The history of Sydney Harbour in brief
Sydney Harbour is also called Port Jackson. Its human story did not begin with the First Fleet. Aboriginal peoples lived on the shores long before, and their names for places are still used today. The British colony was founded at Sydney Cove, known as Warrane, inside the harbour. The Harbour Bridge followed in 1932.
This page gives the main dates and the places where you can still see them. The harbour is a place to visit as well as read about. A harbour cruise passes most of the sites below, and the harbour walks reach the old gun positions at South Head.
First Nations Country
Names, clans and care with the words.
South and north shores
The Gadigal people, also written Cadigal, are linked to the south side of Port Jackson. The Gamaragal, also written Cammeraygal, are linked to the north side. Spellings and borders vary. The harbour is therefore not the Country of one group alone, and it is better to use local clan names than a single label.
The name Guringai
The name Guringai is sometimes used as a collective term for the north side of Sydney. It was coined by a researcher in 1892, and the borders behind it are uncertain. Use it with care and prefer the names of the clans for a particular place.
Place names today
Several harbour places keep their Aboriginal names. Cockatoo Island is Wareamah, Fort Denison is Muddawahnyuh and Shark Island is Boowambillee. Sydney Cove is Warrane. Burragula and Yiningma are names for the lookouts at North Head.
Experiences led by First Nations guides
The Burrawa Aboriginal Climb on the Harbour Bridge includes a First Nations storyteller. It starts from A$375 for adults, takes 3 hours and reaches the summit.
Bridge Climb options →Our pick: sail on a tall ship
Our take: a ship built in the style of the 1850s gives a feel for the harbour's sailing past.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sydney Harbour tours and day trips
Cruises, island visits and bridge tours that pass the historic sites, with live prices and availability.
Timeline: 1787 to 1932
Key dates for the harbour.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 13 May 1787 | The First Fleet of 11 ships leaves England |
| 18 January 1788 | The fleet arrives at Botany Bay |
| 26 January 1788 | The fleet reaches Port Jackson under Arthur Phillip |
| 1840s | Military buildings on Fort Denison, then known as Pinchgut Island |
| July 1923 | Work begins on the approaches to the Harbour Bridge |
| 26 March 1925 | Foundation stone laid for the main structure |
| 26 October 1928 | Construction of the arch begins |
| 19 August 1930 | The two halves of the arch meet |
| 19 March 1932 | The bridge opens |
For most readers, the dates of 1788 and 1932 are enough to place the harbour in time. The longer story of the First Nations peoples sits before the first row of this table.
The First Fleet and Sydney Cove
From Botany Bay to Warrane.
The First Fleet left England on 13 May 1787 with 11 ships. It reached Botany Bay on 18 January 1788. Governor Arthur Phillip then moved the fleet to Port Jackson, where it arrived on 26 January 1788. The British settlement was placed at Sydney Cove, the place known as Warrane.
Sydney Cove is the arrival point of the colony. It is not the start of the harbour's history. Circular Quay now sits on this cove, and the ferries and cruise boats leave from it. For the Opera House and The Rocks nearby, see the history of the Sydney Opera House.
Islands and forts
Where the harbour's defences and prisons stood.
Fort Denison
The small island was once called Pinchgut Island. Military building took place there in the 1840s. Fort Denison is closed to visitors for the whole of 2026 for conservation work, so there are no tours or landings this year.
Harbour islands →Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island, or Wareamah, holds a convict site that is a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as a historic dockyard. Day entry is free, and the island is open daily with the visitor centre open from 10:00 to 16:00. Public ferries F3 and F8 go there.
South Head
The South Head Heritage trail is a 1 km loop of 30 to 60 minutes. It passes Hornby Lighthouse and historic gun positions, with views over the harbour and the ocean.
Watsons Bay guide →The Harbour Bridge
Nine years from the first work to the opening.
The whole project ran from 1923 to 1932. Work on the approaches began in July 1923. The foundation stone for the main structure was laid on 26 March 1925, and the arch itself was built from 26 October 1928. The two halves met on 19 August 1930, and the bridge opened on 19 March 1932. The bridge was built between 1923 and 1932, and the arch itself was under construction from 1928.
The arch spans 503 m and its highest point is 134 m above sea level. The total length with the approaches is 1,149 m, the deck is 49 m wide and the pylons are 89 m high. In 2026, the pylon museum became the BridgeMuseum. See the Harbour Bridge guide for the walk, the cycleway and the museum.
See the history today
Three ways to put the dates into places.
Sydney Harbour history: frequently asked questions
Whose Country is Sydney Harbour?
The Gadigal people are linked to the south side of Port Jackson and the Gamaragal to the north side. Spellings and borders vary, so the harbour is not the Country of one group alone.
When did the First Fleet arrive?
The 11 ships left England on 13 May 1787, reached Botany Bay on 18 January 1788 and arrived in Port Jackson on 26 January 1788.
When was the Harbour Bridge built?
The whole project ran from 1923 to 1932. The arch was built from 26 October 1928, the two halves met on 19 August 1930 and the bridge opened on 19 March 1932.
What was Fort Denison called before?
It was called Pinchgut Island. Military building took place in the 1840s. The island is closed to visitors in 2026.
Is this the official history of Sydney Harbour?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not run by or connected to any museum, heritage body, government agency or tour operator.