City of Sydney- A Snapshot

Location

• Sydney is located 33 degrees 55' south of the equator with similar latitude to Cape Town and Buenos Aires in the Southern Hemisphere, and Los Angeles, Casablanca and Beirut in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The City of Sydney is the local government area for Central Sydney. It includes the Central Business District (CBD), The Rocks, Millers Point, Dawes Point, Chippendale, Ultimo and Pyrmont, Glebe and Forest lodge, Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay, Elizabeth Bay, Darlinghurst, the University of Sydney, Darling Harbour, the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and parts of Surry Hills.

Area

• Sydney Metropolitan is one of the largest cities in the world in terms of area. Reaching across 4000 square kilometres, it is equal in size to London and almost double that of New York City.
• Beyond this built-up area there are a further 8000 square kilometres of largely natural parklands which make up the Sydney Statistical division.
• Within this, the City of Sydney local government area (LGA) spans approximately 26.15 square kilometres, including the Central Business District (CBD).

Climate

• Sydney's mean summer temperature is 23 degrees Celsius.
• Sydney's mean winter temperature is 12 degrees Celsius.

Population

• Approximately one-in-five Australians or 4 million people live in the Sydney Metropolitan area.
• The estimated residential population of the City of Sydney local government area is rapidly approaching 150,000 people (June 2004).
• Sydney is one of the most multicultural cities in the world with people from 180 nations, speaking 140 languages.
• The working population of the City of Sydney at June 2004 is estimated at 348,000.

Tourism

• Sydney is the most popular tourist destination in Australia, attracting 4 million visitors annually.
• In 2002, there was a record 7 million 'guest-night' stays in the City of Sydney, an average of approximately 20,000 per night.
• Sydney was voted "Best City" for three consecutive years (1998-2000) by two leading international travel publications.
• Sydney was host to the '"best ever" Olympic Games in 2000.

Tallest Structure

• The communication spire of Sydney's Centrepoint Tower is 305 metres above street level.

Tallest Commercial Building

• The MLC Building is 226 metres above street level.

Tallest Residential Buildings

• Century Tower is 158 metres above street level.
• The proposed World Tower development is 232 metres above street level.

Oldest Buildings

• The Mint Building on Macquarie Street (1815).
• Cadman's Cottage at The Rocks (1816).