00:00Want to see where modern Australian history began?
00:06Then a visit to The Rocks in Sydney is a gateway into the past.
00:11The Rocks really is the foundation place of the city and indeed of Australia as a whole.
00:17It began in 1788 when 400 settlers and 750 convicts arrived from Britain on the first fleet of 11 ships
00:26and started the remarkable transformation of this island continent.
00:30The Rocks was the first permanent settlement on the shores of Sydney Harbour.
00:36In those days it was little more than a few huts built of unseasoned timber or mud.
00:42None of them remain, but this one does.
00:46Cadman's Cottage is Sydney's oldest building.
00:49Completed in 1816, it was built for a convict, John Cadman, who'd gained his freedom and become keeper of the governor's ships.
00:58Today it houses the Sydney Harbour National Park Information Centre.
01:03A careful blend of the old and the new is what The Rocks is all about.
01:08The area boasts the biggest concentration of historic buildings in Sydney.
01:13They nestle in the shadow of a more modern icon and across the water from one of the world's most instantly recognisable structures.
01:22Circular Quay is the hub of the city's harbour transport system.
01:27Trains, ferries, jet cats, river cats and much larger vessels bring commuters and visitors right into the heart of Sydney's central business district.
01:36From the main terminal, it's just a few minutes walk through a pedestrian precinct to The Rocks.
01:43One of the easiest ways to explore this wonderful area is by taking The Rocks' self-guided walking tour.
01:50Simply follow a map and commentary produced by The Rocks Visitor Centre.
01:55This walk takes in all of the most significant historical sites, along the way explaining the area's colourful past.
02:02Alternatively, there are guided tours which depart at regular intervals and a ghost walk where you might come across more than you bargained for.
02:11Information on all of these can be obtained from The Rocks Visitor Centre located at 80 George Street or on the website listed at the end of this video postcard.
02:21George Street is the main street through The Rocks area and is the oldest street in Australia.
02:27As well as Cadman's Cottage, there are a number of other historical buildings along it, including the Village Gallery,
02:36the Old Police Station
02:40and the Union Bond Store.
02:45If something more modern is appeal, then a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art should be on your schedule.
02:53Housed in the Art Deco, former Maritime Service Board building, it showcases contemporary art from Australia and around the world,
03:01including photography, paintings and sculptures.
03:10Just behind it, Kendall Lane, a narrow street where you really get the feel of the rocks of yesteryear.
03:22At the end of the lane, Rock Square, which often does rock with buskers and other street performers.
03:34Housed in a restored 1850s sandstone warehouse, the Rocks Discovery Museum tells the story of the area from pre-European days to the present.
03:44It houses a unique collection of images and archaeological artefacts.
03:52.
04:08With touchscreens, many of the exhibits are interactive, using both audio and visual elements to help bring the history of the area alive.
04:23This is another Rocks landmark. The Argyle Cut was hewn by convicts through a sandstone ridge to connect the area to nearby Sydney Cove.
04:32Back in 1843, they started with just hammers and chisels. It was finally completed with the help of explosives in 1867.
04:41Nearby, the Garrison Church, which was consecrated in 1844 and is still in use today.
04:53Next door, look out for the Garrison Historical and Military Museum, which traces the history of the English soldiers sent to control the convicts.
05:01Argyle Street also provides access to Observatory Hill, on which the original Sydney Observatory stands.
05:08Built in 1858, it still has its Optical Astronomical Telescope, which once played a major role in the study of astronomy in the Southern Hemisphere.
05:19Nowadays, the Observatory is a museum by day, but by night, experts still conduct occasional explorations of the sky. Bookings for these, though, are essential.
05:31Even if you don't want to stargaze, a visit to Observatory Hill provides visitors with a wonderful photo opportunity of some of the best views of what many believe is the world's finest harbour city.
05:48On the way up, or on the way down, you might need a cold drink.
05:52The Rocks has some of the best pubs in the country. The Lord Nelson has traded since 1842, and today houses its own microbrewery, brewing its own beers.
06:02Nearby, the much smaller Hero of Waterloo. This first opened its doors in 1845, and back then was notorious as a place to press gang, unwilling crewmen into service on the ships.
06:15Men were made drunk, then dragged to the waiting vessels through a tunnel which ran under the hotel to a house across the street.
06:25The Susanna Place Museum preserves a row of four sandstone terrace houses that were built in 1844, and incorporates a recreated 1915 corner store.
06:36The terrace is the backdrop for some of the area's many restaurants.
06:42Choose a food style, and the chances are you'll find it in The Rocks.
06:49From basic takeaways to fancy eateries.
06:54If you like shopping, The Rocks is for you.
06:58Upmarket clothes, trendy boutiques, Aboriginal art and artefacts.
07:04Originals and prints from painters who have become famous internationally.
07:08And great souvenirs, which work well as presents, or as keepsakes from the holiday of a lifetime.
07:15If you're looking for something a little cheaper, then make certain to visit The Rocks Market.
07:19Which operates all day and year round on both Saturdays and Sundays.
07:23It's devoted to goods, produce and products and services that are uniquely Australian.
07:29And they're hugely popular, not just with visitors, but also with Sydney-siders as well.
07:34A great blend of the old and the new, The Rocks fully deserves its reputation as a unique gateway to Sydney.
07:40Modern hotels sit comfortably with historic buildings and cobbled streets.
07:45The place is lively and cosmopolitan, and one of the best places to watch Sydney's famous end-of-year celebrations.
07:52If you're planning to visit, it's worth a visit.
07:56The place is lively and cosmopolitan, and one of the best places to watch Sydney's famous end-of-year celebrations.
08:03If you're planning to be in the city, just see out the old and see in the new.
08:13If this video postcard has whittled your appetite to visit The Rocks, find out more by visiting the website www.therocks.com
08:25www.therocks.com
08:55www.therocks.com
