The Architecture and Buildings of Sydney are not characterised by any one architectural style, having accumulated and developed over its 200 year history.Under early nineteenth-century the tenure of Governor Lachlan Macquarie, the works of Francis Greenway were the first substantial buildings for the fledgling colony. Later prominent styles were the Victorian buildings of the city centre created out of local Hawkesbury sandstone, and the turn of the century Federation style in the new garden suburbs of the time. With the lifting of height restrictions in the post-World War II years, much of central Sydney's older stock of architecture was demolished to make way for modernist high rise buildings; a number of the most notable new buildings were designed by Harry Seidler.
Listed below are examples of prominent architectural styles in the Sydney Central Business district and the surrounding suburbs.
Gothic revival
* Government House, Bennelong Point
* St Philip's Church, Clarence Street
* Bishopscourt, Greenoaks Avenue, Darling Point
* The Abbey, Johnston Street, Annandale
* Gladeswood House, 11 Gladeswood Gardens, Double Bay
* St John's Church, Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst
Georgian
* Durham Hall, Albion Street, Surry Hills
* Cleveland House, Bedford Street, Surry Hills
* Waimea, Waimea Avenue, Woollahra
* Judge's House, 531 Kent Street
* Juniper Hall, Oxford Street and Ormond Street, Paddingto
Classical
* Customs House, Alfred Street, Circular Quay
* General Post Office, Martin Place
* Lands Department, Bridge Street
* Art Gallery of New South Wales, Domain
* Library of New South Wales, Macquarie Street
* Australian Museum, College Street
* Darlinghurst Court House, Taylor Square
Romanesque
* Queen Victoria Building, George Street
* Church of St John, Bishopthorpe, St John's Road, Glebe
* Societe Generale House, 348 George Street
* Burns Philp and Company building, Bridge Street
* St Andrew's Church, 56 Raglan Street, Manly
Federation/Edwardian
* Pyrmont Fire Station, Gipps Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road, Pyrmont
* YMCA, 325 Pitt Street
* Former ANZ Bank, 52 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
* Former hotel, 2-4 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo
* Hotel building, 225 George Street
* Commercial Building, 161 Sussex Street
* Post Office, King Street and Erskineville Road, Newtown
* Homes, Appian Way, Burwood
* Homes, 388-396 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra
* Commercial building, 469 Oxford Street, Paddington
Second Empire
* Sydney Town Hall, George Street
* Downing Centre (former Mark Foy building), Liverpool Street
Queen Anne
* Westmaling, Penshurst Avenue, Penshurst
* Caerleon, Ginahgulla Road, Bellevue Hill
* Homes, Appian Way, Burwood
Contemporary Architecture
Internationally, the Sydney Opera House is the most recognised symbol of Sydney and one of the most distinctive pieces of Sydney architecture.