Sydney serves as the sparkling gateway to Australia. It is famous for golden beaches and world-class architecture. While tourists visit the Opera House, the city hides a gritty history beneath the surface. For instance, the original plan for the city name was not Sydney at all. Furthermore, the harbor contains a "floating forest" inside a rusted World War II shipwreck. Prepare to dive into the deep blue waters of the massive natural harbor.
Sydney
A massive underground lake exists beneath St James railway station. Over time, this abandoned part of the tunnel system flooded completely. Consequently, it created a body of water that stretches for 190 meters. During World War II, authorities used the surrounding tunnels as air raid shelters.
The Sydney Opera House took fourteen years to complete instead of four. In fact, the architect, Jørn Utzon, resigned from the project after severe political disputes. Eventually, he left Australia in 1966 and never returned to see his finished masterpiece.
Paul Hogan worked as a painter on the Harbour Bridge before finding fame. Specifically, the star of “Crocodile Dundee” worked as a rigger on the “Coat Hanger.” He once joked that the height and danger kept him fit without a gym.
Maria Ann Smith accidentally cultivated the Granny Smith apple in a Sydney suburb. Surprisingly, she simply tossed some crab apple cores onto a compost heap in 1868. Today, the city celebrates her legacy with a massive apple festival every October.
The Harbour Bridge contains over 52,000 tonnes of steel. Continuously, painters use 272,000 litres of paint to cover the structure. As soon as they finish one coat, they immediately start the next one.
Captain Arthur Phillip almost named the city “New Albion.” Originally, he wanted to use this ancient name for Britain. However, he eventually chose Sydney to honor the British Home Secretary who authorized the expedition.
A “Floating Forest” grows inside a 100-year-old shipwreck. Currently, the SS Ayrfield sits in Homebush Bay as a rusted ruin. Over the years, lush mangrove trees have grown inside the metal hull.
The four massive pylons on the Harbour Bridge are completely decorative. Although they look like they support the arch, they serve no structural purpose. Instead, the government added them solely to reassure the public about the safety of the bridge.
People climb the bridge more often than they climb local mountains. Since 1998, over four million people have scaled the arches. Moreover, it remains one of the few places where you can walk on top of a major highway.
Convicts dug a secret tunnel called “Busby’s Bore” to provide water. Specifically, this tunnel transported water from the Lachlan Swamps to Hyde Park using gravity. Furthermore, it served as the city’s first major infrastructure project.
The Opera House roof features over one million tiles. Notably, these ceramic tiles came all the way from Sweden. Because of their design, they possess a self-cleaning property that repels dirt and salt water.
Sydney Harbour is the deepest natural harbor in the world. Therefore, it holds over 500,000 megalitres of water. This depth allows the largest cruise ships to dock right in the center of the city.
Nevertheless, rumors persist of secret tunnels beneath the Queen Victoria Building. For example, legend says a network of passages once connected the shops to the Town Hall. Additionally, some believe the military used them as a command center during the war.
The city was once known as “Sin City.” During the 1920s, the suburb of Surry Hills served as the headquarters for female crime bosses. Consequently, these “Razor Gangs” fought for control of the streets for years.
Finally, the coat of arms features an emu and a kangaroo. Designers chose these animals because they cannot walk backward. Thus, this symbolizes a nation that is always moving forward.
