North Sydney is rich in Aboriginal culture and history. The original occupants of this region, the Cammeraygal, lived along the foreshores and in the bushland, cliffs and rock shelters prior to European settlement.

The foreshore areas of Balls Head and Berry Island have some of the finest examples of Aboriginal cultural sites on the lower north shore.

Some of North Sydney's earliest settlers were land grantees such as Billy Blue, James Milson and Edward Wollstonecraft. In 1828 the Surveyor General, Sir Thomas Mitchell, drew up a town plan for St. Leonards, as this area was once known.

North Sydney was originally laid out in 1836, at which time it was known as St Leonards. The first streets to be built were Walker, Miller, Berry and Lavender Streets. The township grew and by 1880, the town hall and the courthouse, both designed by James Barnet, were built.

In the 1880s houses were built, services and amenities were launched and transport introduced in the form of cable trams. In July 1890 the Boroughs of St. Leonard's, Victoria and East St. Leonards merged to form the Borough of North Sydney. This included the Mosman Ward which eventually separated in 1893 to form the Borough of Mosman.

In 1894, the Blacket-designed St Thomas’ Church was dedicated.

North Sydney continued to grow and develop leading into the turn of the new century. Its foreshores were home to boat building yards, ship engineering works, ferry depots, gas works and coal stores. As a major transport link to the CBD, the area also grew into a major commercial hub.

By the 1950s, however, this development was still relatively low scale and North Sydney was known as 'a collection of sleepy villages'. It now carries the title of being one of the nation's busiest commercial business districts.

The rapid development from the 1950s onwards, beginning with the building of the MLC building in Miller Street in 1957 and the subsequent construction of the Warringah Expressway in the 1960s, greatly affected the local community.

Today, North Sydney is a northern extension of the CBD, with office space occupied by graphic designers, publishers, advertising firms and the like.

North Sydney is enriched by the working harbour which is a source of constant interest, entertainment and of course, transport. It was always a place of mixed residential and commercial properties, featuring a range of housing types from small workers' cottages to harbourside mansions.

North Sydney’s history as both a residential and commercial centre has influenced the architecture. Miller and Walker Streets have both high-rise buildings and late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century architecture. Much of the Victorian architecture was lost to high-rise development in the late 1950s and 60s. There are still some excellent examples of Art Deco architecture. And, there are stylish boutique-block apartments.

North Sydney has thriving clusters of restaurants and cafés. For blood-red steaks and aged meats, try the firm favourite Armstrongs or for modern, contemporary food you can’t go past that other stalwart, Fare Go Gourmet. The Commodore Hotel has a bright, bistro serving up good food and there’s reliable Asian food to be found too. Deli-come-café, Finks Fabulous Foods, in nearby Waverton has sumptuous cakes, belly-warming soups and great sandwiches. There is also Enjoy Food in McMahons Point, which has imaginative, fresh food to eat in or take home.

North Sydney Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools are the state schools in the area. Nearby are Wenona Girls and Sydney Church of England Grammar (Shore) as well as Monte Sant’Angelo College. The Australian Catholic University and the Northern Sydney Institute of TAFE are also in the area.

The Independent Theatre on Miller Street is one of the older institutions in North Sydney. The building dates from 1900 when it was used as a tram shed. In 1909, it opened as a vaudeville theatre and in 1939, it became the Independent Theatre.

Despite its chequered history, and its uncertain future, Luna Park and its signature clown’s face entrance still survives under the shadow of the Harbour Bridge.

North Sydney Pool, on the site of the Dorman Long workshop, is a well-loved venue, popular with families and lap swimmers alike.

St Leonards Park, once home to the North Sydney Bears rugby league team, is another landmark in the area.

And, St Thomas Rest Park, the first burial ground on the North Shore, has many interesting graves and the 1847 Sexton’s Cottage.

Despite being home to thriving business districts, North Sydney retains a village-style atmosphere with local corner stores and village squares. Head to Greenwood Plaza for boutique shopping or picking up a few items for dinner - fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables, meat and deli items.

Knowledge-based industries such as computing, engineering, architecture and creative arts have clustered in North Sydney creating vibrant business districts.

The art deco styled North Sydney pool is the place to swim laps, relax in a sauna and spa or make use of a well-equipped gym. For families, the Civic Centre Park and Charlie Watts Park have modern playgrounds. St Leonards Park has a number of playing fields. There are also tennis courts in the area. You can also get fit indoors at the North Sydney Indoor Sports Centre.

If walking is more your pace, then a little further afield is the Cremorne Point foreshore walk. The Gadyan Track, a 750-metre, easy-grade bushland-walking track that loops around Berry Island, tells the stories and legends of the Cammeraygal. Gadyan is the Aboriginal name for the Sydney Cockle, a shellfish common in middens on the island.

Milson’s Point and North Sydney railway stations serve North Sydney. There are also bus connections to the CBD. You can also catch a ferry from Lavender Bay wharf or McMahons Point Wharf.

North Sydney is approximately 5.5km from the CBD.