Sydney ( actually Botany Bay, some 45 Kms south of the City of Sydney) was where Englishman
Captain James Cook, Captain of Her Majesty's ship "H.M.S. Endeavour", a small British sailing 
vessel, first landed with his bunch of "tourists or pirates" on the east coast of Australia in 1770.


A Plaque bearing his name and commemorating the names of some of the others who shared
this "epic" voyage of discovery, are also indicated on this plaque, which is located at on a rocky 
beach at Kurnell, a Sydney waterside suburb situated on the southern side of beautiful Botany bay.


Captain James Cook, realising that good drinking water was vital for his crew's survival 
and crucial to the success in the starting of a British Colony, decided to "press on" in 
search of a more satisfactory water supply as well as food and to invade the natives.
 

He sailed the "Endeavour" further north, into what is now know as SYDNEY Harbour or more 
rightly named Port Jackson, the picturesque harbour port that is Sydney and found a cove 
with good source of drinking water from a stream, this cove is today known as Circular 
Quay (pron: Kee). It is there he met with the first inhabitants and owners of this land.
The Australian Aboriginal people, have inhabited this fair land for at least 60,000 years
some argue it is perhaps closer to 100,000 years .... what ever your view, they own it.


It was here Cook named this source of fresh water the " Tank Stream ". In only a short 
few months this pristine source of fresh water became polluted, why does that not surprise 
you ? it seems where ever man goes, he pollutes..and since its closure to the public 1989 , 
the Tank stream cannot be visited without special arrangements with Sydney Water and the 
National Trust and underground methane proof breathing apparatus and that is truly sad !
 


The Tank Stream still passes under many large institutions such as the Commonwealth Bank
in Martin Place, Sydney and several other major Financial institutions, however it now sadly
serves as a " storm water drainage corridor" under the City of CBD Sydney Central Business 
District, that's progress for you !


With the passing of just over 229 years since 1770, Sydney has grown from those humble 
beginnings to a city of diverse cultures and has a multicultural population of just over 
4 Million people. Sydney's overall size has increased and  would  measure from north to 
south approx. 95 Kms and east to the far west, approx. 70 Kms. It appears flying over.



Sydney was the host city for the splendid Year 2000 Olympics, The best ever Olympics according 
to Mr Juan Samaranch, these were held at the refurbished Sydney suburb of Homebush Bay .


The Olympics Complex was completed on time and on budget and was indeed a true engineering 
marvel and a credit to all involved, for their design and engineering skills, the pleasing aesthetics 
in architecture and construction, a job  "well done" and a crowning achievement to be truly proud of !.