History week: 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

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