Sydney is one of the largest cities in the Commonwealth, and one of the world’s great cities. The most populous city in Australia,
with a population of over four million, its harbor is one of the world’s finest natural harbors. Though Sydney is a modern city, with many modern buildings, it has a rich history of its own.
Sydney was the gateway to Australia – the port of entry for the early settlers and pioneers. It was from Sydney that the new immigrants spread out into the interior of Australia to lay the foundation for new cities and states. It was at Sydney that the legendary Captain Cook laid anchor in 1770; and it was here that the first settlement was founded some eighteen years later.
Some of the most important landmarks of Sydney include the majestic Harbor Bridge, the Botanical Gardens, the Bondi Beach (a site popular for surf riders), and the Hyde Park (a war memorial). The Sydney Opera House – that was completed in 1973 – is now a world heritage site. There are also a number of reserves and parks in Sydney, where one will find flora (the Eucalyptus, the Fig tree) and fauna unique to Australia.
Today, Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD) is a center for trade and business – and a market for Australia’s wool industry. And Sydney provides about twenty-five percent of Australia’s GDP! Though its character may have changed (as many of its newest immigrants hail from China, India, Vietnam and the Philippines) it still continues to draw liners and trading ships from all parts of the world…