The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Pre-Colonial
50,000–45,000 BP – Near Penrith, a far western suburb of Sydney, numerous Aboriginal stone tools were found in Cranebrook Terraces gravel sediments dating to this time period; at first when these results were new they were controversial. More recently in 1987 and 2003, dating of the same strata has revised and corroborated these dates. 30,000 BP – Radiocarbon dating suggests human activity occurred in and around the Sydney basin, as evidenced by an archaeological dig in Parramatta, in Western Sydney.Geoffrey Blainey; A Very Short History of the World; Penguin Books; 2004; The finds show that the Aboriginal Australians in that region used charcoal, stone tools and possible ancient campfires.Mulvaney, D J and White, Peter, 1987, Australians to 1788, Fairfax, Syme & Weldon, Sydney 21,100–17,800 BP – Stone artifact assemblages dating to this time period discovered in Shaws Creek (near Hawkesbury River) and in Blue Mountains. A rock shelter with flakes dating to this period discovered near Nepean River.V Attenbrow, G Robertson and P Hiscock, 'The changing abundance of backed artefacts in south-eastern Australia: a response to climate change?', Journal of Archaeological Science, vol 36, no 2009, pp 2765–70 5,000–7000 BP – The Sydney rock engravings, a form of Australian Aboriginal rock art consisting of carefully drawn images of people, animals, or symbols, date to this time period.McDonald, J. 1999. Bedrock notions and isochrestic choice: evidence for localised stylistic patterning in the engravings of the Sydney region. Archaeology in Oceania 34(3): 145–160. 4,000–2,000 BC – The first backed stone artifacts developed, such as blades and spears. The stones would drill, scrape, cut and grind material. They were also associated with woodworking.P Hiscock, Archaeology of Ancient Australia, Routledge, New York, 2008 1,000–500 BC – Bone and shell usage dating to this period discovered. They would've been attached to fishing spear prongs, which would mean that multi-pronged fishing spears occurred at this time. The evidence of spear-throwing is suggested by an excavated shell in Balmoral Beach.J McDonald, Dreamtime Superhighway. An Analysis of Sydney Basin Rock Art and Prehistoric Information Exchange, Terra Australis 27, ANU EPress, Canberra, 2008 c 500 CE – Likely large tsunami.
18th–19th centuries
1770s–1790s 1770 – Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook, in command of HMS Endeavour, sights the east coast of Australia and lands at Kurnell. 1779 – Joseph Banks gives evidence supporting a colony in Botany Bay. 1783 – James Matra proposes colony in New South Wales. 1786 – British government decides to found convict settlement in Botany Bay. 1787 – First Fleet of eleven vessels under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip leaves Portsmouth. 1788 Phillip arrives in Botany Bay but moves site of settlement to Sydney Cove. French vessels under the command of Lapérouse land in Botany Bay. Parramatta founded. Convict Henry Kable successfully sues ship's master for stealing his goods on voyage. Punitive expedition after killing of two convicts by aboriginal people fails to find any culprits. 1789 Smallpox epidemic kills many of indigenous population. Rose Hill Packet built for service on Parramatta River. Six marines hanged for theft from government stores. Farquhar's comedy 'The Recruiting Officer' performed by convicts. 1790 Phillip speared by Willemering at Manly Cove. Second Fleet arrives with many deaths and convicts in poor condition. William Dawes creates word-list of Dharug language with the help of Patyegarang. Glebe granted as endowment to Church of England. 1791 Successful convict farmer James Ruse granted land at Rosehill. Convict station established at Old Toongabbie. Mary Bryant and other convicts escape by open boat to Timor. Third Fleet arrives with provisions. Third Fleet ship Britannia leaves for whaling expedition in the South Seas. First convicts arrive from Ireland in the Queen.
1792 Burial Ground established. Visit of first trading vessels, the Philadelphia and Hope from America. Phillip returns to England, accompanied by Bennelong and Yemmerrawanne. 1793 John and Elizabeth Macarthur begin building Elizabeth Farm at Rosehill. Visit of Malaspina's Spanish exploratory expedition. First free settlers arrive on the Bellona. First church built. Watkin Tench's Complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson published in London. 1794 – Maurice Margarot and four other radical political prisoners arrive. 1795 Bennelong returns from visit to England. Descendants of cattle that had escaped in 1788 found at Cowpastures (Camden). First printing press used to print government orders. Complex legal case Boston v Laycock over shooting of pig by soldier. Initiation ceremony of 15 indigenous youths at Farm Cove. 1796 White population: 4,000. Political prisoner Thomas Muir escapes on American ship. Bushranger "Black Caesar" shot and killed. First theatre opens. 1797 Prospect, a western Sydney suburb, became the boundary between colonists and indigenous Australians. Hostility grew where a state of guerrilla warfare existed between indigenous people and the settler communities at Prospect and Parramatta.Collins, D., An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 1, Cadell and Davies, London, 1798. The aboriginal people were led by their leader, Pemulwuy, a member of the Bidjigal tribe who occupied the land.Willey, K., When the sky fell down : the destruction of the tribes of the Sydney region, 1788-1850s, Collins, Sydney, 1979 First windmill. First merino sheep brought from Cape of Good Hope by Captain Waterhouse. Three survivors of Sydney Cove shipwreck reach Sydney after walking from Gippsland. 1798 First church burns down. David Collins' An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales published in London. Arrival of London Missionary Society preacher Rowland Hassall. 1799 – Five men convicted of murdering two aboriginals on the Hawkesbury but not punished.
