The original name of the land now known as Darling Harbour is Tambalong, in Dharag language. Darling Harbour is named after
Lieutenant-General Ralph Darling, who was
Governor of New South Wales from 1825 to 1831. The area was originally known as Long Cove, but was generally referred to as Cockle Bay until 1826 when Governor Darling renamed it after himself. The name Cockle Bay has recently been restored in reference to the headwaters of the harbour. It was originally part of the commercial port of Sydney, including the
Darling Harbour Railway Goods Yard. During the
Great Depression, the eastern part of Darling Harbour (
Barangaroo) became known as
The Hungry Mile, a reference to the waterside workers searching for jobs along the wharves. Much of the land had been the site of the NSW Railways central marshalling yards and freight consolidation centre. The Enquiry into the NSW industry, including rail/road competition (1978–80), under Commissioner
Gavan McDonell, found that this centre was inefficient, should be moved, and the land used for other public purposes. These recommendations were acted upon and by the mid-to-late 1980s, when the area had become largely derelict it was redeveloped as a pedestrian and tourist precinct as an initiative of then New South Wales Minister for Public Works,
Laurie Brereton. The
Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour was a venue of the
2000 Summer Olympic Games and a key meeting venue of
APEC Australia 2007. spans the width of the harbour (demolished in 2023) at right, and under-construction
The Ribbon at left. On 26 January 1994,
Charles III then Prince of Wales, was giving a speech during the Australia Day celebrations.
David Kang ran at the Prince whilst firing two blanks before falling onto the ground and being promptly held and arrested. The Prince was unhurt and was ushered off the podium. == Heritage listings ==