Transcript Sydney - Country Study

Sydney
 Sydney is the largest city in
Australia, and the state capital of
New South Wales. Sydney has a
metropolitan area population of
approximately 4.4 million.
 Its inhabitants are called
Sydneysiders, and Sydney is often
called "the Harbour City". It is one
of the most multicultural cities in
the world, reflecting its role as a
major destination for immigrants
to Australia.
History
 The site of the first British colony in Australia, Sydney was
established in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip,
commodore of the First Fleet. The city is built on hills
surrounding Sydney Harbour – an inlet of the Tasman Sea
on Australia's south-east coast.
 Sydney is considered an alpha+ world city, and is an
international centre for commerce, arts, fashion, culture,
entertainment, education and tourism. According to the
Mercer cost of living survey, Sydney is Australia’s most
expensive city, and the 66th most expensive in the world.
Climate
 Sydney has a temperate climate with warm summers and
cool winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. The
weather is moderated by proximity to the ocean, and
more extreme temperatures are recorded in the inland
western suburbs. The warmest month is January.
 Snowfall was last reported in the Sydney City area in 1836.
 The city is prone to flash flooding from rain caused by
East Coast Lows.
Buildings and architecture
 The Buildings and architecture of
Sydney are not characterised by
any one architectural style, having
accumulated and developed over
its 200 year history.
 With the lifting of height
restrictions in the post-World War
II years, much of central Sydney's
older stock of architecture was
demolished to make way for
modernist high rise buildings; a
number of the most notable new
buildings were designed by Harry
Seidler.
Culture
 The cultural life of Sydney,
Australia is very vibrant, diverse
and multicultural. Many of the
individual cultures that make up
the Sydney mosaic are centred on
the ethnic, linguistic and religious
communities formed by waves of
immigration. In addition, as a
major international city, Sydney
boasts a dynamic scene of
musical, theatrical, visual and
other artistic activity. There is an
longstanding friendly rivalry
between Sydney and Melbourne
for the title of 'Australia's arts
capital'.
Culture
 Sydney hosts many different festivals
and some of Australia's largest social
and cultural events. These include the
Sydney Festival.
 Australia's premier prize for
portraiture, the Archibald Prize is
organised by the Art Gallery of New
South Wales. The Sydney Royal Easter
Show is held every year at Sydney
Olympic Park, the final of Australian
Idol takes place on the steps of the
Opera House, and Australian Fashion
Week takes place in April/May and
September. Sydney's New Year's Eve
and Australia Day celebrations are the
largest in Australia.
Entertainment and performing arts
 Sydney has a wide variety of
cultural institutions. Sydney's
iconic Opera House has five halls,
including a large concert hall and
opera and drama theatres; it is the
home of Opera Australia—the
third-busiest opera company in
the world, and the Sydney
Symphony. Other venues include
the Sydney Town Hall, City
Recital Hall, the State Theatre,
the Theatre Royal, Sydney, the
Sydney Theatre and the Wharf
Theatre.
Entertainment and performing arts
 The National Institute of Dramatic
Art, based in Kensington, boasts
internationally famous alumni such
as Mel Gibson, Judy Davis, Baz
Luhrmann and Cate Blanchett.
Sydney's role in the film industry has
increased since the opening of Fox
Studios Australia in 1998.
 Sydney's most popular nightspots
include Kings Cross, Oxford Street,
Darling Harbour, Circular Quay and
The Rocks, which all contain various
bars, nightclubs and restaurants.
Star City Casino, is Sydney's only
casino and is situated around
Darling Harbour.
Tourism
 In the year ending March 2008, Sydney
received 2.7 million international
visitors. The most well-known attractions
include the Sydney Opera House and the
Sydney Harbour Bridge. Other
attractions include Royal Botanical
Gardens, Luna Park, some 40 beaches
and Sydney Tower.
 Sydney also has several popular museums
such as, the Australian Museum (natural
history and anthropology), the
Powerhouse Museum (science,
technology and design), the Art Gallery
of New South Wales, the Museum of
Contemporary Art and the Australian
National Maritime Museum.
Sport and outdoor activities
 Sydney is well-endowed with open
spaces and access to waterways, and
has many natural areas, even in the city
centre.
 Sport is an important part of Sydney's
culture. The most popular sport in
Sydney is rugby league. Cricket is the
most popular summer sport in Sydney.
 The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic
Games or the Millennium
Games/Games of the New MillenniumIt was the second time that the
Summer Olympics were held in the
Southern Hemisphere
Education
 Sydney is home to some of Australia's most prominent
educational institutions.
 There are four multi-campus government-funded Technical
and Further Education (TAFE) institutes in Sydney.
 Sydney has public, denominational and independent
schools. There are four state-administered education areas in
Sydney, that together co-ordinate 919 schools.
The University of Sydney,
established in 1850, is the
oldest university in
Australia
Infrastructure
 Most Sydney residents travel by car
through the system of roads and
motorways. The most important trunk
routes in the urban area are the nine
Metroads, which include the 110 km (68
mi) Sydney Orbital Network. Sydney is
also served by train, taxi, bus and ferry
networks.
 Sydney Airport, in the suburb of
Mascot, is Sydney's main airport, and is
one of the oldest continually operated
airports in the world.
What to do
 If you are visiting Sydney anyone will have an
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activity to their liking there.
Surfing at Bondi Beach.
Shopping at the over 500 shopping centers
and outlets.
Sydney Aquarium .At the Sydney Aquarium
walk underwater and discover the world's
largest collection of all-Australian aquatic life
- over 12,000 marine animals!
Sydney Tower Restaurant .Sydney - Sydney
Tower Restaurant is one of the most
spectacular showcases of Sydney and its
cuisine. A favourite amongst locals and a
must do for anyone visiting...
And a lot more!