The original inhabitants of the area around Sydney Cove (now known as Circular Quay) were the Gadigal clan of the Eora nation. These people lived in harmony with their surroundings, living a life of plenty, through fishing, hunting and gathering.

Archaeological finds have them living in this area for up to 60,000 years prior to the First Fleet arrival.

On 26 January 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip sailed into Port Jackson with the 11 ships that made up the First Fleet. He had chosen this cove as there was a fresh water stream flowing into the harbour here which was later named the Tank Stream. After mooring the ships in Sydney Cove (now know as Circular Quay) they came ashore and put up the British Flag claiming the land.

The land around Sydney Cove was cleared of its native bushland. Convicts were made to work cutting sandstone to build houses and commercial buildings. They also created the stone work around the shoreline and to turn it from mudflats to a semi circular shape. Sydney Cove was now renamed Semi-circular Quay, later shortened to Circular Quay.

Look carefully at the picture. Can you still see the tank stream?

In the early 1800s the land to the West of the Blue Mountains was opened up for sheep farming which lead to large shipments of wool leaving for England.

Circular Quay became an important shipping hub with many wool stores built along the edge of the harbour.

Circular Quay became too small for the number of ships now needed for trade so shipping was moved to Darling Harbour.

It was now a busy transport hub of a different kind with trams and hansom cabs (horse drawn carriages) running from the centre of Sydney, giving people easy access to ferries.

Today, Circular Quay has a large international passenger terminal which allows for more than 350 large cruise ships to dock each year.

It is also the main terminal for ferries to different parts of the harbour and a busy train station connecting travellers to the rest of Sydney. The Rocks is an important tourist area with lots of old houses and warehouses turned into tourist shops, offices and hotels.

View the film clip to see how Sydney Cove has changed over time.