Sydney Cove

Sydney Cove

Sydney Cove (GPS: -33.8685, 151.2198) is the cove or small bay between Dawes Point and Bennelong Point. This was the site of the earliest British settlement in Australia, selected by Captain Arthur Phillip between 21 and 23 January 1788, for the British penal settlement that eventually grew into the city of Sydney.

Captain Phillip, who became the first Governor of New South Wales, had declared the possession of New South Wales on 26 January, 1788, now commemorated as Australia Day. He named the cove after Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, the then British Home Secretary.

Captain Phillip had in fact been instructed to create the penal settlement at Botany Bay, further to the south, and even had the recommendation from eminent botanist Sir Joseph Banks. However he found that Botany Bay did not offer a secure anchorage nor a good source of fresh water, both of which were available at Sydney Cove.

Today Sydney Cove is rimmed by The Rocks to the west, Circular Quay to the south and the Sydney Opera House to the east.

Sydney Cove is on the Map of Sydney, Australia

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