The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
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Edward Lombe shipwreck 1834
Wreck of the barque, the Edward Lombe, on Middle Head on 25 August 1834. It was the first shipwreck in the harbour with an associated loss of life and was one of the worst maritime disasters to have occurred in Sydney waters.
Her Majesty's Theatre Pitt Street
Largest and best-equipped theatre in Sydney when it opened in 1887, Her Majesty's was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the theatre in 1902. Closed as a theatre in the 1930s, the building survived until the redevelopment of the site for Centrepoint in the 1970s.
Cumberland local government area
Area in Sydney's west that is administered by Cumberland Council. It was formed in 2016 by the merger of parts of the Auburn, Holroyd and Parramatta local government areas. It is part of the traditional lands of the Darug, Wangal and Wategoro peoples.
Marr, David
David Marr is a journalist, biographer and broadcaster. His life of Patrick White appeared in 1991. Marr has lived in Sydney all his life and has, ever since becoming a journalist in the 1970s, written about the history, politics and crimes of his city
Northbridge
Northbridge, a suburb of Willoughby City Council that borders Middle Harbour on Sydney's north shore, is named for its suspension bridge, Long Gully Bridge, which was first opened in 1892. This article outlines the history of its development.
Lawson, William
Explorer, pastoralist and settler, William Lawson came to Sydney as a soldier, but stayed to become one of the most successful farmers and animal breeders in the colony.
Bochsa, Nicholas
A visitor with a scandalous past, harpist Nicholas Bochsa gave only one concert in Sydney before his sudden death. He was buried in St Stephen's cemetery, Newtown.
Mulhearn, Phil
Ashton, Will
Artist who began in his father's studio in Adelaide before studying extensively in Europe. He continued to travel overseas regularly after he settled in Sydney in 1917, becoming very involved in several art institutions and winning the Wynne Prize for landscapes in 1930 and…
Empress of Australia
Passenger and vehicle ship built for the Sydney to Devonport service of the Australian National Line. It was one of the longest ferry services in the world and operated until 1985 when the ship was sold and converted to a cruise ship in the Mediterranean.
Lister, William Lister
Australian-born artist who grew up in England and was trained there and in France, as well as studying mechanical engineering and going to sea. After returning to Sydney in 1888 he was active in artists' organisations as well as a successful landscape and seascape painter.
Reibey, Thomas 1796-1842
Eldest child of Thomas and Mary Reibey who founded the Tasmanian branch of the Reibey family along with his two brothers. He built a property at Hadspen, Tasmania and named it Entally House, after his parents' business in Sydney. Today it is a National Trust property.…
Nicholson Museum
Australia's oldest university museum, located in the Main Quadrangle of the University of Sydney, and home to the largest collection of antiquities in the Southern Hemisphere. It was founded following the donation by Sir Charles Nicholson of his private collection of…
Croft, Colin
Actor who as a 10-year-old, was a tiny drum major in celebrations for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He served in the Army Entertainment Unit in the Pacific during Word War II and then toured in variety shows in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Franklin, Jane
Explorer and early agitator for women's rights. Lady Jane Franklin was married to Sir John Franklin, Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land between 5 January 1837 and 21 August 1843. In 1839 she travelled overland from Melbourne to Sydney, possibly the first woman…
Mitchell, James Sutherland
Businessman who worked as a colonial public servant in Hobart and Sydney before gaining management experience with TS Mort and TS Rowntree in the Waterview Dry Dock Co in Balmain in 1855. From manager at Tooths he quickly became a major shareholder and a very wealthy man.
Williams, JD
American-born entrepreneur who opened the first continuous cinema in Sydney, showing films from 11 am to 11 pm, and built a large business in popular entertainment before leaving Australia in 1916. He went on to influence the film industry in the United States, Britain and…
Yaralla estate
One of Sydney's grandest estates, and a centre of high society into the 1920s, Yaralla was the home of Thomas and Eadith Walker, noted philanthropists.