24 interesting facts about Sydney

Magnificent and brilliant Sydney can be safely called one of the most modern and comfortable cities for life, not only in the Southern Hemisphere, but throughout the world. Over the past centuries, it has evolved from a small settlement into the cultural and economic center of the entire continent, and it is not surprising that it attracts so many tourists.

Facts about the city of Sydney

1. Among all cities in Australia, it is the largest and oldest.
2. The area of ​​Sydney is 12144.6 km², but the population density is 399 people/km²
3. The name of Sydney has never changed since its founding in the late 18th century. He received it in honor of Lord Sydney, the British Minister of that era.
4. Among all Australian cities, Sydney ranks first in terms of the cost of living (interesting facts about Australia).
5. Recent studies have shown that Australian Aborigines lived in the place where this city is now located, about 30,000 years ago.
6. There are no dangerous insects in Sydney itself, but there are plenty of them in the suburbs. For example, there is a deadly poisonous funnel spider that can bite through even a thick boot.
7. The most recognizable building in Sydney is the futuristic building of the local opera house, known throughout the world.
8. Once a heat of +45.8 degrees was registered here. And the record minimum temperature is +2.1 degrees Celsius.
9. About 30% of the Sydney population are immigrants born outside of Australia.
10. Once a year, an unusual fashion show takes place here, in which ducks play the main role.
11. The first European who visited these parts was the famous British navigator James Cook (interesting facts about Cook).
12. Sydney is one of the ten most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world.
13. This city has been arguing with Melbourne for years for the right to be called the capital of Australia. As a result, the dispute ended in a draw – another city, Canberra, was built specifically to become the capital.
14. Sydney’s public transport has not paper or cardboard tickets. For a long time, only contactless systems have been used for fare payment here, and special applications for smartphones are popular.
15. In the 19th century, Sydney was the main place of exile for British convicts.
16. In 1999, one of the most powerful hailstorms on record hit the city. Separate blocks of ice falling from the sky reached 8-9 centimeters in diameter. It caused damage to Sydney, estimated at about $ 1.7 billion.
17. About 70% of the population of the Australian state of New South Wales, whose capital is Sydney, lives in this city.
18. The iconic Sydney Opera House was originally supposed to cost $7 million to build, but the city ended up spending as much as $102 million on the project.
19. Sydney has consistently been on the list of the «10 most expensive cities in the world».
20. At the beginning of the 18th century, as a «currency» rum was actively used here (interesting facts about money).
21. The SS Ayrfield has been moored near Sydney since 1972. It was supposed to be taken apart, but the ship was simply forgotten, and over the past decades it has turned into an amazing local attraction – a floating forest.
22. The organ in the Sydney Opera House has as many as 10.154 pipes! And each of them has its own name.
23. It was in Sydney that the Olympic Games were held in 2000.
24. The Sydney Opera House at the solemn ceremony was opened personally by the English Queen Elizabeth II (interesting facts about Elizabeth II).