Campbells Cove - Merchant Stores and Cruise Ships

A stop on Sydney Harbour: Rocks to Opera House, a free self-guided tour.

You're beside Campbell's Stores, the long row of brick and sandstone warehouses on the little bay named Campbells Cove. Merchant Robert Campbell began his wharf and storehouse business on this point in 1801, often called the first privately owned wharf in Australia. The warehouses you see were built in stages from about 1850 to 1861 as bonded stores, where imported goods waited until duty was paid. Today they're restaurants and bars.

Just north, under the bridge, is Dawes Point, which the Gadigal call Tar-ra. In 1788 marine officer William Dawes set up the colony's first observatory there. He also befriended a young Gadigal woman, Patyegarang, who taught him her language, and his notebooks remain one of the most important records of the Sydney language.

And right beside you is the Overseas Passenger Terminal, where the cruise ships dock in the heart of the city. If you sailed in, this is your front door.

Getting here: Return down the Bridge Stairs, then follow the streets downhill toward the water and Hickson Road to the waterfront at Campbells Cove; about 10 minutes.

Did you know?: William Dawes refused at first to join a punitive raid against Aboriginal people in 1790, defying Governor Phillip's direct orders, and later publicly regretted having been persuaded to go.

Photo op: From the boardwalk, frame the arches of Campbell's Stores with the Harbour Bridge soaring above them.

More on Wikipedia: Campbell's Stores · Dawes Point · William Dawes · Overseas Passenger Terminal

Campbells Cove - Merchant Stores and Cruise Ships

Stops on this tour