112-570: The Cumberland Plain , also known as Cumberland Basin , is a relatively flat region lying to the west of Sydney CBD in New South Wales , Australia . An IBRA biogeographic region, Cumberland Basin is the preferred physiographic and geological term for the low-lying plain of the Permian - Triassic Sydney Basin found between Sydney and the Blue Mountains , and it is a structural sub-basin of
224-464: A dissected plateau carved in sandstone bedrock . They are now a series of ridge lines separated by gorges up to 760 metres (2,490 ft) deep. The highest point in the Blue Mountains, as it is now defined, is an unnamed point with an elevation of 1,189 m (3,901 ft) AHD , located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north-east of Lithgow . However, the highest point in the broader region that
336-555: A rain shadow area near the Blue Mountains . The annual rainfall of the plain is typically around 700–900 mm, and is generally lower than the elevated terrain that partially surrounds it. Common vegetation in the Cumberland Plain is eucalyptus trees. The sclerophyll woodlands are situated on a nutrient-poor alluvium deposited by the Nepean River from sandstone and shale bedrock in the Blue Mountains. Despite this, they support
448-414: A distance. The tinge is believed to be caused by Mie scattering which occurs when incoming light with shorter wavelengths is preferentially scattered by particles within the atmosphere imparting a blue-greyish colour to any distant objects, including mountains and clouds. Volatile terpenoids emitted in large quantities by the abundant eucalyptus trees in the Blue Mountains may cause Mie scattering and thus
560-478: A few hilly or relatively elevated regions on the plain. Western Sydney Parklands and the surrounding suburbs (such as Cecil Hills and Horsley Park ), for instance, lies on a prominent ridge that is between 130 and 140 metres (430 and 460 ft) high. Bringelly Shale and Minchinbury Sandstone are often seen in the Plain's west. Ashfield Shale is observed in the inner western suburbs. These components are part of
672-546: A gig in all directions, without any impediment in the shape of rocks , scrubs , or close forest ". This confirmed earlier accounts by Governor Arthur Phillip , who suggested that the trees were "growing at a distance of some twenty to forty feet from each other, and in general entirely free from brushwood..." The Cumberland Plain is home to a variety of bird , insect , reptile and mammal species, including bats . Arachnid , amphibian and crustacean species are also present. About 40 species of reptiles are found in
784-438: A great diversity of wildlife. Cumberland Plain features three main plant communities: The Western Sydney Dry Rainforest is oftentimes found in sheltered gullies within the Cumberland Plain woodland, where it was originally 1,282 ha in size, but now only 338 ha remains. On the eastern peripheries of the plain, Shale Plains Woodland morphs into Turpentine-Ironbark Forest where the annual rainfall surpasses 950 mm. Rising to
896-463: A large portion of land for an Anglican Cathedral and laid the foundation stone for the first St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in 1821. St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral , though more modest in size than Macquarie's original vision, later began construction and, after fire and setbacks, the present St Mary's Catholic Cathedral foundation stone was laid in 1868, from which rose a towering gothic-revival landmark. Religious groups were also responsible for many of
1008-616: A mortgage in 2021. Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth Hobart Darwin Canberra Blue Mountains (New South Wales) The Blue Mountains are a mountainous region and a mountain range located in New South Wales , Australia . The region is considered to be part of the western outskirts of the Greater Sydney area. The region borders on Sydney 's main metropolitan area, its foothills starting about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of centre of
1120-850: A number of council reserves, plus the Lower Prospect Canal Reserve, Scheyville National Park, Windsor Downs Nature Reserve, Leacock Regional Park and Mulgoa Nature Reserve and Mount Annan Botanic Garden . Cumberland Plain Woodland , of which around six per cent remains in isolated stands, was the first Australian ecological community to be assigned this status. The western portion of the Cumberland Plain mainly consists of sparsely populated, vast, rural grasslands with undulating hills and scenic vistas. The Sydney western suburbs of Mount Vernon , Kemps Creek , Orchard Hills , Luddenham , Mulgoa , Bringelly , Silverdale and Horsley Park , among others, lie in this agricultural countryside, adjacent to
1232-660: A river, where they transition into Shale Plains Woodland . Apart from these aforementioned woodland communities, another 11 vegetation communities are found scattered on the Cumberland Plain: Under Federal environmental legislation, six of the above ecological communities are protected as four "matters of national environmental significance". Some are grouped together into broader communities that share similarities in landscape position, structure and/or species. The four nationally defined and protected threatened ecological communities are: Blue Gum High Forest of
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#17328440533931344-401: A sandstone flour mill and additional brewery . The land was also used for wheat farming until 1861 when wheat rust infected the entire crop. The rural regions were chiefly one of dairying and grazing during the 19th century, but in the early 20th century – because of its rural atmosphere and proximity to Sydney – tourism developed as people opened their homes as guest houses . Today,
1456-491: A settlement was established at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788. This date later became Australia's national day, Australia Day . The colony was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788 at Sydney. Sydney Cove offered a fresh water supply and Port Jackson a safe harbour, which Phillip described as: "being without exception the finest Harbour in the World". With the expansion of European settlement large amounts of land
