Sydney is so much more than just a pretty place.

That awesome harbourside was the drop-off point 224 years ago for what was basically a bunch of convicts and their minders. None of them had much idea of what they would find here, or how they would survive. They almost didn’t!

Using this guide you’ll go from the heights of an Eiffel Tower look-alike to the depths of an ancient watercourse flowing under the city. You’ll find out how you can dine in a horse-drawn carriage, rub a pig’s snout for luck, or down a pint in this town’s oldest pub.

Perhaps along the way you’ll see Sydney’s first international airport (and no, it’s not the one you think), catch sight of a memorial to a cat, or maybe stop for a drink in the bar that was once a church for seamen.

Uncover this vibrant city’s fascinating past and see for yourself. In the 200-plus years since white settlement it’s experienced glory and gore, plagues, punishment and pleasures.

 

There are ghosts too (we’re told!) and there are some fascinating things to learn. Check the Fun Fact highlighted in red at the end of each entry for the ideal piece of trivia to tweet and email, or drop into your next conversation.

Hardly anything is what it seems in Sydney. The Town Hall was once a cemetery, an air raid shelter was built in the basement of a city hotel during World War II, and a grand house helped save the life of Queen Victoria’s son after an assassination attempt.

Convicts, saints, stars and colonists – this city has it all. And more. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, you’ll be amazed what you can unearth here.

There are over 130 entries crammed with interesting facts about places you might otherwise walk past without noticing. Each is accompanied by  photographs, a map, transport details and much more. Search by location or category – or simply see what is nearby where you are right now!

There’s something to see at every turn. Keep your eyes open and please let us know your discoveries too. This city is for all of us!

This app is living proof that history doesn’t need to be boring.

Sally Hammond, the author, loves Sydney and she wants everyone to know why.

Sally has lived in this city for over thirty years and for much of that time, as a fulltime food and travel writer, she has written about it, driven around its streets and suburbs, and enjoyed the fantastic things it has to offer.

She has written many guide books about different sides of this city – ranging from dining to schools and bargain shopping. In 2011 she and her husband Gordon released the popular Sydney Café Culture application with Sutro, now covering over 330 cafes.

However it was only while preparing this application that she gained a fixation with brass plaques!

“This city is well marked for visitors interested in learning what lies beneath their feet and behind the façade of those stately old buildings,” she says. “I just hope that people using this application have as much fun with it as I did when researching.”

Sydney’s Living History

iPhone and iPad app – available on iTunes App Store see

http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/sydneys-living-history/id540205443?mt=8 ($4.49)

App for Android phones and tablets: http://sutromedia.com/android/Sydneys_Living_History ($4.09)

Pin It
Email