The Rocks

The Rocks gives visitors a taste of Sydney's past, and is a far cry from when most inhabitants lived in rat-infested slums and gangs ruled its streets. Now scrubbed and polished, The Rocks forms part of the popular promenade from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the famous Opera House.

Campbell's Storehouses, 7-27 Circular Quay West. In 1839, the merchant Robert Campbell began constructing a private wharf and warehouses for the tea, sugar, spirits, and cloth her imported from India. Today the bond stores contain galleries and harbourside restaurants. The pulleys that were used to raise cargo from the wharf can still be seen on the outside, near the top of the building.
Bus: Sydney Explorer

Centre for Contemporary Craft, Level 4, 88 George Street. Housed in a late-Victorian Classical Revival building from 1886, the building contains a gallery called Craftspace and a retail outlet called Designed and Made. Craftspace hosts changing exhibitions of Australian professional crafts and design. The shop Designed and Made sells superior craft and design objects that make unique gifts as well as appealing to collectors. Open 10am-5.30pm daily.
Merchants' House, 43 George Street. in 1848, John Bibb was commissioned to design a Greek Revival sandstone, hardwood and cedar house that would be use as a warehouse. The building has been restored by the Sydney Cove Authority to the period of its original occupants. It is now run by the National Trust of Australia as an historic house, children's museum, exhibition and function centre and a shop. There are self-guided tours for adults and children. The children simply follow a blue line linking relevant displays. The most popular exhibits with visitor of all ages are the two rooms found on the entrance level. The contain the Australian Childhood Collection of children's book, board games, toys, and dolls. Open 10am to 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
Bus: Sydney Explorer

Susannah Place, 58-64 Gloucester Street. This 1844 terrace of four brick and sandstone houses has a rare history of continuous domestic occupancy from the 1840s to 1990. The museum now housed here examines this working-class domestic history, evoking the living conditions of its inhabitants. Rather than recreating a single period, the museum retains the many renovations, however ramshackle, carried out by successive tenants.
Bus: Sydney Explorer

Sailors Home, 106 George Street. Built in 1864 as lodgings for visiting sailors, the building now houses The Rocks Visitors Centre at street level, with exhibitions on the two upper levels. On the second level, a permanent exhibition outlines the archaeological, architectural and social heritage of The Rocks. The third level hosts temporary exhibitions that explore heritage issues. Open 9am to 5pm daily.
Bus: Sydney Explorer

Cadman's Cottage, 110 George Street. Built in 1816 as a barracks for the crew of the governor's boats, Cadman's Cottage is Sydney's oldest surviving dwelling.

Sydney Observatory. Watson Road, Observatory Hill. Built in 1858, this domed building has been a centre for astronomical observation and research for almost 125 years. In the 1880's, some of the first astronomical photographs of the southern sky were taken here. It is now a museum of astronomy, with interactive equipment and games. There is viewing every night except for Wednesday. Reservations must be made for night viewing.
Bus: Sydney Explorer

Argyle Centre, 18 Argyle Street. The former Argyle Bond Stores consists of a number of warehouses surrounding a cobbled courtyard. They have been converted into a retail complex of mostly fashion and accessories shops that retains its period character and charm. Open 9am to 6pm daily.
Bus: Sydney Explorer

Westpac Museum, 6-8 Playfair Street. From 1817 when the "holey" dollar was in circulation and Sydney's first bank opened, to present-day plastic credit cards, this museum traces the history of banking in Australia.
Bus: Sydney Explorer

Hero of Waterloo, 81 Lower Fort Street, Millers Point. Built in 1844 from sandstone excavated from the Argyle Cut, this was a favourite drinking place for the nearby garrison's soldiers. Unscrupulous sea captains were said to use the hotel to recruit. Patrons who drank themselves into a stupor were pushed into the cellars through a trapdoor. From here they were carried along underground tunnels to the wharves close by and then onto waiting ships.