About this tour
A two-hour walking tour through Sydney's Macquarie Street and The Rocks that centres the women whose actions rebuilt and redirected the city's trajectory. Led by She Shapes History, you'll uncover stories of publicans, nurses, writers, and Chinese migrants whose agency shaped neighbourhoods and institutions—the people absent from most Sydney history. This tour asks the uncomfortable question: where do women actually appear in this city's past?
Highlights
- Walk Macquarie Street and The Rocks with a local guide
- Learn about female pub owners who ran thriving businesses
- Discover Chinese women's resistance and community-building
- Hear stories of nurses and writers who changed Sydney
- Explore heritage buildings preserved by women activists
- Step beyond the standard colonial narrative
What to expect
You'll cover familiar Sydney geography—Macquarie Street to The Rocks—but through an entirely different lens. Your guide will stop at specific corners and buildings where women made measurable decisions: opening businesses, defending heritage, organising communities. The pace is slow enough to take in each location properly. You're not ticking boxes; you're building a more honest picture of how the city actually developed. Expect to challenge assumptions about who 'built' Sydney.
Good to know
Prams and strollers welcome. Service animals permitted. Public transport stops nearby. Flat walking routes suitable for all fitness levels. Wear comfortable shoes and check the weather.
Frequently asked
- How long does Badass Women of Sydney: Meet the Women Who Shaped the City take?
- Badass Women of Sydney: Meet the Women Who Shaped the City runs for approximately 2 hours.
- How much does Badass Women of Sydney: Meet the Women Who Shaped the City cost?
- Prices start from AUD $60 per person. Final pricing varies by date, group size and any add-ons — confirmed at checkout via Viator.
- Where does Badass Women of Sydney: Meet the Women Who Shaped the City run?
- This tour operates around Australia. Specific meeting points and pickup options are listed by the operator at checkout.
- Who runs Badass Women of Sydney: Meet the Women Who Shaped the City?
- The tour is sold and operated by its supplier through Viator. The Australian Explorer earns a small commission on bookings made via the link, which keeps this site free for travellers.
- Is the tour confirmed at the listed price?
- The price shown is the operator's "from" price as of our last sync. Final price, currency conversion, group discounts and cancellation policy are confirmed at checkout — always review before paying.
Tour sold and operated by its supplier via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original The Australian Explorer summaries, not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.