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Enjoying a rainy weekend in Sydney Australia, we joined into a free walking tour at the Rocks, Australia’s first European settlement. More accurately it was a tour of the country’s convict history as the first eleven ships into Sydney Harbour held 75% criminals.

The area called the Rocks is now sought after real estate, yet 200 years ago it was considered undesirable. Made up predominantly of, you guessed it . . . rocks, it is a jagged peninsula surrounded by water on three sides. The stories of murders, mugging and mystery are fascinating and the tour never boring.

In case you’re wondering what type of criminals made up the Rocks, they were mostly petty thieves. The murderers were all hung in England long before they could have been sent here.

Here are a few highlights from our tour of the Rocks:

Sewage once ran down this narrow street in the Rocks, Sydney, Australia
Back in the day, bedpans were dumped out the window onto the street. When it rained, it was washed down hill through this little street aptly named Suez Canal. The lane intersecting to the right was home to the neighborhood’s first tourist attraction, a cut up, singed body in a barrel.
Working class housing from the mid 1800's in the Rocks in Sydney Australia
Working class housing from the mid 1800’s to the 1970’s. Now a museum.
Largest archeological site in Australia, where over 500 cubic metres of animal bones were found, believed to have been left here by a butcher who had stoles the animals.
Largest archeological site in Australia, where over 500 cubic metres of animal bones were found, believed to have been left here by a butcher who had stolen the animals.
The Australian Hotel is owned by Richard Branson, and serves emu and kangaroo pizza
The Australian Hotel is owned by Richard Branson, and serves emu and kangaroo pizza (according to a woman on the tour).
Australia's oldest public urinal is in the Rocks, Sydney Australia
Australia’s oldest public urinal is inside.
State housing in the Rocks in Sydney Australia
State housing, now being sold at market value.
Interesting Art in Sydney Australia
Art?
Hero of the Waterloo in Sydney Australia
The Hero of Waterloo is one of three pubs claiming to be Australia’s oldest. In this pub, sailors were “friended” with free beers, and once drunk they were shoved down a hole and woke up captive, out at sea on a working ship.

Practical Information:

  • Find out more about the tour at Free Sydney Tour.
  • It’s not completely free, but rather allows you to set your own price with a tip at the end.
  • The tour starts at Cadman Cottage in the Rocks at 6pm every night.
  • The restaurants in the Rocks get crowded, so it’s a good idea to make a dinner booking before the tour begins. We ate at Apetito, a delicious Italian option, but be warned they charge a $3 per person “cover charge” for eating there on the weekend or holidays.
  • Visiting the Rocks is only one of many things to do in Sydney. 

Have you been to the Rocks? Did you know about Australia’s criminal past?

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The Rocks in Sydney, Australia, is now a prime real estate spot with houses priced in the millions. Only a century or two ago, however, this was the first convict settlement in Australia. Join us as we learn about the stories and gore that make up this place with I Am Free Sydney Tours.

 

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About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

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Comments

  1. Sarah Jane

    Love the pubs, buildings and history behind the Rocks. I done my pre-wedding photos there and they came out amazing!

    Reply

  3. Comedy Plus

    How wonderful you were allowed to fly again. I was waiting to see how long it would take before you took flight. Excellent.

    I do know some of Australia’s beginnings. Not much of these things though. I would love to visit one day and if I do I’ll visit New Zealand too.

    Have a fabulous day. 🙂

    Reply

  4. Joyce

    Wow! Australia is on my bucket list, but I’ll just have to enjoy the world vicariously through you, for now. As a side note, we are planning a trip to Israel. I won’t tell you when on the internet, but it’s not too far off.

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      When you get to Australia be sure to visit your old college roommate in New Zealand. 🙂 Enjoy your upcoming travels.

      Reply

  5. Lexa Cain

    Well, that’s all a bit disturbing. (Though with the US’s history of serial killers, probably minor compared to some of the sites there.) The weirdest thing is that public urinal, which looks rather funerial. It’s like the phone booth Superman changes in, only I’m figuring villains would pop out of this one! LOL!

    Reply

  6. Hilary

    Hi Rhonda – hope the plane flight has been a success … and that headache goes away. That street of houses looks like the back end of many of ours as we go in and out of London the train … perhaps the black shed – might have made me think they came from another place. Fascinating history – and obviously the place to go .. to get original information … over and above the standard attractions. So great you travelled over … cheers Hilary

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      Headache is gone now, hopefully for good. I love Sydney, it really is a wonderful city and only 3 hours from home – probably my closest international option.

      Reply

  8. YAM

    Hari om
    G’day Rhonda! Are you in Sydney for a couple more days? Am back down under myself and would be happy to meet up, if you’d like? Email is in the comment id if you wish to make contact… YAM xx

    Reply

  9. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor

    It’s wonderful to see you off traveling by air again! I had dinner at wonderful restaurant in the Rocks a few years ago. The food was delicious and the views were amazing. I was there for work, so didn’t get to do as many touristy things as I would have liked.

    Reply

    • Rhonda Albom

      I was happy to get off the ground. I just hope I can do it next time without getting a headache. Today we went back and ate the kangaroo and emu pizza.

      Reply

  10. Lyndall

    I’m so pleased you took the walking tour of The Rocks Rhonda. The area has a fascinating history which a lot of people miss due to the abundance of tourist attractions nearby.

    Reply

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