The Origins of Sydney's Name and Its Aboriginal Heritage

The Origins of Sydney's Name and Its Aboriginal Heritage

The Origins of Sydney's Name and Its Aboriginal Heritage

Posted by on


In 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip, the first governor of New South Wales, named the cove where the first British settlement was established as Sydney Cove, in honor of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, who was the Home Secretary at the time. The area, however, was originally known as Warrane by the Aboriginal inhabitants, specifically the Gadigal (or Cadigal) clan, who lived along the southern shore of Port Jackson.

While Captain Phillip briefly considered naming the settlement Albion, the name Sydney quickly became the common reference, and by 1790, it was firmly established as the name of the growing township. Sydney officially became a city in 1842, marking its transition into the thriving metropolis it is today.

The Gadigal clan, traditional owners of the land that includes Sydney Cove, call their ancestral land Gadi (or Cadi). Many Aboriginal clan names in the Sydney region were formed by adding the suffix "-gal," derived from the word for their territory, specific landmarks, food sources, or totems. The city of Sydney covers the traditional lands of 28 known Aboriginal clans, each with its own unique cultural heritage and connection to the land.

Sydney’s toponymy reflects a rich history, blending its colonial past with the deep-rooted traditions of the Indigenous peoples who have inhabited the region for thousands of years.