25 Kickass and Interesting Facts About Sydney

Sydney though not capital of Australia is one of the most iconic Australian cities. With more than 50 beaches, Sydney is a popular tourist destination. Here are 25 Kickass and Interesting Facts About Sydney

1-5 Interesting Facts About Sydney

1. Just as the ribbon was about to be cut on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932, a man in military uniform rode up on a horse, slashing the ribbon with his sword and opening it in the name of the people of New South Wales before the official ceremony even began. He was later arrested. – Source

2. After phasing out the Australian 1 and 2 cent coins in 1991, they were melted down and used in the Sydney 2000 Olympics as Bronze Medals. – Source

3. The Sydney Funnel-web spider has fangs larger than a brown snake’s fangs. They are large enough to penetrate human toe and finger nails easily. Human death has also been known to occur within 15 minutes of its bite.

4. Manly Beach in Sydney was named after the English founder of the city was impressed by the indigenous inhabitants’ “manly behaviour.” – Source

5. Dolph Lundgren (Gunner from The Expendables) was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to MIT, but refused to attend in order to be Grace Jones’ (singer) bodyguard. He has a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney as rightfully mentioned in Expendables 2. – Source

6-10 Interesting Facts About Sydney

1. In the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, a veterinary student named Barry Larkin, protested against the torch relay by carrying a fake flame, consisting of a pair of underpants set on fire in a plum pudding can, attached to a chair leg. He successfully managed to hand over the fake flame to the mayor of Sydney. – Source

2. An order for extra 20,000 condoms had to be placed after running out of the initial 70,000 during the 2000 Sydney games for the athletes. Since then, an order of 100,000 condoms is the norm. – Source

3. Jørn Utzon, who designed the Sydney Opera House was forced off the project and never returned to see his dream completed.

4. If all the shells on the Sydney Opera House were combined, they would form a perfect sphere. – Source

5. Canberra (the Australian capital) was “built” in 1908 just because Sydney and Melbourne both wanted to be the capital of Australia.

11-15 Interesting Facts About Sydney

1. A 102 year-old SS Ayrfield ship used during WWII as a transport ship was brought to Homebush Bay in Sydney in 1972 to be dismantled. However, the plans didn’t go through and 41 years later, the SS Ayrfield has transformed into a floating forest. – Source

2. While playing cricket for Australia, David Boon is said to have consumed 52 cans of beer on a flight from Sydney to London in 1989. – Source

3. In Sydney, they have an annual Duck Fashion Show. – Source

4. There is an event in Sydney called “The Festival of Dangerous Ideas” – Source

5. Each one of the 10,154 Pipes of the Grand Organ in the Sydney Opera House are named. – Source

16-20 Interesting Facts About Sydney

1. In 1957, 10 Sydney University students dressed as pirates boarded an American War Ship. Via the PA system. “Now hear this! The U.S.S. Bennington has been captured by Sydney University pirates!” Alarms for general quarters, atomic and chemical attacks were sounded, arousing the crew from their bunks.[6] Marines escorted the students off the ship. No charges were filed – Source

2. In the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, the Spanish team competing in Basketball for the Intellectually Disabled actually consisted of players who were not disabled. They went on to win the gold but were later exposed, leading to tightening of the criterion and the checks. – Source

3. A man in Suburban Sydney house made a new nation called the Principality of Wy. It is also known as the “The Artists Principality.” – Source

4. To prevent local species from eating cane toads, the University of Sydney developed a sausage that combines the toad’s meat with a nausea-inducing chemical. – Source

5. If a party gets more than 4% of the total first preference votes in a division or state/territory, the candidate or party gets $2.48 per vote. – Source

21-25 Interesting Facts About Sydney

1. In 2010 a group of 4 men attempted to ride their jet ski from London to Sydney (31,000 km). They reached Greece (8,000 km) before they ran into bad weather on Mediterranean Sea and had their Jet Skis submerged, forcing them to call Greek’s coastguard for rescue.

2. NFL once played a game in Sydney, Australia and it was attended by an audience of 74,000. – Source

3. The above ground section of railtrack between Bondi Junction and Edgecliff was meant to be Woollhara Station. – Source

4. Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s performance at the 2000 Olympics was pre-recorded by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. – Source

5. “Fat Man”, the atomic bomb detonated on Nagasaki, was so named after Kasper Gutman, Sydney Greenstreet’s villainous character in “The Maltese Falcon”. – Source