Walking Tour of The Rocks in Sydney, Australia

If you enjoy learning the history of a place and you're in Sydney, then a visit to The Rocks area of Sydney is a must. This area was the first inhabited, westernized area of the city and talking a walking tour here was most interesting. I walked with The Rocks Walking Tours for their daily morning tour learning about the colonial history of Sydney,  taking in some great views from this area and walking the oldest streets in Sydney.

 The Rocks, obviously symbolized by gigantic rocks, is in the shadow of the iconic Harbour Bridge and is now a lively area that is  home to shops and pubs. But it wasn't always this way. This area is the original settlement of the city of Sydney.

Way back at the end of the 18th century, several tall ships arrived to what is now Australia carrying criminals from England and Ireland. Having been banished to the eastern coast of Australia, with their conviction being "transportation, not incarceration", the convicts were the first European settlers of Sydney. Ten years or so later, the first ship of free settlers arrived and Sydney was on it's way to becoming a city.( I realize that I am simplifying this history but I couldn't ever fit the entire history into one blog post)

Our guide was passionate about keeping the history of The Rocks alive and not pushing it aside for an entertainment district. On our tour, we learned about the convict's households - and how non-related "families" came about for support - and saw some ruins that were actual living areas. We also saw and learned about the Dawes Point Battery and the remaining walls of Fort Philip along with the views from there on Observatory Hill. The Rocks had a reputation that was not unlike other port cities of"drunkenness, debauchery and unsavoury characters" but the penal colony did turn into a thriving city with trade and families going about their daily life. 

There were eventual clashes between the European settlers and the Aboriginal population which was forced to move to less habitable lands. But the city continued to thrive and grow.

Ruins from the original settlement

Ruins from the original settlement

In 1900 the bubonic plague took over The Rocks and many of the population were evacuated and some buildings demolished. The New South Wales government purchased much of The Rocks and started building more modern buildings and housing. When the Harbour Bridge was built, and then an expressway came through, much of The Rocks was slated for demolition. By the 1970's, residents of The Rocks started protests against demolition and in 1977 the government protected the area under the Heritage Act.

Today, The Rocks district is owned by and is home to some of Sydney's oldest pubs and restaurants along with the Museum of Contemporary Art.  It's evolved to become one of the most, if not most, visited tourist areas of the city. It's hard to tell that it was once a penal colony and the place of mass protests. 

After finishing our tour we enjoyed lunch in The Rocks and then set out for an afternoon walk over the Harbour Bridge. That walk is easily combined with a walking tour of The Rocks, either before or after.

Our  90 minute guided walk was with www.rockswalkingtours.com/au and they can also be reached at 
t61 2 9247 6678. Walks take place at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm daily and the meeting spot is at the Clocktower Square. Cost is $32 per adult and $15 per child.

How about you? Have you ever visited The Rocks? Or do you like doing walking tours?

Linking up with: My Corner of the World at Photographing New Zealand!