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Sydney was founded by [[Arthur Phillip]], commander of [[Britain]]'s [[First Fleet]], on 26th January 1788 when he established the first European settlement on the continent at the site now known as Circular Quay.  Prior to this, lieutenant [[James Cook]] had visited Botany Bay (a few kilometres south of Sydney Harbour) in 1770 and later claimed the whole of the east coast of the continent - then known as [[New Holland]] - for the British Crown, coining the name [[New South Wales]].  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 was founded by [[Arthur Phillip]], commander of [[Britain]]'s [[First Fleet]], on 26th January 1788 when he established the first European settlement on the continent at the site now known as Circular Quay.  Prior to this, lieutenant [[James Cook]] had visited Botany Bay (a few kilometres south of Sydney Harbour) in 1770 and later claimed the whole of the east coast of the continent - then known as [[New Holland]] - for the British Crown, coining the name [[New South Wales]].  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.

==Modern Sydney==

==Contemporary Sydney==

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]].