23 Interesting Facts About Sydney

The magnificent and vibrant city of Sydney can confidently be called one of the most modern and livable metropolises not only in the Southern Hemisphere but in the entire world. Over the past centuries, it has transformed from a small settlement into the cultural and economic center of the continent, attracting countless tourists.

Facts About Sydney:

1. It is the largest and oldest city in Australia.
2. Sydney has never changed its name since its founding in the late 18th century. It was named after Lord Sydney, a British minister of that era.
3. Among Australian cities, Sydney ranks first in terms of the cost of living.
4. Recent studies have shown that Australian Aboriginal people lived in the area now occupied by Sydney about 30,000 years ago.
5. There are no dangerous insects in Sydney itself, but the suburbs are a different story. For example, the deadly funnel-web spider, which can bite through even thick boots, is found here.
6. The most recognizable building in Sydney is the futuristic Sydney Opera House, known worldwide.
7. The highest recorded temperature in Sydney was 45.8 degrees Celsius (114.4 degrees Fahrenheit), while the record low is 2.1 degrees Celsius (35.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
8. About 30% of Sydney’s population are immigrants born outside of Australia.
9. Once a year, Sydney hosts an unusual fashion show featuring ducks as the main models.
10. The first European to visit these parts was the famous British navigator Captain James Cook.
11. Sydney is among the top ten most multicultural cities in the world.
12. Sydney and Melbourne long disputed the right to be Australia’s capital. The dispute ended in a draw, leading to the construction of a new city, Canberra, specifically to serve as the capital.
13. Sydney’s public transportation has not used paper or cardboard tickets for many years. Contactless payment systems have long been the norm, and special smartphone apps are popular for paying fares.
14. In the 19th century, Sydney was the primary destination for convicts sent from Britain.
15. In 1999, one of the most severe hailstorms in recorded history hit the city, with individual hailstones reaching 8-9 centimeters (about 3 inches) in diameter. The storm caused an estimated $1.7 billion in damage.
16. About 70% of the population of New South Wales, the Australian state of which Sydney is the capital, lives in Sydney.
17. The construction of the famous Sydney Opera House was initially expected to cost $7 million, but the final cost ballooned to $102 million.
18. Sydney consistently ranks among the “10 most expensive cities in the world.”
19. In the early 18th century, rum was commonly used as currency in Sydney.
20. Near Sydney, the SS Ayrfield ship has been docked since 1972. It was supposed to be dismantled, but was forgotten, and over the decades, it has turned into a unique local attraction—a floating forest.
21. The organ in the Sydney Opera House has 10,154 pipes, each with its own name.
22. The 2000 Olympic Games were held in Sydney.
23. The Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.