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The iconic Aussie actor is often seen on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Several areas, including The Rocks and Woolloomooloo, were saved from developers’ wrecking balls in the 1970s. Fortunately for Sydney’s future, the Builders’ Labourers Federation imposed “Green Bans” on projects that clearly threatened environmen- tally or historically significant buildings and precincts.

After observing the Transit of Venus in Tahiti for the Royal Society, Captain James Cook was instructed by the British Admiralty in 1769 to discover and claim the “Great South Continent”. He arrived at Botany Bay on 28 April 1770.

Captain James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour came ashore at what is now Botany Bay on 28 April 1770. On 6 May, the Endeavour took on fresh water, weighed anchor and headed north. They soon passed the entrance to a harbour which appeared to offer safe anchorage, which Captain Cook named Port Jackson; it subsequently came to be known as Sydney Harbour.

By Sumner Locke Elliot. A 1930s orphan resists his aunt’s efforts to adopt him.

She arrived from Madras in 1838 to establish much-needed services for poor immigrant women.

With increasingly more citizens calling for reconciliation between black and white Australia, many rose to their feet when champion Aboriginal runner Cathy Freeman lit the Olympic flame to signal the start of the first Olympic Games of the new millennium in September 2000.

Landing at Collins Beach (see Circular Quay) in 1790, Governor Phillip and his officers met a group of Aborigines including Bennelong (see Sydney Opera House). An Eora man, never having seen white men before, speared Phillip through the shoulder. Assuming the man had misunderstood his intentions, Philip made no reprisal – that time.

By Dymphna Cusack and Florence James. A group of Sydney women are thrown into turmoil during WWII.

Housed in the historic Belvoir Street Theatre, this company deserves its great reputation for producing sharp contemporary theatre. Its edgy shows are always popular, particularly with the young, hip crowd, so get in early for tickets. The company is temporarily based at the Seymour Centre until late 2006.