Before 1800: Arrivals
When Britain’s First Fleet of 11 ships sailed into Port Jackson, Sydney, in January 1788, the mariners noted angry shouting from spear-carrying natives along the harbour’s
Timeline
1801–1825: Settlement
In the early years of the 19th century, the west headland of Sydney Cove was distinguished by several crucial landmarks on the slopes of Windmill Hill
1826–1850: Dockland
As the colony at Port Jackson prospered, its cargo shipping facilities expanded west from Sydney Cove to the much larger deepwater zone that was first named
1851–1875: Clippers
Several new phenomona affected Sydney’s shipping industry after 1850: the advent of fast clipper ships (slicing freight times), a series of gold rushes in rural areas
1876–1900: Heyday
In the late 1800s, Sydney’s economy and culture was surging—and the northern waterfront of Millers Point was one of the city’s busiest shipping precincts. Fast clipper
1901–1925: Renewal
After two men from Ferry Lane in Millers Point died of bubonic fever in 1900, the state Government proclaimed a rat plague across the entire headland.
1926–1950: Divisions
From the late 1920s, the freshly built Walsh Bay was disrupted by another major infrastructure project: the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This project had been first discussed
1951–1980: Modernity
As Australia began a modern development boom following the Second World War, Walsh Bay’s wharves became gradually obsolete. They could still host some passenger ships but
1981–2005: Creativity
Walsh Bay began to be transformed as a cultural precinct in the early 1980s, when Pier One was redeveloped as a harbourside ‘festival marketplace’ and Wharf
Since 2005: Networks
Since the latest redevelopment of the Walsh Bay precinct, the precinct and its surrounding neighbourhoods have been gentrifying. The area’s waterside apartments and townhouses have