Sydney Australia
There are many great sites in Sydney worth visiting because of their historical importance, or because they are unusual. Rather than the large and popular attractions, this page looks at the smaller, but still fascinating places to visit in the city.
- Sydney Attractions
- Angel Place
- Barangaroo Reserve
- Cremorne Reserve
- Customs House
- Dobel Memorial Sculpture
- First Government House
- Green Square Library
- Hans Christian Andersen
- Il Porcelino
- Jessie Street Gardens
- Kimber Lane
- Matthew Flinders’ Cat
- Matthew Flinders Statue
- Macquarie Place Park
- Mortuary Station
- Museum Station
- Rainbow Crossing
- Robertsons Point Lighthouse
- Site of First Flag
- South African War Memorial
- Steam Mill Lane
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Sydney Observatory
- Tank Stream Fountain
Angel Place
Found near Martin Place, Angel Place and its birdcages is a secluded little street away from the bustle of the city, making it a great place to visit and relax. Played through a PA system the sounds of birds create a relaxing atmosphere as you admire the hanging cages. If you want to sit and relax while taking in the atmosphere, there is a coffee shop you can visit.
Barangaroo Reserve
Barangaroo was once a container terminal, but has now been redeveloped into a reserve, and hospitality area. Getting there is easy, either by ferry from Circular Quay, or walking from The Rocks via Dawes Point and the Foreshore, or Argyle Street past the Observatory.
Barangaroo Reserves is a landscaped park with thousands of trees and shrubs, while the harbour foreshore is lined with cut sandstone blocks, which make a fantastic picture next to the water, or somewhere to sit and enjoy the moment.
The reserve has many footpaths and are well-used by joggers during the day. There are also some great stairways, from the foreshore up to higher levels, which make for a great workout, or photo.
The reserve is a very relaxing place to spend a spare hour, while watching the boats sail past on the harbour. Should you get hungry, there is a huge variety of dining available further along near Darling Harbour.
Green Square Library
Located across Botany Road from Green Square Station, Green Square Library is a great piece of modern architecture, utilising space above and below ground level. Entry to the library is either through the large glass building, with a ground floor entry and stairs to the lower level, or the large block building nearby.
Books are to be found below street level, while the above ground structure houses multi-purpose rooms. One of these rooms, the reading room, has one wall decorated with a multi-coloured bookshelf display, which is a great attraction to see.
Amazingly, a full-size twin engine aeroplane is located below the glass entrance, something you do not usually find in a library.
Kimber Lane
Not far from Chinatown, Paddy’s Market and The Powerhouse Museum, Kimber Lane is a quick detour from any of these attractions. Covered with street art on both sides, and with more strung overhead, it is an interesting place to visit. Unfortunately, it is a narrow lane and if a vehicle has parked, it may be difficult to take photos. Even so, with so much art work, some will be visible. Really good to see at night!
Museum Station
One of the inner-Sydney Circle-Line underground stations, Museum Station is decorated with old fashioned advertisements and pictures. The tiled walls give a 1940s feel, while keeping it clean. The access tunnels have large photos of the station in times gone by, adding an interesting story about the station.
Rainbow Crossing
Located at on the corner of Bourke and Campbell Streets, Sydney’s Rainbow Crossing is bright with red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple stripes. A fun place to visit and take a quick photo, it also has cafes nearby where you can relax.
Robertsons Point Lighthouse
Located near Cremorne, the Robertson’s Point Lighthouse sits on a rock in Sydney Harbour. It’s best viewed from the water, where it is possible to photograph it with the Bridge in the background. The best way to achieve this is to catch the Ferry, where the bridge and lighthouse align on the outward and return voyage to Circular Quay.
If you only want the photo from the water, you can stay on the ferry and return to Circular Quay, or disembark at Cremorne Point wharf to see it from the land side as well. You will need to climb down a steep ladder at the end, but this is not difficult and well worth it. This is a great option, as you will get to see Cremorne Reserve and can walk to Maccallum Seawater Pool, which are interesting spots with great views of the harbour.
