Sydney

Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Port Jackson and extends about 70 km (43.5 mi) on its periphery towards the Blue Mountains to the west, Hawkesbury to the north, the Royal National Park to the south and Macarthur to the south-west. Sydney is made up of 658 suburbs, 40 local government areas and 15 contiguous regions. Residents of the city are known as "Sydneysiders".

History

The Sydney area has been inhabited by indigenous Australians for at least 30,000 years. The first British settlers, led by Captain Arthur Phillip, arrived in 1788 to found Sydney as a penal colony, the first European settlement in Australia. Since convict transportation ended in the mid-19th century, the city has transformed from a colonial outpost into a major global cultural and economic centre.

Geography

Sydney is located on a coastal basin bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Blue Mountains to the west, the Hawkesbury River to the north, and the Royal National Park to the south. It lies on a submergent coastline, where the ocean level has risen to flood deep river valleys (rias) carved in the Sydney sandstone.

Climate

Sydney has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) bordering a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb) with warm summers and cool winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year.

Economy

Sydney has an advanced market economy with strengths in finance, manufacturing and tourism. Its gross regional product was $337 billion in 2013, the largest in Australia. There is a significant concentration of foreign banks and multinational corporations in Sydney and the city is promoted as Australia's financial capital and one of Asia Pacific's leading financial hubs.

Culture

Sydney is also a gateway to Australia for many international visitors. It has hosted multiple major international sporting events, including the 2000 Summer Olympics. The city is among the top fifteen most-visited cities in the world, with millions of tourists coming each year to see the city's landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach.

Education

Sydney is home to Australia's first university, the University of Sydney since 1850. It is regarded as one of the world's leading universities, and its graduates are ranked as the 4th most employable in the world and 1st in Australia.

Transport

Sydney has an extensive public transport system that includes trains, buses, ferries and light rail. An additional network of cycleways are in the city. There is also a cable car that runs from the city to the Sydney Olympic Park.