1568-652: A shale mine in the Jamison Valley in the 19th century, and other operations were set up in several places. Locations for mining activities included the Jamison Valley , the upper Grose Valley , Newnes , Glen Davis and the Asgard Swamp area outside Mount Victoria . Shale mining failed in the long run because it was not profitable. In 2000, the Greater Blue Mountains Area , a vast area of wilderness in
1680-504: A tremendous regional biodiversity. Cleared and used first for agriculture and then for urban development , most of the ecological communities that originally flourished on the plain are now considered endangered. The Cumberland basin is a structural and topographical depression within the sedimentary Sydney Basin in Australia's southeast. Formed about 80 million years ago, the Cumberland Plain consists of not exactly flat plains; overall it
1792-586: A wide and balanced representation of eucalypt habitats from wet and dry sclerophyll, mallee heathlands, as well as localised swamps, wetlands, and grassland. 90 eucalypti tax (13% of the global total) and representation of all four groups of eucalypts occur. There is also a high level of endemism with 114 endemic taxa found in the area as well as 120 nationally rare and threatened plant taxa. The site hosts several evolutionary relic species ( Wollemia , Microstrobos , Acrophyllum ) which have persisted in highly restricted micro sites." The Greater Blue Mountains Area
1904-615: Is Central railway station , which is located to the south of the CBD in Haymarket : it connects services for almost all of the lines in the Sydney Trains network, as well as being the terminus for NSW TrainLink country and inter-urban rail services. From Central, there is a largely-underground CBD rail loop, accessed in both directions via Central, which services five CBD stations ( Town Hall , Wynyard , Circular Quay , St James and Museum ). This
2016-626: Is a historic precinct that houses such buildings as the State Parliament House and the Supreme Court of New South Wales . The Geographical Names Board defines the area covering the central business district as the suburb named " Sydney ". The formal boundaries of the suburb "Sydney" covers most of the peninsula formed by Cockle Bay in the west and Woolloomooloo Bay in the east. It extends north to Circular Quay , Bennelong Point and Mrs Macquarie's Chair , east to Woolloomooloo Bay and
2128-833: Is a large concentration of cultural institutions within the CBD including: the Museum of Sydney , the State Library of New South Wales , the Customs House branch of the City of Sydney Library , the Theatre Royal , the City Recital Hall and the Japan Foundation . There are a total of 19 churches located in the Sydney city centre. Many other cultural institutions are located at the surrounds of
2240-410: Is a low-lying area, largely over shale and labile sandstone, which derives its recognition largely by comparison with the surrounding uplands of harder quartzose Sydney sandstone . Relative to the surrounding higher sandstone lands, Hornsby Plateau and Blue Mountains Plateaux (which was uplifted 90 million years ago), it was an early matter of debate in Sydney physiographic circles as to whether
2352-777: Is a popular sport in the Blue Mountains, with the Blue Mountains Cattle Dogs representing the district in the Western Zone Premier League, Country Plate and Presidents Cup competitions. At 4 am on 28 January 1931 a cliff face known as "the Dog Face Rock" collapsed into the Jamison Valley in the Blue Mountains. A second collapse from the same cliff face occurred on 2 May 1931. It was reported that "More than 450 incidents resulting in greater than 200 deaths between 1875 and 2021..." have occurred. Every year there are up to 200 people who are lost or injured in
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#17328440533932464-519: Is a prominent forest community within the ecoregion. Following European settlement of the Sydney area, the area was named the Carmarthen and Lansdowne Hills by Arthur Phillip in 1788. The Carmarthen Hills were in the north of the region and the Lansdowne Hills were in the south. The name Blue Mountains , however, was preferred and is derived from the blue tinge the range takes on when viewed from
2576-462: Is defined by the more hilly regions that fall into other Sydney regions such as Sydney CBD (in the City of Sydney ), North Shore , Northern Beaches , Eastern Suburbs , Southern Sydney (including Sutherland Shire ), Hills District , Hornsby Shire and the Forest District , which areas are not part of the Cumberland Plain. The region mostly consists of low rolling hills and wide valleys in
2688-560: Is estimated that economic activity (GDP) generated in the city in 2015/16 was approximately $ 118 billion. Culturally , the city centre is Sydney's focal point for nightlife and entertainment, and is also home to some of the city's most culturally significant buildings and structures . The Sydney CBD is an area of very densely concentrated skyscrapers and other buildings, interspersed by several parks such as Hyde Park , The Domain , Royal Botanic Garden and Wynyard Park . Geographically, its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in
2800-773: Is found in remote and isolated valleys of the Wollemi National Park . The Blue Mountains Range contains smaller mountain ranges: the Bell Range near The Bells Line of Road and north of the Grose River; the Explorer Range, south of the Grose River extending west towards Mount Victoria; the Caley Range, Erskine Range, Mount Hay Range, Paterson Range, and the Woodford Range. The major recorded peaks are: The Blue Mountains are
2912-541: Is in turn a part of the larger East Australian Cordillera physiographic division. The main natural disasters to afflict the area are bushfires and severe storms. In recent years the lower mountains have been subjected to a series of bushfires which have caused great loss of property but relatively little loss of life. The upper mountains had not had a major fire for some decades until December 2002 (the Blackheath Glen Fire) and November 2006 when an extensive blaze in
3024-760: Is inhabited by over 400 different forms of animals. Among them are rare mammal species like spotted-tailed quoll , the koala , the yellow-bellied glider , and long-nosed potoroo . There are also some rare reptiles, like the Blue Mountain water skink . There are also some dingoes in the area, which form the top predators and hunt for grey kangaroos . The Blue Mountains are a popular destination for rock climbers , mountain bikers and hikers as well as canyoning and other adventure sports. These sports are well catered for by guiding companies and equipment stores located mainly in Katoomba. Popular climbing destinations include
