Down The Cobbled Streets Of Sydney

In the heart of Sydney’s bustling Central Business District lies its backstreets, where the city’s history does a peek-a-boo with remains of centuries-old structures and stories of its people. Walk down these hidden laneways to uncover a fascinating past of this largest city in Australia.

- Arwa Janjali

I strongly prescribe ‘getting lost’ in order to truly explore a new place. The joy of wandering around aimlessly and stumbling upon the many surprises a place has to offer is unparalleled, especially when compared to reckless sightseeing. So I reached Hyde Park, the oldest public park of Australia (Yes, the British hangover results in Australia having its very own too), and began walking on the street adjacent to the park, towards nowhere. I had decided to discover Sydney’s bustling CBD (Central Business District) on foot.

A ROCKY START 

Google Maps said I was at The Rocks, but this didn’t look anything like the historic area that I had read about. Situated alongside the Sydney Harbour, The Rocks had the first colony of convicts, who were transported from Britain as a punishment for their crimes, and who actually built Sydney. Some of the early traces of the past were to be found here, and all I could see was one long street with some restaurants and pubs. Although in Sydney, even the most regular looking eateries from the outside turn out to be heritage sites once you step inside and discover historical titbits...like a preserved staircase or wall from the 18th century. A cosy tea room serving delicious scones with tea, for instance, is converted from a heritage building, which was once a military residence of officers and so on.