Greater Sydney Explained

Greater Sydney is the most populous metropolitan area in Australia and Oceania, located in the state of New South Wales. Based around Sydney itself (the state capital of New South Wales), in its broadest definition, it also includes the neighbouring regions of the Blue Mountains, Macarthur and Wollondilly.^[1]

Definitions

In its broadest definition, Greater Sydney covers the city of Sydney in addition to four neighbouring regions: the Blue Mountains, the Hawkesbury, Macarthur and Wollondilly.^[1]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Greater Sydney was defined as the city of Sydney itself as well as the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong (including both the City of Wollongong in the north and the City of Shellharbour in the south).^[1]

Sydney Greater Capital City Statistical Area

The Sydney Greater Capital City Statistical Area (GCCSA) is the definition of Greater Sydney used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). It covers the following level-four statistical areas:^[2]

• Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury
• Blacktown
• Central Coast
• City and Inner South
• Eastern Suburbs
• Inner South West
• Inner West
• Northern Beaches
• North Sydney and Hornsby
• Outer South West
• Outer West and Blue Mountains
• Parramatta
• Ryde
• South West
• Sutherland

Therefore, the Sydney GCCSA covers all of Sydney in addition to the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, the Hawkesbury and Macarthur. However, it does not include the Illawarra.^[2]

Notes and References

1. News: 2021-06-24 . The difference between metro and Greater Sydney explained . Nine.com.au.
2. Web site: Greater Capital City Statistical Area - Fact Sheet . September 4, 2024 . www.abs.gov.au.