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[[Image:Sydney.jpg|thumb|The Sydney Skyline.]]

[[Image:Sydney.jpg|thumb|The Sydney Skyline.]]

Sydney was founded by Arthur Phillip, commander of [[Britain]]'s [[First Fleet]], in 1788 when he established the first European settlement on the contintent at the site now known as Circular Quay.  Prior to this, [[Captain Cook]] had visited Botany Bay (a few kilometres south of Sydney Harbour) in 1770 and claimed the area for the British Crown, coining the name [[New South Wales]] for the area.  After the [[American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence]], [[Britain]] decided it needed to establish new colonies to which it could send its growing number of convicts.  Thus the plan to despatch a fleet to [[New South Wales]] was drawn up.  Arriving at Botany Bay, Phillip soon recognised that the site was unsuitable for a colony due to the lack of fresh water.  The fleet moved on to [[Sydney Harbour]], which was more suitable.  Phillip named the harbour Port Jackson, which remains the official name.

Sydney was founded by Arthur Phillip, commander of [[Britain]]'s [[First Fleet]], in 1788 when he established the first European settlement on the continent at the site now known as Circular Quay.  Prior to this, [[Captain Cook]] had visited Botany Bay (a few kilometres south of Sydney Harbour) in 1770 and claimed the area for the British Crown, coining the name [[New South Wales]] for the area.  After the [[American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence]], [[Britain]] decided it needed to establish new colonies to which it could send its growing number of convicts.  Thus the plan to dispatch a fleet to [[New South Wales]] was drawn up.  Arriving at Botany Bay, Phillip soon recognised that the site was unsuitable for a colony due to the lack of fresh water.  The fleet moved on to [[Sydney Harbour]], which was more suitable.  Phillip named the harbour Port Jackson, which remains the official name.

Sydney's metropolitan area has about 4.3 million inhabitants and ranks 67 in the world. Sydney is the 9th largest urban area on [[Earth]] in size (12.100 km²), spreading over 300 different [[suburb]]s. It is about the same size as [[Los Angeles]] in area, but has only about a third its [[population]].  

Sydney's metropolitan area has about 4.3 million inhabitants and ranks 67 in the world. Sydney is the 9th largest urban area on [[Earth]] in size (12.100 km²), spreading over 300 different [[suburb]]s. It is about the same size as [[Los Angeles]] in area, but has only about a third its [[population]].