The Rocks Sydney

The Rocks Sydney

The Rocks is a historic, inner-city suburb in Sydney, in the state of New South Wales. It lies next to Circular Quay on Sydney Cove, the place which is now recognized as Australia's first European settlement in 1788. The Rocks is a part of the local government of the City of Sydney.

The Rocks: History

The Rocks is held in high regard by the Australians and many consider it to be the birth place of modern Australia. Captain Arthur Philip had settled here in 1788. The modern Sydney started on the path towards becoming a global metropolis from here.

Due to its proximity to the Sydney Cove, the Rocks was a selected a natural choice for the next settlement. The first buildings in the Rocks were made of local sandstone and this probably explains the reasons for its present name. For years following its inception as a settlement, the Rocks earned great notoriety as a slum. The place was believed to be swarming with sailors and prostitutes.

The Rocks was also made famous by the gang known as the Rocks Push, who dominated the place for over a century till the 1970s.

In the wake of an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1900, many of the area's historic buildings were demolished. The original plan was to have them rebuilt, but it had to be shelved owing to the World War I. Again during the 1920s, many old building were razed to the ground at the time of construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The redevelopment plans suffered a set back following the WWII. It was only from 1960s that the government could start the process of rebuilding.

The Rocks: Tourist Attractions

Some of the historic places in the Rocks are-

- Argyle Cut- Argyle Cut was a passage carved by the convicts joining Sydney Cove with Darling Harbour and Millers Point. The work was started in 1843 and finally completely in 1867. The convicts started the Herculean task using only hammers and chisels, but towards the end explosives were also used. Argyle Cut remained a stronghold of the thugs and gangsters.
- Cadman's Cottage- The cottage was built in 1816 and is one of the few remaining buildings that date back to the first 30 years of the colony.
- St. Patrick's Church- The Church was made open to the public in 1844. St. Patrick's Church was blessed by Dr John Bede Ponting, Australia's first Bishop. It is considered to be the oldest Catholic Church in Sydney.

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