History
Sydney is a vibrant city and it has an ancient heartbeat. Discover the rich, vivid history of Sydney from early Aboriginal life through to the modern global city.
Community groups
Local history groups
History & archive collections
City of Sydney Archives
More than 12,000 shelf metres of archives relating to the City of Sydney and its people, places and events.
Historical walking tours
Websites
- Barani: Sydney’s Aboriginal historyThe Barani website provides histories of people, places and events in the local area that are associated with the histories of Sydney's Aboriginal communities.
- Oral HistoriesThe collection showcases the voices of Sydney people past and present.
- Sydney’s Councillors & AldermenAn easy-to-search A-Z biographical guide of almost 500 men and women who have represented Sydney's residents.
- Dictionary of SydneyPut together as a collaborative not-for-profit venture in digital public history, it's an ever-growing resource you can trust.
Collections
History & archive collections
Books about Sydney’s historyHistory & archive collections
City of Sydney ArchivesHistory & archive collections
Civic collectionHistory & archive collections
History websitesLibrary collections
Local history collection
House and building histories guide
Discover the many resources available to research the history of your house or apartment.
City of Sydney News
News
The most intriguing donations to our archive in 2021As a new year begins, we take a look at some interesting additions to our collection.7 January 2022News
Take a step back in time down George StreetAs we create 9,000 square metres of new car-free space, discover how the storied boulevard has evolved.26 September 2021News
Discover Green Square’s history on foot with a new self-guided walkTransform, available on the Sydney Culture Walks app, documents the neighbourhood’s fascinating history and stunning architecture.7 September 2021News
5 minutes with History Week curator Margaret BetteridgeWe unveil the captivating details you’ll discover when you look up in Sydney.3 September 2021News
How to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2021 onlineEnjoy art, performance, talks and shopping in the comfort and safety of your home.5 July 2021News
In pictures: Easter in Sydney over the yearsPhotos from the City of Sydney archives show how our city celebrated in time gone by.29 March 2021News
Oxford Street: A history from track to high streetFrom bush track to a high street with a heart, the strip beats with special resonance for Sydneysiders.26 October 2020News
Gold rush: Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games 20th anniversariesWhen our city hosted nearly 11,000 athletes from 199 countries.15 September 2020News
6 online jigsaw puzzles using City of Sydney archive photosTake a moment to relax and explore the city from a different perspective.6 May 2020News
Hidden treasures in free archives websiteThe City’s online records portal includes over 1 million items, with almost half available to download.8 April 2020
Download free: Sydney Culture Walks app
Discover new neighbourhoods while learning about Sydney’s fascinating history, stunning architecture and the stories behind the city’s most loved public artworks.