Steam Mill Lane
Part of the Tumbalong Road pedestrian Zone, Steam Mill Lane has some beautiful artwork suspended overhead. It’s a great way to brighten up an area, making it more interesting. In Tumbalong road the new library is a beautiful piece of modern architecture, making a stunning centre piece for the area. As you wander around, look out for some interesting art work on some of the buildings’ walls.
Located close to Paddy’s Markets and the Powerhouse Museum, it’s a great place to pass through and admire the sights.
Cremorne Reserve
The ferry from Circular Quay is only a short ride to the other side of the Sydney Harbour and the Cremorne Point Wharf. From here, a short walk takes you to Cremorne Reserve, with some great views of the harbour and the Robertsons Point Lighthouse. The steps down to the lighthouse are steep an uneven, so be careful with your footing. At the bottom, you can walk over rocks to see the lighthouse and views over the harbour.
Also in the reserve is a cairn, erected in 1988 by Clan Donnachaidh for the Australian Bi-Centenary.
Macquarie Place Park
Macquarie Place Park is a shady park in the centre of Sydney, making it a great place to get out of the summer sun. Containing several important items of historical importance to Sydney, it’s a good place to walk around.
The most obvious monument there is the anchor of HMS Sirius of the First Fleet. Set on a plinth under a shady tree there is also a cannon nearby. The historical importance of Sirius as the flagship of the First Fleet makes this one of the oldest British artefacts in the city.
On Bridge Street, is a large statue to Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, an important industrialist from the 19th century. Well thought of by his workers, they funded this statue of him after his death.
The third item of interest in the park is an old obelisk, originally used to define all surveys in Sydney. Although mainly of historical interest, it is still worth seeing because at one point, all places in NSW had their locations determined relative to this obelisk.
Jessie Street Gardens
Named after Jessie Street a noted feminist and international peace campaigner, these gardens commemorate groups of women who have contributed to Australian society.
The largest sculpture, Pioneer Women’s Memorial comprises two bronze statues dedicated to the pioneering women of Australia.
Sitting on a walkway and raised above the level of the main garden, the NSW Ex-Servicewomen’s Memorial consists of a bronze statue and various plaques dedicated to the wartime servicewomen of NSW.
Mounted on the wall of the Paragon Hotel, a bronze plaque commemorates May Hollinworth the founder, producer and director of the Metropolitan Theatre.
The Bonds Of Friendship sculpture commemorates the First Fleet of eleven ships which brought to Australia the first European settlers to Australia . It is a companion piece to one erected at Portsmouth Harbour, England, symbolically linking the two cities.
Customs House
Sitting directly behind Circular Quay, Customs House is a beautiful piece of architecture and heritage. No longer used by customs, the building is now a library and used for special exhibition. Apart from the building itself, the ground floor is worth visiting. The ground floor has a large perspex area where you can look down onto a scale model of Sydney. This is great fun because you can walk around the harbour and the city and get a great appreciation of their layout.
Mortuary Station
Only a ten-minute walk from Central Station, Mortuary Station is a Gothic style sandstone building designed by James Barnet. Completed in 1869, it was used
as the terminus for funeral trains until 1938.
The building is heritage listed as being unique in Australia and looks beautiful. Unfortunately closed to the public for the most part, however, it may at times be opened for special occasions, so keep an eye open. Mortuary Station can only be viewed from the footpath through a security fence.
Dobel Memorial Sculpture
The Dobell Memorial sculpture commemorates one of Australia’s most celebrated landscape and portrait artists. Australian painter William Dobell was born in Newcastle, New South Wales on 24 September 1899. In 1943 Dobell won the Archibald Prize with Portrait of an Artist. He was again awarded the Archibald Prize in 1948 for a portrait of Margaret Olley.
He won the Archibald a third time in 1959 for Dr E.G. MacMahon. Dobell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1965 and was knighted in 1966. He died on 13 May 1970 at Wangi Wangi near Newcastle.
The Dobell Memorial Sculpture was presented to the people of Sydney on 15th October, 1979 and was originally installed in Martin Place. The sculpture was moved to its present position in October 1999.
