Spending a day in Sydney, wandering around, looking at this magnificent city - especially on a lovely day - is one of the best things you can ever do.

This year, September 7-15 is NSW History Week, organised by the History Council of NSW has many events planned, focussing on fashion.

For F&T's day trip this Sunday, here is a look at Sydney and some of the little know facts about places you are sure to see on your walk in the sun.

The Archibald Fountain

Located in the northern end of Hyde Park, this spectacular fountain is named for JF Archibald, founder of The Bulletin magazine who died in 1919, leaving money in his estate for a fountain to commemorate the association of France and Australia in World War I.

The fountain was designed by prominent French sculptor Francois Sicard and completed in 1932, five days before the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened. He regarded it as his finest work. The fan of water rising behind Apollo is an Art Deco nod to the rays of the rising sun, appropriate as the park is on the eastern side of the main city blocks.

Did you know? Sicard had never visited Sydney, so he had to design the fountain using photos and water-colour sketches of the proposed site.

St Mary's Cathedral

There were many Catholics amongst the First Fleet convicts and soldiers, however it was not until 1820 that the first Catholic chaplains arrived. The following year the foundation stone of St Mary's chapel was laid, near the convict barracks.

Tragedy struck in 1865 when the cathedral was destroyed by fire, but it was soon replaced by the present Gothic Revival building by 1868.

History is always being made, and after Mary MacKillop was canonised in Rome in 2010, a statue of St Mary of the Cross was unveiled at the Hyde Park entrance of St Mary's Cathedral.

Did you know? The slender spires were only added in 2000. Until then the towers were flat-topped.

What is this building?

This eye-catching building with its romantic tower is the The Australian Steam Navigation (ASN Co) Building, constructed in 1884 in rare Pre-Federation Anglo Dutch architectural style. Around 1894, the ASN building was one of the earliest in Sydney to be fitted with a water sprinkler system to combat fire, possibly the earliest still surviving in Sydney.

Definitely worth seeing, and while there you can also view the colourful and vibrant works of world-famous Australian artist, Ken Done. His gallery is at ground level, facing George Street.

Fun fact: When the building was first constructed in 1884 it was on the waterfront. Notice how far back from the water's edge it is today.

Sydney Town Hall

It's hard to believe this glorious Pyrmont sandstone building constructed between 1868 and 1889 was built on the site of Sydney's first official European cemetery.

The Friends of Sydney Town Hall (volunteers passionate about the Town Hall and its history) conduct tours which include parts of the building not generally accessible to the public. Take a tour and you'll see several suites and chambers, and the grand organ which when installed in 1890 and viewing of the lower ground floor grave sites.

Fort Denison

It's the little place with two names that visitors to Sydney often wonder about as they take a ferry to Manly.

Construction of Fort Denison began in 1840 as part of Sydney Harbour's defence against invasion, and daily at 1pm the cannon time-signal can still be heard across the harbour. A shot has never been fired in anger by it, though.

It's possible to take a special ferry to visit and take a 30-minute guided tour to explore the powder magazine and climb the narrow spiral staircase of Australia's only Martello tower and enjoy views of the harbour.

Did you know? The island's Aboriginal name was Mat-te-wan-ye, also spelt Muttewai or Muttenwaya but Governor Arthur Phillip creatively renamed it Rock Island

Sydney Ferries

Sydney is such a watery place that from the earliest days of the colony ferries and other floating forms of transport were essential.

The first ferry operated from 1789 linking Sydney Cove to Parramatta. The Rose Hill Packet (otherwise known as 'The Lump'), was crafted by convicts and powered by sails and oars.

The North Shore Ferry Company began in 1861 then in 1899 integrated into Sydney Ferries Limited, which became the world's largest ferry operator by fleet size.

The oldest ferries still in use are the brightly painted Lady Northcott (1974) and Lady Herron (1974). The newest are the SuperCats and Fantasea Charter Vessels. Many carry names of a line of vessels which have been used over the years.

Did you know? After the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 passenger numbers dropped by more than half, to around 13 million annually.

Sydney's Living History, just released, is an iPhone and iPad app - available on iTunes App Store. For Android phones and tablets, see.....

Use this app as you visit this city, and suddenly Sydney will come alive and you will better appreciate the many fascinating happenings since white settlement began in 1788.

Read more about it....