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:
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 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 stolen the animals.
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 inside.
State housing, now being sold at market value.
Art?
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.
Have you been to the Rocks? Did you know about Australia’s criminal past?
If you enjoyed this post, please pin:
Sarah Jane says
Love the pubs, buildings and history behind the Rocks. I done my pre-wedding photos there and they came out amazing!
Rhonda Albom says
There are some beautiful spots mixed in with all that sordid history.
bettyl-NZ says
These are the best kind of tours–where you can get up close and personal with the city. What great attractions!
Rhonda Albom says
And it is a city with such interesting history. 🙂
Comedy Plus says
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. 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
LOL – It didn’t take long Long, did it. Australia is much easier for us, it’s our closes overseas destination.
Joyce says
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.
Rhonda Albom says
When you get to Australia be sure to visit your old college roommate in New Zealand. 🙂 Enjoy your upcoming travels.
Lexa Cain says
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!
Rhonda Albom says
LOL – love the image of Super convict emerging from the booth.
Hilary says
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
Rhonda Albom says
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.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Wouldn’t want to go in that last pub.
Oldest public urinal? What a claim to fame.
Glad you’re flying again!
Rhonda Albom says
That last pub safe now, don’t worry. Agreed. Thanks.
YAM says
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
Rhonda Albom says
One more day. I will email you.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says
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.
Rhonda Albom says
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.
Lyndall @SeizeTheDayProject says
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.
Rhonda Albom says
LOL – you will be seeing those tourist attractions here soon as well 🙂