3136-463: Is known as Kings Tableland Aboriginal Place and dates back 22,000 years. Arthur Phillip , the first governor of New South Wales, first glimpsed the extent of the Blue Mountains from a ridge at the site of today's Oakhill College, Castle Hill. He named them the Carmarthen Hills, "some forty to sixty miles distant..." and he reckoned that the ground was "most suitable for government stock". This
3248-506: Is known as the City Circle . In addition, a separate underground line to Bondi Junction services an additional underground station, Martin Place . The Inner West Light Rail passes immediately to the south of the CBD, connecting Central to nearby suburbs of Sydney's Inner West . The CBD and South East Light Rail runs north–south through the CBD, connecting Circular Quay with Central and
3360-563: Is now the location of Bells Line of Road between Richmond and Bell , and the Coxs River , a tributary of the Nepean River . It could be followed upstream to the open plains of the Kanimbla Valley, the type of country that farmers prize. British settlers initially considered that fertile lands lay beyond the mountains; while in the belief of many convicts China lay beyond. However, there
3472-571: Is possible that he had crossed the mountains via the southern aspect at the Coxs River corridor, guided by the Aborigines. Governor Hunter was impressed by Wilson's skills and sent him on an expedition with John Price and others in January 1798. The party crossed the Nepean River and moved southwest towards the present site of Mittagong . There they turned west and found a route along the ridge where today
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3584-484: Is present on the deep sand deposition of the old alluvial rows of the Nepean River near Camden , where it morphs with Cumberland Plain Woodland and Sydney Coastal Riverflat Forest . The Riparian Forest , such as Coastal Swamp Oak Forest , is restricted to streams and adjoining swampy areas, and is closely related to Castlereagh Swamp Woodland when it comes to the floral species. Furthermore, Alluvial Woodland occurs on large floodplains more than 100 metres away from
3696-534: Is the location where Gidley King in 1799 established a prison town for political prisoners from Ireland and Scotland. The first documented use of the name Blue Mountains appears in Captain John Hunter 's account of Phillip's 1789 expedition up the Hawkesbury River. Describing the events of about 5 July, Hunter wrote: "We frequently, in some of the reaches which we passed through this day, saw very near us
3808-619: Is traversed by the Great Western Highway , the Main Western railway line and the proposed Blue Mountains tunnel. Several established towns are situated on its heights, including Katoomba , Blackheath , Mount Victoria , and Springwood . The range forms the watershed between Coxs River to the south and the Grose and Wolgan rivers to the north. The range contains the Explorer Range and the Bell Range. Once considered impassable by settlers,
3920-478: Is usually considered to be an inner western suburb, not a part of the Sydney city centre or CBD. Sydney's history begins in prehistoric times with the occupation of the district by Australian Aboriginals , whose ancestors came to Sydney in the Upper Paleolithic period. Radiocarbon dating suggests that they lived in and around Sydney for at least 30,000 years. Sydney Cove from Port Jackson to Petersham
4032-712: The Canterbury-Bankstown region and as well as in Fairfield City Council , which grade into yellow podzolics in depressions and drainage lines, and feature low soil fertility and poor drainage . Deep yellow podzolics occur on the alluvial floodplains near the Georges and Duck Rivers . The shale plains of the Cumberland Plain Woodland feature shale-influenced, nutrient-poor, reddish, sandy-clay soils that support components of ironstone gravels. Rivers in
4144-615: The Governor of New South Wales . The northern wing of Macquarie Street's 's Rum Hospital was requisitioned and converted to accommodate the first Parliament House in 1829, as it was the largest building available in Sydney at the time. In 1840 the Sydney City Council was established. Australia's first parliamentary elections were conducted for the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1843. Macquarie set aside
4256-612: The Greater Western Sydney area. It is within the local government areas of Blacktown , Burwood , Camden , the western portion of Campbelltown , Canada Bay , Canterbury-Bankstown , Cumberland , Fairfield , Georges River , Hawkesbury , the Western outskirts of the Inner West Council , Liverpool , Parramatta , Penrith , Ryde , Strathfield , The Hills Shire , Wingecarribee , and Wollondilly . The Cumberland Plain
4368-681: The Gundungurra people , now represented by the Gundungurra Tribal Council Aboriginal Corporation based in Katoomba, and, in the lower Blue Mountains, by the Darug people , now represented by the Darug Tribal Aboriginal Corporation. The Gundungurra creation story of the Blue Mountains tells that Dreaming creatures Mirigan and Garangatch, half fish and half reptile, fought an epic battle which scarred
4480-728: The Hornsby Plateau , the Turpentine-Ironbark Forest transitions into Blue Gum High Forest where the precipitation is above 1050 mm. Three discrete communities are acknowledged on margins of the plain, which are Shale Sandstone Transition Forest , High Sandstone Influence sub-communities and the Turpentine-Ironbark Margin Forest , which is present on the bounds of the Hornsby and Woronora Plateaus . Four communities were found on two isolated alluvial deposits in
4592-594: The Sydney Basin Bioregion; Cumberland Plain Shale Woodlands and Shale- Gravel Transition Forest; Shale/Sandstone Transition Forest; Turpentine - Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion; and Western Sydney Dry Rainforest and Moist Woodland on Shale. The plain has 300 different native plants and is home to over 20 threatened bird and animals. Cumberland Plain communities are protected in
