & Towns P-S

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External Websites

Official Site of City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Official Tourism Site of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Sydney - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Sydney - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Sydney

New South Wales, Australia

Written by

John Douglas Pringle

Editor, Sydney Morning Herald, 1952–57 and 1965–70. Author of Australian Accent.

John Douglas Pringle

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026 •History

Sydney, city, capital of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Located on Australia’s southeastern coast, Sydney is the country’s largest city and, with its magnificent harbor and strategic position, is one of the most important ports in the South Pacific. In the early 19th century, when it was still a small convict settlement and the first settlers had barely penetrated the interior, it had already established trade with the Pacific Islands, India, China, South...

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