1800s–1840s 1800 – Hundreds of rebels of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 arrive as convicts. 1801 Female Orphan School first state charitable institution. Lieutenant Governor Paterson wounded by John Macarthur in a duel. 1802 Visit of Baudin's French exploratory expedition. Matthew Flinders departs Sydney on Investigator for circumnavigation of Australia, accompanied by Bungaree. Pemulwuy shot and killed. 1803 Sydney Gazette newspaper begins publication. First Vaucluse House built. First officially-permitted Catholic masses said by Fr Dixon. Masonic meeting broken up by order of the Governor. American brig Union stores thousands of sealskins from Bass Strait with Simeon Lord. 1804 Castle Hill convict rebellion Fort Phillip construction begins. 1805 – first whaling vessels based in Sydney. 1806 – Visit of Russian ship Neva en route to Alaska. 1807 Surveyor James Meehan draws detailed plan of Sydney Town. Merchant Robert Campbell establishes first shipbuilding yard at Kirribilli. 1808 – New South Wales Corps depose Governor Bligh in Rum Rebellion. 1810 Macquarie Street laid out and Hyde Park reserved as a public park. First post office opened, with Isaac Nichols postmaster. Liverpool founded. Maori chief Ruatara stays with Rev Samuel Marsden at Parramatta and prepares mission to New Zealand. 1811 Castle Hill Lunatic Asylum established. Mary Reibey inherits and expands the business interests of her husband Thomas Reibey. 1813 Crossing of Blue Mountains opens route from Sydney to west. Benevolent Society founded as charity for general purposes. First steam engine imported. Middles punched out of 40,000 Spanish dollars to create Holey dollar local coinage. 1814 – Native Institution established for education of black children. 1815 – Sydney connected to inland by Cox's Road over Blue Mountains. 1816 Macquarie revives annual Aboriginal Feast Day at Parramatta. Royal Botanic Gardens open. Sydney Hospital built. Cadmans Cottage built at The Rocks. 1817 Bank of New South Wales established. Construction of Fort Macquarie begun on Bennelong Point. Surveyor John Oxley departs to explore the Lachlan River. 1818 Macquarie Lighthouse operational. Arrival of John Shying, first known Chinese immigrant.
1819 Hyde Park Barracks built. Design of St James' Church commissioned from Francis Greenway. Visit of de Freycinet's French exploratory expedition. Land in north-western Sydney granted to aboriginal guides Colebee and Nurragingy. 14-year-old aboriginal girl at Parramatta wins first prize in school examinations. 1820 Devonshire Street Cemetery established. Deaths from flu epidemic. 1821 First Catholic church, St Mary's, begins construction. Philosophical Society (later Royal Society of New South Wales) founded. 1822 Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales founded. Bank of New South Wales cashier Francis Williams convicted of embezzling £12,000. 1823 – First Sydney Royal Easter Show held. 1824 St James' Church consecrated. Supreme Court of New South Wales proclaimed. The Australian newspaper begins publication. 1825 New South Wales Legislative Council established in Sydney. First known musical composition in Australia, Reichenberg's 'Australian Quadrilles'. 1826 Scots Church opened. Eliza Darling establishes the first friendly society, the Female Friendly Society of the Town of Sydney. Sydney Australian Subscription Library and Reading Room founded. Sydney Dispensary established to provide medicine and outpatient care for the poor. Visiting painter Augustus Earle paints portraits of leading citizens. 1827 – Australian Museum established. 1828 Thieves steal some £14,000 in Bank of Australia robbery. North Head begins use as quarantine station. 1831 Weekly Sydney Herald newspaper begins publication. The King's School, Parramatta founded. Land granted to indigenous woman Maria Lock and her white husband. 1833 Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts founded. Randwick Racecourse opened. Theatre Royal opened. Eight killed in explosion of brig Ann Jameson at King's Wharf. 1834 John Bede Polding appointed first Catholic bishop. Markets consolidated at Paddy's Markets site at Haymarket. Australian Union Benefit Society formed to support workers in distress. Commercial Banking Company of Sydney founded. 1835 – Tooth & Co build Kent Brewery at Blackwattle Creek. 1836 Visit of Charles Darwin on voyage of the Beagle. First Anglican bishop installed. Great North Road completed connecting Sydney to Hunter Valley. 1837 Government House and Botany-Sydney aqueduct built. James Mudie's The Felonry of New South Wales defames many leading citizens. 1838 Seven perpetrators of Myall Creek Massacre hanged. David Jones (shop) in business. Australian Club founded. 1839 Penal establishment for secondary punishment opened on Cockatoo Island. First ice imported to Sydney from Boston. 1840 Farmers & Co. in business. Visiting Maori chiefs' attempted sale of South Island to W.C. Wentworth and associates prevented by Governor Gipps. 1841 Caroline Chisholm establishes Female Immigrants Home Darlinghurst Gaol in operation. Scarlet fever epidemic. First photograph in Australia. Construction begun of Victoria Barracks in Paddington. Street gas lights turned on, supplied by Australian Gas Light Company 1842 City incorporated; city council elected. Area of city: 11.65 square kilometres (approximate). Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney established. 1843 Depth of depression with failures of Bank of Australia and Sydney Banking Company. Riot during campaign for first elected Legislative Council. 1844 – Hero of Waterloo Hotel built. 1846 Hero's welcome to Ludwig Leichhardt on his return from overland expedition to Port Essington. First Australian meat canning plant opened.