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4704-582: The Warragamba Dam spillway to its confluence with the Nepean River. The south and southwest of Sydney is drained by the Georges River , flowing north from its source near Appin, towards Liverpool and then turning east towards Botany Bay . The other major tributary of Botany Bay is the Cooks River , running through the inner-south western suburbs of Canterbury and Tempe. The Georges River estuary separates
4816-567: The Wianamatta Shale group. The moderately fertile soils in the plain are usually red and yellow in texture due to their clay-rich nature, where they turn coarser and are sometimes affected by salt in confluent valley floors. Red to brown clays are found on volcanic rocks . Poor rocky soils, frequently on older gravels , and high quality loams are present on contemporary floodplain alluvium . Red and brown podzolic and planosolic soils, earthy sands, occur on crests and upper slopes in
4928-598: The Wombeyan Caves Road is located. In the process they found a way to go west of the mountains, by going around them instead of across them. In March of the same year, Wilson and Price ventured to the Camden area, and then continued further south until they encountered Thirlmere Lakes , finally almost reaching the present site of Goulburn . It is possible that the accomplishments of this expedition were suppressed by Hunter, who may not have wanted convicts to know that there
5040-703: The Woronora and Illawarra Plateaus to the south, the Blue Mountains Plateau to the west and the Hornsby Plateau to the north/northeast. At the front of the Blue Mountains Plateau runs the Lapstone Structural Complex, which forms the western edge of the Cumberland Basin and Cumberland Plain. This is a north-south trending collection of reverse faults and monoclinal folds which extends generally north south for over 100 kilometres (62 mi). At
5152-472: The 1813 expedition by Blaxland , Wentworth and Lawson opened up the interior to British settlement. Today, the Blue Mountains area includes the local government area of the City of Blue Mountains . Since the early 2010s, the region's biodiversity and infrastructure has been severely affected by massive bushfires of unprecedented size and impact. In 2018 8.4 million people visited the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands Basalt Forests
5264-558: The Blue Mountains and surrounding areas. Examples of Aboriginal habitation can be found in many places. In the Red Hands Cave, a rock shelter near Glenbrook , the walls contain hand stencils from adults and children. On the southern side of Queen Elizabeth Drive, at Wentworth Falls , a rocky knoll has a large number of grinding grooves created by rubbing stone implements on the rock to shape and sharpen them. There are also carved images of animal tracks and an occupation cave. The site
5376-489: The Blue Mountains for its exceptional biodiversity, was enlisted by UNESCO and categorized itself as a natural World Heritage Site . On 18 July 2023, a proposal for a naming board in a dual Aboriginal name was discussed by the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales whether the Blue Mountains would be officially named Gulumada. The climate varies with elevation. At Katoomba, (1,010 m or 3,314 ft)
5488-583: The Blue Mountains, Kanangra-Boyd, Wollemi, Gardens of Stone, Yengo, Nattai and Thirlmere Lakes National Parks, plus the Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve. This site was chosen to be included on the World Heritage list because: "Criteria (ii) and (iv): Australia's eucalypt vegetation is worthy of recognition as of outstanding universal value, because of its adaptability and evolution in post-Gondwana isolation. The site contains
5600-499: The CBD fall within the ‘Finance and Financial Services’ or ‘Professional and Business services’ category. It is ranked overall #16 in the 2024 Oxford's Global Cities Index and amongst the top 10 cities in the Human Capital category. Approximately 15% of Sydney's total workforce is employed within the CBD. In 2012, the number of workers operating in the city was 226,972. Based on industry mix and relative occupational wage levels it
5712-591: The CBD or city centre is often referred to simply as " Town " or " the City ". The Sydney city centre extends southwards for about 3 km (2 mi) from Sydney Cove , the point of first European settlement in which the Sydney region was initially established. The Sydney CBD is Australia's main financial and economic centre, as well as a leading hub of economic activity for the Asia Pacific region. 40.7 % of businesses in
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#17328440533935824-401: The CBD, such as: the Sydney Opera House and the Museum of Contemporary Art to the north, the Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of New South Wales to the east, the Powerhouse Museum to the west, White Rabbit Gallery and the Haymarket branch of the City of Sydney Library to the south. The lanes and alleyways of Sydney exhibit the culture and arts of the CBD. Every January during
5936-419: The CBD. It is currently under construction, with a planned completion date of 2024. Construction on a separate rapid transit line to connect the CBD with the secondary centre of Parramatta is also expected to begin in late 2022. Sydney's cultural centre is compacted within its central business district and inner city ring, due to its nightlife, pedestrian traffic and centrality of notable attractions. There
6048-456: The Centennial Glen cliffs near Blackheath and Mount Piddington near the town of Mount Victoria . Climbing is currently banned on The Three Sisters. Mountain biking takes place mainly on the many fire trails that branch away from the main spine of the Great Western Highway, such as Narrow Neck, Anderson's Fire Trail and others. Likewise many of the fire trails are popular with day hikers, though many dedicated walking trails exist away from
6160-429: The City of Sydney into the "small area" called "The Rocks - Miller's Point - Dawe's Point". The postcode zone 2000 is also roughly correlative with the city centre. The City of Sydney is traditionally the governing authority for Sydney's city centre. However, the boundaries of the City of Sydney have always been larger than the city centre or CBD. For example, Pyrmont has been in the City of Sydney since 1842 but
