Sydney is the
state capital of
New South Wales and the
most populous city in
Australia. It is located on Australia's south-east coast of the
Tasman Sea. Inhabitants of Sydney are called Sydneysiders. Sydney is the site of the first
British colony in Australia, which was established in 1788 at
Sydney Cove by
Arthur Phillip, commodore of the
First Fleet, as a
penal colony. The city is built on the hills surrounding
Port Jackson which is commonly known as Sydney Harbour, where the iconic
Sydney Opera House and the
Harbour Bridge feature prominently. The hinterland of the metropolitan area is surrounded by
national parks, and the coastal regions feature many bays, rivers, inlets and
beaches including the famous
Bondi Beach and
Manly Beach