The Rocks, Sydney

The Rocks, Sydney

The Rocks (GPS: -33.85906, 151.20804) is a chic place in Sydney that grew out of the working class neighbourhood there. This historic area is located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, immediately north-west of the Sydney Central Business District, immediately adjacent to Circular Quay on Sydney Cove, site of Australia's first European settlement in 1788.

The Rocks became established shortly after the colony's formation. The original buildings here were made of local sandstone which gave the name to the place. During its early history, the Rocks was a slum area frequented by visiting sailors and prostitution was rampant. By the late 1800s, it was dominated by a gang called the Rocks Push. The rough neighbourhood reputation lingered well until the 1970s.

Today the Rocks is a partly gentrified but still contains a significant proportion of Housing Commission properties. It is an area in Sydney where urban poverty and street crime continues to be an issue. Its proximity to Circular Quay makes The Rocks popular with tourists, and this has resulted in a mushrooming of souvenir and crafts shops here.

The Rocks is on the Map of Sydney, Australia

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