6272-539: The Cumberland Plain are grassy sclerophyll woodlands , with over 830 native species. Dry and wet sclerophyll forests generally lie on the Hornsby plateau, an elevated region north of the Plain. Dry sclerophyll forests contain eucalyptus trees which are usually in open woodlands that have dry shrubs and sparse grass in the understory . In 1820s, Peter Cunningham described the country west of Parramatta and Liverpool as "a fine timbered country, perfectly clear of bush , through which you might, generally speaking, drive
6384-456: The Cumberland Plain are prominent. The Nepean River rises to the south in the Woronora Plateau , and wraps around the western edge of the city. Parramatta River 's headwaters are several local creeks including Toongabbie Creek and Hunts Creek , part of the upper Parramatta river catchment area. Hunt's creek flows from Lake Parramatta , a few kilometres North of Parramatta . Warragamba River flows 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) north-east from
6496-408: The Cumberland Plain had gone down, or the surrounding plateaux had been raised up. The Cumberland Basin’s perimeters had therefore developed in various ways and at different time period, where volcanic and tectonic movements had accompanied the uplift of Australia's Eastern Highlands within the time zone of 80–10 million years ago. To the south, the Cumberland Basin's topography is closely linked to
6608-455: The Cumberland Plain. 30 bird species exist in the urban areas, with the common ones being the Australian magpie , Australian raven , noisy miner and the pied currawong . Introduced birds include the common mynah , common starling and the house sparrow . 14 mammal species are widespread in the plain, with common species being those of bats and possums . The outskirts of the Cumberland Plain, such as those adjacent to large parks, have
6720-408: The Eastern Suburbs. Buses service the CBD along several dozen routes to both inner and more remote suburbs. NightRide is an after-hours bus service that operates between midnight and 5:00 am, with most services running from George Street outside the Sydney Town Hall. Sydney Ferries operate largely from Circular Quay , on the northern edge of the CBD. There are several wharves (directly beneath
6832-461: The Grose Valley threatened several communities including Bell and Blackheath (the Lawsons Long Alley Fire). This latest fire burned for almost a month but was extinguished, mainly due to a change in the weather, without loss of human life or property. A program of winter burning seemed to have been successful in reducing fires in the upper mountains. In recent years, the bushfires have become far more destructive and expansive than before. The region
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#17328440533936944-573: The MP for Bligh, even addressed a crowd in Martin Place in 1988 in a futile attempt to save the Regent Theatre from its imminent fate. At the 2021 census , the population of the Sydney CBD was recorded as 16,667. International students account for 32% of Sydney CBD residents. Australia-born individuals make up 22.3% of the CBD's population. The most common countries of birth other than Australia were Indonesia (12.9%), Thailand (12.4%), China (9.7%), India (3.5%) and South Korea (3.1%). Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 0.3% of
7056-439: The Sydney Basin. The Cumberland Plain has an area of roughly 2,750 square kilometres (1,060 sq mi), which lies on Triassic shales and sandstones . Shaping the geography of Sydney , it extends from 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of Windsor in the north, to Picton in the south; and from the Nepean-Hawkesbury River in the west almost to Sydney City, and includes parts of the Inner West and Northern Suburbs in
7168-499: The Sydney CBD, in styles of concrete and glass structures. Administratively, the Sydney CBD falls under the authority of the local government area of the City of Sydney . The New South Wales state government also has authority over some aspects of the CBD, in particular through Property NSW . In the New South Wales state parliament, the seat of " Sydney " covers the city centre together with inner western, southern and eastern suburbs. Independent Alex Greenwich has represented
7280-407: The Sydney Harbour and Lord Howe Island . Australian Labor Party member Tanya Plibersek has represented the federal seat of Sydney since the 1998 Australian federal election . The Sydney CBD is home to some of the largest Australian companies, as well as serving as an Asia-Pacific headquarters for many large international companies. The financial services industry in particular occupies much of
7392-405: The Sydney district. The name Eora simply means "here" or "from this place", and was used by Local Aboriginal people to describe to the British where they came from. After arriving to Botany Bay , Captain Arthur Phillip decided that the area was not suitable since it had poor soil, no secure anchorage and no reliable water source. Thus, the fleet moved to the more suitable Port Jackson where
7504-428: The Upper Blue Mountains with many misty days. The predominant natural vegetation of the higher ridges is eucalyptus forest. Heath-like vegetation is present on plateau edges above cliffs. The sheltered gorges often contain temperate rainforests . There are also many hanging swamps with button grass reeds and thick, deep black soil. Wollemia nobilis , the "Wollemi pine", a relict of earlier vegetation of Gondwana ,
7616-428: The available office space, with companies such as the Westpac , Commonwealth Bank , Citibank , Deutsche Bank , Macquarie Group , AMP , Insurance Australia Group , Aon , Marsh McLennan , Allianz , HSBC , Axa , ABN Amro , Royal Bank of Canada and Bloomsbury Publishing all having offices. Sydney's CBD is serviced by commuter rail , light rail , bus and ferry transport. Sydney's main commuter rail hub
7728-411: The blazes may severely reduce the biodiversity of the area and even wipe out some of the threatened species in the area, such as the regent honeyeater . The Greater Blue Mountains Area was unanimously listed as a World Heritage Area by UNESCO on 29 November 2000, becoming the fourth area in New South Wales to be listed. The area totals roughly 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi), including
