| LocationThe Rocks is the oldest area of Sydney and has recently undergone an amazing metamorphosis, the old district being transformed into a vibrant pocket of cafes and restaurants and interesting tourist shops and stalls. This has been achieved without destroying the area’s Old World charm and historic buildings. Sydney’s town planners have put in place a sensitive conservation program that has preserved the heritage and character of The Rocks and brought about an interesting fusion of modern amenities in an old and valued setting. The Rocks, along with Dawes and Millers Points, form Sydney’s oldest residential precinct–the rocky promontory where convict tents were erected in 1788. Despite generations of change, traces of early convict settlements can still be found pubs and churches, archaeological digs and houses all evoke memories of past lives and ways. The city’s oldest building, Cadman’s Cottage (circa1816), is located here, along with the Argyle Cut, excavated by convicts in the 1840s. Entertainment Enjoy the diverse selection of historic pubs offering everything from a quiet drink and a meal through to live bands and DJ’s. On weekends and at festival times, there is usually free entertainment, with outdoor concerts and street theatre. Many of The Rocks’ pubs offer live music – jazz, folk and pop. The Rocks Market operates every weekend, from 10am to 5pm each day, and until 6pm in summer months. Some 100 stalls are set up under a series of sail-like canopies, filling the lower end of George Street . The stalls are filled with a wide range of Australian gift ideas, homewares and collectibles. Of special interest to children is the Puppet Cottage, in Kendall Lane, while grown-ups may be more interested in taking a look at the colony’s first windmill, up on Observatory Hill, or dropping in to Sydney’s oldest remaining pub, the Lord Nelson, built in 1844. Within The Rocks district the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Merchants House, Susannahs Place, Discovery Museum and Cadman’s Cottage (at 110 George Street), which was built in 1816 as barracks for the crew of the governor’s boats and is Sydney’s oldest surviving dwelling. Museums, Galleries & Attractions Dare Playfair Terrace (Old Sydney Holiday Inn) Vivaz Restaurant & Nightclub Waterfront Restaurant Altitude Restaurant Blu Horizon Bar Bel Mondo Cafe Mix Alysium Spa & Health Club Ausdance-Australian Dance Council (Nsw) Inc Parks Customs Square The Rocks is best known for its gift, fashion, duty-free and ‘Australiana’ shopping. You’ll find dozens of enticing stores around George Street, Nurses Walk, the Argyle Centre and Playfair Street, and there is a good selection of Aboriginal and other art galleries. |
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