Did you know? · Sydney
Sydney fun facts
Things you might not know about Sydney. Every fact comes from an official or primary source, named alongside it.
Updated November 2026
Three World Heritage sites in the harbour city
UNESCO lists the Sydney Opera House, inaugurated in 1973, and two of the eleven Australian Convict Sites: Hyde Park Barracks and Cockatoo Island. Around 166,000 men, women and children were transported to Australia between 1787 and 1868, UNESCO notes. West of the city, the Greater Blue Mountains Area covers 1.03 million hectares.
The world’s second-oldest national park
Royal National Park, south of the city, was established in 1879; NPWS calls it the world’s second-oldest national park. Ku-ring-gai Chase, to the north, is Australia’s second-oldest.
The steepest passenger railway
Scenic World’s Scenic Railway at Katoomba descends at a 52° incline; Scenic World calls it the steepest passenger railway in the world.
A swimming club of 1929
The Bondi Icebergs Club was founded in 1929; it calls itself the only licensed swimming club in the world.
40,000 women
Hyde Park Barracks became Sydney’s female Immigration Depot in 1848, temporarily housing an estimated 40,000 women over its 38 years (Museums of History NSW).
Questions and answers
How many UNESCO World Heritage sites are in Sydney?
Three: the Sydney Opera House, Hyde Park Barracks and Cockatoo Island; the Greater Blue Mountains Area lies just to the west.