A small Bit of history......

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 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 Kurnel, a Sydney waterside suburb situated on the southern side of 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.

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 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.

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 " stormwater drainage corridor" under the City of 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.

Sydney was the host city for the spendid 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, 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 !.