Sydney Hospital is a major hospital in Sydney, located on Macquarie Street in the Sydney CBD. It is the oldest hospital in Australia, dating back to first settlement in 1788, and has been at its current location since 1811.

When the first fleet arrived in 1788 under Governor Phillip a temporary tent hospital was set up along what is now George St at The Rocks to cater to the many ill convicts of the 736 who were aboard the 11 ships sent to found the new colony. Scurvy, typhoid, smallpox and dysentry were common on sailing ships where large numbers were contained in small spaces and the 8 month voyage took its toll.
Surgeon-General John White and his small band attended to the sick but it was not until the second fleet arrived in 1780 that a rudimentry, pre-fabricated hospital of wood and copper arrived to slightly improve conditions.
White was the Surgeon-General at Sydney Cove from 1788 to 1794 and 'Nurses Walk' crosses the site where the tent hospital was established.

When Governor Macquarie arrived in 1810 he set aside land on the western edge of The Domain for a hospital and applied to England for funds to construct it. They were not forthcoming and the innovative Macquarie struck a deal with several prominent businessmen to build the hospital in return for a monopoly of imports of 45,000 gallons of rum which they could sell to recoup their investment. They would also receive free convict labour to boost their investment.

The capacity of the hospital, which comprised a central building with a north and south wing, far exceeded the immediate requirements. The central building was the main hospital and the smaller wings were to be quarters for surgeons and staff.
Gradually these two wings were usurped for other purposes including accommodation for the Supreme Court Judge, Jeffrey Bent and as a temporary courthouse. The north wing also became the chamber for the Legislative Council under Governor Darling in 1829 and met there until 1848.

The south wing from 1823 to to 1854 was also used as military wards and clerical offices for the 39th regiment.

Following the discovery of gold at Ophir near Bathurst, space was required for a mint. The obvious place for it was the south wing of the hospital and in 1854 the section was remodelled and opened. It operated in the building until 1926 when better facilities in Perth and Melbourne made it redundant.

The central building was demolished in 1879 and a new hospital opened in 1894.
By 1984, restoration of the old Rum Hospital and the former Mint was completed.

The hospital now specialises in ophthalmology and hand surgery and is a referral hospital for patients requiring these services. There is also 6-bed Emergency Department.