Sydney's hidden waterways - History Week 2025: Water Stories

Sydney's hidden waterways

Sydney is surrounded and defined by water: the ocean beyond the heads, the briny harbour, the freshwater river system and wetlands further inland.

History Week’s theme Water Stories offers us the opportunity to consider Sydney Harbour as a drowned river valley and how this estuarine waterway and the freshwater rivers, creeks and streams that run into it, have shaped the environment, people and its development into a modern city.

Join the city historian Laila Ellmoos and principal engineer, environment and water Stuart McTaggart, and Sydney D’harawal saltwater knowledge keeper, educator and artist Shannon Foster for a lunchtime panel discussion about the history of Sydney’s waters and wetlands and how these seen and unseen bodies of water have been managed, shared or withheld over time.

We aim to present inclusive and accessible events. If you have any particular access or communication needs please contact Jana Hawkins-Andersen, programs coordinator on 02 9265 9333 or jhawkinsandersen@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Cost: $Free

Where: Barnet Long room, Customs House, 31 Alfred St Sydney 2000

Organised by: City of Sydney

Link: https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/history-week-exploring-sydneys-hidden-waterways

Image credits: Plan of survey showing portion of Shea's Creek, undated (City of Sydney Archives, A-00545041)

The History Council of NSW is supported by a grant from the NSW Government through Create NSW.