Sister cities

The long link between Sydney and San Francisco was formally recognised in 1968 to strengthen civic, cultural, business, trade, tourism and sporting ties between the 2 ports on opposite sides of the Pacific. In 1977, cooperation between gay activists in both cities started the first Sydney Gay Mardi Gras the following year. 

In 2018, the sister city golden anniversary was celebrated between Sydney and San Francisco. Both cities continue working together as members of key international networks including C40, 100 Resilient Cities and the World Cities Culture Forum.

Sydney and Nagoya signed a sister city relationship in 1980. The cities have since seconded staff trainees and supported reciprocal visits by school rugby union teams, bands and dance ensembles. The City of Sydney also supports the student exchange agreement between educational authorities and is involved in the sister zoo relationship between Taronga Zoo and Nagoya Higashiyama Zoo.

Since signing a sister city agreement in 1983, Sydney and the capital city of New Zealand have focused the relationship on trade and business matters.

In 1787, Arthur Phillip led what was to become known as the First Fleet from Portsmouth’s harbour. The following year the boats entered Port Jackson and the European settlement of Sydney began. In 1984, to commemorate this link, Sydney and Portsmouth signed a sister city agreement to develop and perpetuate economic, trading, cultural, educational and sporting links.

The Sydney-Guangzhou sister city relationship, one of our most important and enduring partnerships, was founded on 12 May 1986. To celebrate and further develop the partnership's 30th anniversary in 2016, we held a program of events in Guangzhou from Monday 30 May to Thursday 2 June 2016.

In 1993, Sydney signed its most recent sister city agreement, with the Tuscan city of Florence.