Search

Originally built as a bazaar or auction room on the corner of George and Campbell streets in Haymarket, it was converted to a concert hall. Seating up to 800 it was Sydney's first true music hall. After it closed it operated as a market or store until 1908 when it was revived…

Theatre on the western side of York Street between King and Market Streets on the site of Malcolm's Circus Amphitheatre behind the Adelphi Hotel. Originally known as Our Lyceum, it was converted into the Queen's in October 1873 by actor WB Gill. Samuel Lazar leased it in 1875…

Popular Restoration comedy by Irish dramatist George Farquhar that was first produced in London in  1706 and was performed in Sydney's first theatrical production on 4 June 1789. It was performed by convicts in a 'convict-built hut', in honour of the birthday of King George…

Surgeon who was a passenger on board the Edward Lombe when it was wrecked entering Sydney Harbour on 25 August 1834. He and the ship's second mate George Norman were killed when trying to fix a line from the boat to the shore at Middle Head during the storm. His body…

Coroner for the Sydney district from 1856 until his death in 1866. Prior to this he had been the coroner for Maitland and before that for the district of Paterson. He was the Superintendent of Agriculture at Eagle Farm in Moreton Bay from 1828.

In…

Having served as a general state coroner since 1927, Herbert Farrington was appointed to the position of Sydney City Coroner in 1932. His previous public service roles also included an appointment as Police Magistrate within New South Wales, as an Industrial Magistrate, a…

Marine on the First Fleet who took up land on Sydney's southern boundary.  A storekeeper since 1792, he was appointed as Provost Marshal in February 1796. He died suddenly in 1804 while visiting the Hawkesbury and was described as 'universally respected for his humanity in…

Redfern has been a centre for Aboriginal community in Sydney since at least 1900. When threatened with the loss of their homes to redevelopment in the early 1970s, Redfern residents resisted, enlisting the support of unionists and eventually the federal government. Out of…

The Ultimo Power House on the corner of Harris and William Henry Streets was built in 1898 'in the Italian Renaissance style of architecture' to supply Sydney's new electric tram system, and opened in 1899, producing choking clouds of coal dust over Ultimo. After the trams…

Catholic church situated in Botany Road. The original small ornamental chapel was built in 1860, then renovated and enlarged in 1895 when it was reopened by Cardinal Moran. A school and convent was also attached to the church. In 1954 the building was sold to the Department…

Nine storey department store built in 1913 for Marcus Clark & Co at at 827-837 George Street Railway Square as a furniture showroom, an extension to the existing flagship store at Railway Square on the corner of Pitt and George. In 1928 the building on George Street was…

Stairs in the Rocks at the southern end of Campbell's Storehouse between Hickson Road and Campbell's Cove. Built by the Sydney Cove Development Authority in 1979 during the Campbell's Storehouse renovation. Named for the Customs Officers who had walked along an informal…

St Barnabas' Anglican Church on Broadway, known to many as Barney's, has a long tradition of ministry to the diverse communities of the inner city. The congregation was boosted by the arrival of Reverend RBS Hammond in 1918 and his energetic ministry to disadvantaged people…

One of Sydney's oldest churches, St Brigid's Catholic church continues to serve its parishioners in Millers Point. Once known as St Bridget's, the church and school were run by religious of many orders.

What was Governor Arthur Phillip's relationship with the Eora, and other Aboriginal people of the Sydney region? Phillip's policies, actions and responses have tended to be seen as a proxy for the Europeans in Australia as whole, just as his friend, the Wangal warrior…

After the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975, many East Timorese fled to Australia, and a majority settled in Sydney. Further waves of East Timorese came after the 1991 Dili massacre, and during the conflict after the 1999 referendum on independence. A majority of the…

Part of the rich lands of the Cadigal people, Sydenham was late to develop because of the Gumbramorra Swamp which covered most of the western part. It grew into a thriving industrial and workers' suburb with a few large villas, but was gutted in the late twentieth century by…

Commemorative plaque that was installed between 1984 and 1988 as part of the Sydney Green Plaques Bicentennial project.on the site of the Macquarie Wall in the Royal Botanic Gardens. The text on the plaque read: 'The Macquarie Wall. In 1810, at the instigation of Governor…

Extension of the suburban western line from Sydney to western New South Wales, with the line running to Bourke in the far west via the Blue Mountains and Bathurst. Also known as the Great Western Railway, the first extension of the line from Parramatta to Blacktown was…

A utility actor, he was never a star of theatre. He became the first Australian costume designer and also worked in theatre management. A week before he died the Sydney Herald commented that 'Mr Simes has injured his health by the exertions made by him in his…