Il Porcelino
Il Porcellino, meaning ‘the little pig’, is a larger than life-sized bronze wild boar, located outside Sydney’s oldest hospital, Sydney Hospital, facing Macquarie Street. The sculpture is a replica of an original by Pietro Tacca in Florence, Italy.
You are supposed to get good luck if you Place a coin in the boars mouth and rub its snout. Money collected from the monument helps fund the Sydney Hospital.
First Government House
Although this building is no longer standing, a small plaque commemorates the location of Australia’s first Government House.
Matthew Flinders Statue
This statue of Matthew Flinders, the first person to circumnavigate Australia sits outside the Mitchell Library on Macquarrie Street.
Matthew Flinders’ Cat
Trim was a ship’s cat who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his voyages to circumnavigate and map the coastline of Australia in 1801–03. It sits on
a window ledge of the Mitchell Library on Macquarrie Street, directly behind a statue of his owner. The plaque near the statue reads:
TO THE MEMORY OF
TRIM
The best and most illustrious of his race.
The most affectionate of friends,
faithful of servants,
and best of creatures.
He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia,
which he circumnavigated, and was ever the
delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers.
Written by Matthew Flinders in memory of his cat.
Memorial donated by the North Shore Historical Society.
Site of First Flag
Marked with a modern flag pole and commemorative plaque the location of the first flag raising sits near Circular Quay and Customs House. If you are interested in Australian history this is one of the sites to visit.
Sydney Observatory
Overlooking Sydney Harbour from Observatory Hill, the Sydney Observatory is a two-storey heritage listed sandstone building. Views of the harbour from its vantage point are spectacular and worth the climb up the hill to see them.
Although no longer operating as an observatory, due to light levels and vibration, it acts as a working museum, enabling visitors to view many historical scientific pieces of equipment. There are two operating telescopes here, which allow evening visitors to view the stars and planets.
South African War Memorial
Also, sitting on the hill is the South African War Memorial, commemorating Australians who died in the Boer War. It consists of a small artillery piece and a sandstone monument. The view from its location over the harbour and towards the bridge is amazing.
Hans Christian Andersen
In front of the observatory is a bust of Hans Christian Anderson.
In 1955, the Danish community of New South Wales donated a bust of Hans Christian Andersen by Australian sculptor Wendy Solling to the City of Sydney. This commemorated the sesquicentenary of the author’s birth. Originally located in Phillip Park, it went missing in 1984.
In 2004, the Danish community in Australia commissioned this bust, to be presented for the 2005 bicentennial celebrations. It is a replica of the famous sculpture created by the Danish sculptor H.W.Bissen.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge dominates the city and its harbour and can be seen from many locations. To many visitors, their first glimpse will be from Bennelong Point and the Opera House near Circular Quay. This location gives a near perfect view of the whole structure, with the harbour in the foreground.
For a slightly different perspective, walk through the Rocks to Dawes Point where the underside of the bridge is visible. If you are on the north side of the harbour, the same view can be obtained at Milsons Point. From here, you can look over the harbour to the city and Opera House for a different photo perspective.
There is a footpath across the bridge at road level allowing a nice walk across to the other side. On the way, it is possible to climb one of the bridge pylons for a great view.
Of course, the best view is from the top. The Bridge Climb lets you do this but not everyone likes the heights, although we found it exhilarating.
A great opportunity to cross the bridge occurs during the Sydney Running Festival, when it is closed to traffic for several races.
Tank Stream Fountain
Sitting near the site of Sydney’s first water supply, Tank Stream, this fountain commemorates the 150th anniversary of The Herald newspaper founded in 1831. Presented to the City of Sydney by John Fairfax & Sons Limited the fountain, also known as The Children’s Fountain, celebrates all those who played in the now covered stream.
The fountain is large and features frogs, snakes, goannas, echidnas, crabs, birds and tortoises playing in the pools. You can find the fountain near circular Quay in Herald Square.
A 30-minute walk will take you past those sites that are in the centre of the city. This will also take you down Martin Place, where there is a Cenotaph for Australia’s Military and a Commando Memorial. Along the street are dining opportunities and the Reserve Bank of Australia Museum.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.