The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
Search
Rogers, James
Marine who arrived in Sydney on the Supply as part of the First Fleet. He went missing in late October 1788 and although a convict was questioned, no charges were laid. His disappearance was not resolved.
James, Clive
Author, television and radio broadcaster, critic and poet who grew up in Kogarah in Sydney's south. He left Australia for England in 1961, and remained living and working in the United Kingdom until his death.
Fitton, Doris
A pioneer of twentieth-century theatre in Sydney, Doris Fitton created the Independent Theatre and produced both classic and new Australian plays for more than four decades.
Celebration of Anniversary Day to 1900
Still celebrated as Australia Day, the anniversary of the arrival of the European settlers at Sydney was called Anniversary Day during the nineteenth century. The convict origins of the colony were glossed over and present achievements were emphasised in official functions,…
Harrington Park Estate
Land on the Cumberland Plain south west of Sydney granted in 1813 to Captain Wiliam Campbell, in compensation for the loss of his ship the Harrington which had been stolen by escaping convicts in 1808.
Green, Henry Mackenzie
Journalist, librarian and literary historian, Green moved from journalism into the University of Sydney where he served as Librarian and also lectured in literature, particularly Australian literature. In 1961 he published 'A History of Australian Literature'.
Sparkes, William
Famous bare knuckle boxer from the Petersham area who, like his brothers Isaac and Thomas, fought under several different names around Sydney during the nineteenth century. He also worked as doorman at the Victoria Theatre.
Martin, Charles James
English physiologist and pathologist who was the demonstrator in physiology at the University of Sydney from 1891 to 1896 before moving to Melbourne. He and Frank Tidswell collaborated on pioneering research into venoms and anti-venoms.
Butler, Frank
Murderer who killed at least three men in Sydney in 1896. He escaped to the United States but was brought back to face the charges and was executed at Darlinghurst Gaol on 16 July 1897.
Adams, Robert Dudley
Businessman and poet who took out mining rights across Sydney in 1874, leading to the establishment of the Balmain colliery. He lived with his family at the cottage they built, Fernlee, at Snails Bay, Balmain.
Carmichael, Henry
The Reverend Henry Carmichael was a Scottish minister, teacher and educationist who was a founder of the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts. He moved to the Hunter Valley in 1838, where he pioneered viticulture in the colony.
Australian Consolidated Press
Media company formed from the merger of Frank Packer's media interests with Sydney Newspapers and Associated Newspapers. It was to become Publishing and Broadcasting Limited in 1994 following its merger with the Nine Network Australia.
Waugh, James William
Scottish publisher, bookseller and stationer in Sydney who wrote and published The Stranger's Guide to Sydney and the Australian Almanac.
Waugh migrated to Australia with his parents and sisters in 1840 to join his brothers David and Robert. The…
Long, William
Convict and wealthy wine and spirits merchant who was sentenced to transportation for seven years on 15 September 1813. In Sydney, after initially working as a blacksmith, he became licensee of the Saracen's Head on Gloucester Street in The Rocks from 1827. He then took…
Russell, John d.1820
Former hatmaker who was convicted of robbery in London in 1799. He arrived in Sydney on the Cormandel in 1802 and soon joined the early Sydney police force. In 1804 Russell was a suspect in the burglary of Mary Breeze's house on Back Row (modern day Phillip Street) and the…
Seland, James
Coal lumper and planksman who worked at Sydney wharves. He had arrived in Sydney in 1889 from Norway and lived in the Rocks with his family. He was naturalised in October 1903, with one of his references provided by another coal lumper Herman Nielsen. Seland died on 3…
Underwood's shipyard
Successful early shipyard at the mouth of the Tank Stream in Sydney Cove which was run by James Underwood, a former convict who later diversified from shipbuilding to become a successful merchant, sealer and distiller. The land grant ran from George Street through to the…
Vernon, Walter Liberty
Architect whose tenure as Government Architect from 1890 to 1911 saw the construction of some of Sydney's most famous buildings, as well as suburban fire stations and post offices in the Federation Free style.
City of Ryde local government area
Area on Sydney's lower north shore, traditional lands of the Wallumedegal people, governed by Ryde City Council. It comprises 16 suburbs and is bounded on two sides by the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers.
Survey of Port Jackson, New South Wales 1822
Chart of Sydney Harbour in 1822 by John Septimus Roe of the Royal Navy which was published in Phillip Parker King's 'Charts of the coast of Australia', in London by the Hydrographic Office 1826-1826.