Sydney

Located on Australia’s southeastern coast, it is the oldest and largest city in Australia and a major commercial and manufacturing centre. It was founded in 1788 as a penal colony (see Botany Bay) and quickly became a major trading centre. It is built on low hills surrounding one of the world’s finest natural harbours, which supports extensive port facilities. It is dominated by Sydney Harbour Bridge, one of the biggest single-span bridges in the world, and the Sydney Opera House. The city is widely known for its water sports, recreational facilities, and ... (100 of 4505 words)

Articles from Britannica encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Sydney - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)

Located on Australia’s southeastern coast, Sydney is the country’s largest city. Because of its magnificent harbor, it is also one of the most important ports in the South Pacific.

Sydney - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Famous for the gleaming white Sydney Opera House and its picturesque waterfront, Sydney is the largest and oldest city in Australia. The capital of the state of New South Wales, it stretches along roughly 45 miles (70 kilometers) of the southeastern coast of the country-continent. Sydney is one of the chief transportation centers of the South Pacific, with a busy international airport and four distinct harbor zones granting access to world trade routes via the Tasman Sea. At the heart of the city are Sydney Harbour (also called Port Jackson) and the central business district. Some 25 miles (40 kilometers) to the north is another harbor, Broken Bay, which is fed by the Hawkesbury River. Botany Bay and Port Hacking are, respectively, 10 miles (16 kilometers) and 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of downtown. The western suburbs extend to the foothills of the Blue Mountains, nearly 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the coast.

How Stuff Works - Geography - Geography of Sydney

Lonely Planet - Sydney

Travel guide to this capital of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Provides notes on its attractions, excursions, recreational activities, and accessibility. Includes a brief history and a calendar of events.

Official Site of City of Sydney, Australia

Information on the services, culture, and history of this city in Australia. Provides briefs on the local government, public works programs, and community matters. Includes a visitor’s and shopping guide, maps and photographs, and an events calendar.

Radio 2GB

Top-notch coverage of national and international news from this radio network in Sydney, Australia. Provides the latest information on politics, business, and sports, updated every hour. Offers a lively opinion section discussing the salient issues of the day and a searchable database of employment opportunities. Includes audio clips.

Living Harbour - Aboriginal People of the Sydney Region

Information on the culture and daily lives of the indigenous people who inhabited the area that is now Sydney, Australia. Provides a map indicating the Aboriginal names of various locations in the area, and discusses Aboriginal fishing practices.

Barani - Indigenous History of sydney City

Resource on the history of the indigenous inhabitants of the area that is now Sydney, Australia. Includes information on the language distribution of Aboriginal groups in the area, the arrival of Europeans, the role of Aboriginal workers in Sydney, and the activities of various Aboriginal activist groups.