Sydney Central Business District, Administrative district in New South Wales, Australia
This district sits along the harbor and contains glass and steel towers, shopping streets, office blocks and waterfront green spaces. Office buildings alternate with older sandstone structures, while wide boulevards give way to narrow lanes.
British settlers founded a penal colony here in 1788 after Captain Arthur Phillip chose the sheltered cove for its freshwater and location. The area grew into a trading center during the 1800s, shipping wool and gold across the world.
The land holds deep connections to Aboriginal peoples, including the Darug, Dharawal, and Eora nations who maintained their presence in the region for over 30,000 years.
The central station connects trains, buses and the new metro, enabling journeys in all directions across the city. Most streets are easy to explore on foot during the day, though steep sections toward the harbor require attention.
The narrow street patterns remain from the original town planning during the early colonial period in the 1800s. Many lanes follow the same routes that bullock carts used over 200 years ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