7840-405: The blue haze for which the mountains were named. A sandstone plateau dominated by a landscape of eucalyptus forests, the Blue Mountains are located at the top of a 470-million-year-old quartzite . In the Permian period, a shallow sea covered the region, when rivers brought shales , siltstones and mudstones . Then during the Mesozoic period, rivers dumped vast amounts of sand , burying
7952-435: The coldest air drains into the valleys during calm, clear nights. However, the passing of cold fronts can significantly lower the average temperature during the night and the day. The Blue Mountains is not known for particularly cold mornings compared to other areas on the Central Tablelands, such as Oberon, Bathurst and Orange. There are two to three snowfalls per year. Annual rainfall is about 1,050 millimetres (41 in) in
8064-606: The colony was in the grips of a drought. Evans and his party reached the Fish and Macquarie rivers, and the site of Bathurst . On 7 July 1814, construction of a road across the mountains was begun by William Cox . The work was at the behest of Governor Macquarie. 30 convict labourers and 8 guards completed the road on 14 January 1815 after 27 weeks of hard work. Since the Blue Mountains are rich in coal and shale, mining for these resources began in Hartley Vale in 1865. J.B. North ran
8176-570: The course of the original Tank Stream (now tunneled). George Street is the Sydney CBD's main north–south thoroughfare. Bridge Street took its name from the bridge running east–west that once crossed this stream. Martin Place is the financial heart of the CBD whereas Pitt Street is the retail heart of the city andincludes the Pitt Street Mall as well as the Sydney Tower . Macquarie Street
8288-473: The death of Private Ernest William Keefe. Eight people sustained injuries. Because this incident occurred in the middle of the Great War the state discouraged media coverage. Only a fifth of the rioters were court-marshalled. These riots spurred the introduction of lockout laws for pubs after 6 pm. This law was only lifted in 1955. The early 1960s onwards saw the construction of new modern high-rise skyscrapers in
8400-759: The development of the Camden Syncline , which was active in the late Permian to the Middle Triassic period. The Botany Basin , which would have started to settle since the Oligocene , sits within this Lachlan Transverse Zone, which hints that this area of the Basin would have already existed at this stage. During the Cenozoic period, the Penrith and Botany basins may have acted as the Cumberland Basin's drainage, thereby explicating
8512-476: The east. Much of the Sydney metropolitan area is located on the Plain. The Hornsby Plateau is located to the north and is dissected by steep valleys. The plain takes its name from Cumberland County , in which it is situated, one of the cadastral land divisions of New South Wales. The name Cumberland was conferred on the County by Governor Arthur Phillip in honour of Ernest Augustus , Duke of Cumberland. Being
8624-574: The eastern boundary of the Domain and Hyde Park, south to Goulburn Street just north of Sydney's Chinatown (Haymarket), and west to cover the Darling Harbour area on the western shore of Cockle Bay. However, it does not include the northwestern portion of the peninsula which includes the Barangaroo , The Rocks, Millers Point , Dawes Point and Walsh Bay area, which are formally separate suburbs grouped by
8736-533: The elevated Circular Quay commuter rail station), with Wharf 3 operating exclusively to Manly . Additionally, the rapid transit line connecting the northwest suburbs with Chatswood is planned to continue to the CBD when the second stage of the Sydney Metro is completed. This rapid transit line is underground in the CBD area and will link the North Shore to Bankstown via a tunnel underneath Sydney Harbour and
8848-511: The fire roads. Canyoning in the Blue Mountains is a popular sport and caters for various skill levels. It carries inherent dangers, yet for those with the appropriate skills or those looking to take a guided trip there are many great opportunities to experience a different view of the Blue Mountains. There are numerous abseiling options available in the Blue Mountains including single and multipitch routes. There are some restrictions though with certain areas being closed for abseiling. Cricket
8960-505: The first successful European crossing. Blaxland set out with Lawson and Wentworth on 11 May 1813 and succeeded in crossing the mountains by 31 May. They ventured as far as to what is now Mount Blaxland , just west of Coxs River . In November 1813, Macquarie sent the surveyor George Evans on an expedition to confirm the apparent discoveries made by Blaxland and his party. He was also told to see if there existed enough arable land to justify settlement. The issue had become more urgent because
9072-491: The footsteps of the Blue Mountains westwards of these country plains. Furthermore, Abbotsbury , Cecil Hills and Glenmore Park were farms through until the 1980s when it was decided to redevelop them for housing. The area around the site of Regentville has remained largely rural, if hemmed in somewhat by the modern residential suburbs of Jamisontown and Glenmore Park. In the 1800s, John Blaxland built an original wooden weir at "Grove Farm" (now known as Wallacia ) for
9184-588: The hills, which we suppose as seen from Port Jackson, and called by the governor the Blue Mountains." During the nineteenth century the name was commonly applied to the portion of the Great Dividing Range from about Goulburn in the south to the Hunter Valley in the north, but in time it came to be associated with a more limited area. The native Aborigines knew two routes across the mountains: Bilpin Ridge, which
9296-488: The incomprehensible activity of rivers within the area. Despite much study, especially along the western side at the Lapstone monocline , this complex matter is still not fully understood. There are volcanic rocks from low hills in the shale landscapes. Swamps and lagoons are existent on the floodplain of the Nepean River . The Wianamatta Plain, with many undulating hills of Wianamatta Group shales and sandstones, bounded by
9408-457: The introduction of green bans in the 1970s and the increasing need for office or living space. Since then, a number of prominent buildings in the CBD have been lost: Anthony Hordern & Sons on George Street, the Regent Theatre also on George Street, Commercial Travelers' Club and Hotel Australia at Martin Place all attracted the ire of Sydneysiders–Sydney Mayor Clover Moore, then
