The Rocks, Historic district in Sydney, Australia.

The Rocks is a district on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, immediately north-west of the CBD. Its buildings are of local sandstone, the material that gave the area its name. The street plan follows the early colonial layout, with George Street along the eastern edge and the approaches to the Sydney Harbour Bridge at its western and northern limits.

The Rocks was established shortly after the colony's formation in 1788 and was known as Tallawoladah by the Cadigal people. Early buildings were wattle-and-daub houses with thatched roofs, later replaced by local sandstone, which gave the area its name. By 1823 the district had about 1,200 residents, and it kept a rough reputation until the 1870s. In 1900 bubonic plague led to the resumption and demolition of hundreds of buildings, and in the 1920s several hundred more were cleared for the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Rocks takes its name from the local sandstone used in its earliest buildings. The Rocks Markets, held weekly with around 100 stalls, sell crafts, Australian clothing and opals, and galleries show works by Australian painters such as Ken Done and Ken Duncan. Historic pubs and themed shops fill the surviving colonial buildings.

The district is easily accessible by public transport, particularly trains or ferries from Circular Quay station. The narrow, winding streets are best explored on foot, so comfortable shoes are helpful and you should allow time to wander without a fixed schedule.

The area contains Cadmans Cottage, built in 1816, which is the oldest surviving residential building in Sydney. This small stone house shows how early residents lived in modest conditions and offers a rare look at daily life from that era.