9520-457: The landscape into the Jamison Valley . The Gundungurra Tribal Council is a nonprofit organisation representing the Gundungurra traditional owners , promoting heritage and culture and providing a support for Gundungurra people connecting back to Country. Gundungurra Tribal Council Aboriginal Corporation has a registered Native Title Claim since 1995 over their traditional lands, which include
9632-577: The latter consisting predominantly of apartments. It is also home to the Australia Square tower building on George Street, which was the city's tallest building until 1976. As of 2017, the tallest structure is Sydney Tower at 309 m (1,014 ft) which has dominated the city skyline since it was topped out in 1981. In 2016, height limits for buildings were lifted from 235 m (771 ft) to 310 m (1,017 ft). Heritage conservation has been an ongoing issue for Sydney's city centre since
9744-728: The main part of Sydney's urban area from the Sutherland Shire . The Woronora River , on the southern edge of the Sydney Plain, flows in a steep-sided valley from the Woronora Dam to the eastern estuary of the Georges River. Minor waterways draining Sydney's western suburbs include South Creek and Eastern Creek , flowing into the Hawkesbury, and Prospect Creek draining into the Georges River. The most predominant plant communities in
9856-465: The most populous region in Australia, the Cumberland Plain is one of the fastest-growing areas of the country in terms of population and it is home to a variety of Australian animal species , which are observable in the urban environments. The Cumberland Plain stretches from Ryde in the east to the Nepean River in the west and from Cattai in the north to Thirlmere in the far south. The Cumberland Plain sprawls over south-western Sydney , and into
9968-471: The north to Central railway station in the south. Its east–west axis runs from a chain of parkland that includes Hyde Park , The Domain , Royal Botanic Garden and Farm Cove on Sydney Harbour in the east; to Darling Harbour and the Western Distributor in the west. The CBD runs along two ridge lines below Macquarie Street and York Streets. Between these ridges is Pitt Street, running close to
10080-464: The north. Geologically, it is situated in the central parts of the Sydney Basin . The Blue Mountains Range comprises a range of mountains , plateau escarpments extending off the Great Dividing Range about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) northwest of Wolgan Gap in a generally southeasterly direction for about 96 kilometres (60 mi), terminating at Emu Plains . For about two-thirds of its length it
10192-456: The northwest ( Castlereagh ) and southeast ( Holsworthy ) corners of the plain. These were, Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest at 1,012 ha, which occur on soils with a high clay content, and Castlereagh Scribbly Gum Woodland being more common on sandy loam soils. Castlereagh Swamp Woodland is found in poorly drained slumps in the Holsworthy and Castlereagh areas. Wind-blown deposits in
10304-512: The opposite side of the Cumberland Plain the Hornsby Plateau is fronted by the Hornsby Warp. That warp is topographically subtle in comparison to the Lapstone Structural Complex, and it is a feature which is poorly defined and inadequately defined in literature. The Prospect dolerite intrusion in western Sydney is the largest assemblage of igneous rock in the Plain. The oval-shaped ridge
10416-556: The other sedimentary rocks . By about 1 million years ago during the Pliocene era, the Blue Mountains began to form, carving out deep valleys and steep cliffs , with an elevation of 3,900 feet. Its main distinctive natural feature are the Three Sisters , a formation of triple sandstone peaks scoured by erosion , whose rocks are lit by the glimpse of light at the time of day . The Blue Mountains have been inhabited for millennia by
10528-536: The philanthropic activities in Sydney. One of these was the Sydney Female Refuge Society set up to care for prostitutes in 1848. An academy of art formed in 1870 and the present Art Gallery of New South Wales building began construction in 1896. Inspired by the works of French impressionism , artists camps formed around the foreshores of Sydney Harbour in the 1880s. The Romanesque landmark Queen Victoria Building (QVB), designed by George McRae ,
10640-410: The population. Culturally, residents in the CBD have diverse ancestries, with Chinese, Thai, English, Indonesian, and Korean being the most common. Religious affiliations are equally diverse, with the largest group reporting 'No Religion' (36.1%), followed by Buddhism (21.4%) and Catholicism (13.7%). 99.2% of dwellings were flats or apartments. 72.0% were rented and 24.2% were owned outright or with
10752-406: The rural areas include a number of orchards and vineyards in the meadows . Vegetable farming and fruit picking are common activities. Sydney central business district The Sydney central business district ( CBD ) is the historical and main commercial centre of Sydney . The CBD is Sydney's city centre , or Sydney City , and the two terms are used interchangeably. Colloquially,
10864-597: The sandstone fortress west of the Nepean. Between 1798 and 1813, many people explored various parts of the mountains, from the Bilpin Ridge to the southern regions, today the site of the Kanangra-Boyd National Park . Still, they did not find a definite route across the mountains. The 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains by Gregory Blaxland , William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth is officially credited as
10976-440: The section of Agnes Banks support a defined assemblage of hard-leaved species known as Agnes Banks Woodland , at 615 ha. On the margins of the alluvial sedimentation, Castlereagh Ironbark Forest transitions into Shale Gravel Transition Forest on separated alluvium superimposed on Wianamatta Shale, which is currently at 1,721 ha. The scarcest community on the Cumberland Plain is Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest , at 13.4 ha, which
11088-583: The state capital , close to Penrith . The public's understanding of the extent of the Blue Mountains is varied, as it forms only part of an extensive mountainous area associated with the Great Dividing Range . As defined in 1970, the Blue Mountains region is bounded by the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers in the east, the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang to the west and south, and the Wolgan and Colo rivers to
11200-479: The state seat of Sydney since the 2012 by-election , triggered by the resignation of previous independent Clover Moore , who was the Lord Mayor of Sydney , due to introduced state laws preventing dual membership of state parliament and local council. In the federal parliament, the seat of " Sydney " covers the city centre together with a larger set of inner western, southern and eastern suburbs, as well as islands in
11312-547: The summer average maximum temperature is around 22 °C with a few days extending into the 30s (80s–90s °F) although it is quite common to see maximum temperatures stay in the teens when east coast troughs persist. Night-time temperatures are usually in the teens but can drop to single figures at times. During winter, the temperature is typically around 10 to 11 °C in the daytime with −1 °C or so on clear nights and 3 to 4 °C on cloudy nights. Very occasionally it will get down to −3 °C or slightly lower but usually
11424-509: The summer, the city celebrates with the Sydney Festival . Australian and International theatre during the month is also featured, including Aboriginal , and Contemporary. The Sydney Film Festival is an international event organised every year in June at various venues across the CBD. The festival opened on 11 June 1954 and was held over four days, with screenings at Sydney University. Attendance
11536-500: The time which came to light in the late 1980s. Wilson arrived with the First Fleet in 1788 and was freed in 1792. He settled in the bush, living with the Aborigines and even functioning as an intermediary between them and the settlers. In 1797 he returned to Sydney, claiming to have explored up to a hundred miles in all directions around Sydney, including across the mountains. His descriptions and observations were generally accurate, and it
11648-421: Was a relatively easy way out of Sydney. Wilson was killed by Aborigines after abducting an Aboriginal woman "for his personal use", but he had accomplished much as an explorer. He was never recognised as the first person to cross the mountains, possibly because his Coxs River journey could not be verified, while his route west of Mittagong may have been the "long way around" for a colony that had its eyes fixed on
11760-597: Was at full capacity with 1,200 tickets sold at one guinea each. Sydney boasts a lively café culture, as well as a club and bar scene distributed throughout the CBD and concentrated in a couple of locations such as Darling Harbour . Although Kings Cross is not technically located within the Sydney CBD, it is accessible via William Street, which runs through Hyde Park and is part of the inner-city region. Oxford Street hosts Sydney's gay scene. The Sydney CBD contains many of Australia's tallest skyscrapers, including Governor Phillip Tower , 25 Martin Place and World Tower ,
11872-517: Was cleared for farming, which resulted in the destruction of Aboriginal food sources. This, combined with the introduction of new diseases such as smallpox , caused resentment within the Aboriginal clans against the British and resulted in violent confrontations. The oldest legislative body in Australia, the New South Wales Legislative Council , was created in Sydney in 1825 as an appointed body to advise
11984-666: Was completed in 1898 on the site of the old Sydney markets. In the midst of World War I , on Valentine's Day, riots racked the CBD, in what has come to be known as the Central Station Riots of 1916. A substantial segment of the violence was concentrated in the Central area. These riots involved five thousand military recruits who refused to comply with extraneous parade orders. During the riots, they caused significant damage to buildings. People with "foreign" names were especially targeted. The recruits clashed with soldiers, resulting in
12096-462: Was inhabited by the Cadigal clan. The principal language groups were Darug , Guringai , and Dharawal . The modern history of the city began with the arrival of a First Fleet of British ships in 1788 and the foundation of a penal colony by Great Britain. The area surrounding Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) was home to several Aboriginal tribes. The " Eora people" are the coastal Aboriginal people of
12208-476: Was little fear that the mountains might provide a means of escape since they were considered impassable. This idea was, to some extent, convenient for local authorities. An "insurmountable" barrier would deter convicts from trying to escape in that direction. A former convict, John Wilson, may have been the first colonist to cross the Blue Mountains. It is also believed that Matthew Everingham , 1795, may have also been partly successful based on letters he wrote at
12320-461: Was made many millions of years ago when volcanic material from the Earth's core actuated upwards and then sideways. Slow erosion of the overlying layers of sedimentary rock by the flow of rainwater have eventually laid bare the edges of the volcanic and metamorphic rocks of the intrusion . The western suburbs lie on the relatively flat, lowly elevated parts of the Cumberland Plain. Though there are
12432-507: Was once considered to be the Blue Mountains is Mount Bindo , with an elevation 1,362 m (4,469 ft) AHD . A large part of the Blue Mountains is incorporated into the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Site , consisting of seven national park areas and a conservation reserve. The Blue Mountains area is a distinct physiographic section of the larger Hunter-Hawkesbury Sunkland province. This
12544-574: Was severely damaged in the 2013 New South Wales bushfires . However, even this was dwarfed by the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season , during which the entire mountain range was devastated at a scale never seen before. According to preliminary reports, up to 80% of the World Heritage Area has burned as of January 2020, many of these being areas that had never burned in any previously observed bushfires. These destructive blazes have been linked to accelerating climate change . There have been fears that
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