Sydney

  INTERNAL AFFAIRS

POPULATION

Australia: 17.8 million

Sydney: 4.3 million

  TIME

GMT plus 10 hours; Daylight Saving (last Sunday in October to first Sunday in March) plus 11 hours

  TELEPHONE

IDD country code 61

Sydney 61-2

Melbourne 61-3

Adelaide 61-8

Brisbane 61-7

Perth 61-9

To call internationally, dial 0011, followed by the country code and number you require.

All national numbers start with 0, so for instance to dial Sydney from Adelaide you dial 02 followed by the number.

Directory assistance (free call)

Local 013

Other states 0175

International 0103

Difficulties (national) 1100

Difficulties (overseas) 0100

Mobile phone rental 555 1125

Emergencies 000

  WEATHER

The famous Aussie sun shines hottest in January, but Sydney can be hot and humid from December to March. And while the outback is often dry, Sydney can put on a rainstorm that looks like an FX demonstration. Autumn (mid March to June) is perfect, and the winters are mild.

  COMMERCIAL HOURS

Banks 9.30am-4pm, Monday-Friday

Offices 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday

Shops 9am-6pm weekdays (to 7pm Thursdays); 9am-5pm Saturdays; 9am-4pm Sundays. Many shops have longer hours.

  NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 1996

Jan1, 26 (Australia Day); April 14-17 (Easter weekend), 25 (Anzac Day); June 12; Aug 7; Oct 2 (Labour Day); Dec 25, 26

  BEST GUIDES & MAPS

Sydney The Harbour Connection, available free from NSW Travel Centre, 19 Castlereagh St., Tel 231 4444; The Official Sydney Map produced by Harbour Connection; Australian Geographic map, from bookshops

  TOURIST INFORMATION

Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau, Level 5, 80 William St, Sydney, NSW 2000. Tel 331 4045 Fax 360 1223

  ELECTRIC CURRENT

240 volts

  TRADING PLACES

Number of cinema screens in Australia: 1028

In NSW: 299 (Sydney city: 33, Sydney suburbs: 139, country: 127)

National TV penetration: 99 per cent (5.5 million households)

National VCR penetration: 78 per cent (4.5 million)

  TV NETWORKS

The Seven Network (ATN 7)

Mobbs Lane, Epping NSW 2121. Tel 877 7777 Fax 877 7888

The Nine Network (TCN 9)

24 Artarmon Rd, Artarmon, NSW 2068. Tel 906 9999 Fax 958 2279

The Ten Network (TEN 10)

44 Bay Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007. Tel 844 1010 Fax 844 1364

ABC (ABC 2)

221 Pacific Hwy, Gore Hill, NSW 2065. Tel 437 8000 Fax 950 3269

SBS (Special Broadcasting Service)

14 Herbert St, Antarmon, NSW 2068. Tel 430 2828 Fax 430 3700

  MAIN INDUSTRY EVENTS

1996

Sydney Film Festival

June 7-22

Film West Festival, Western Sydney

July 12-15

Melbourne Film Festival

July 26-August 9

Brisbane International Film Fesitval

August 1-12

LOST CREDIT CARDS

American Express 886 0666

Diners Club 008 33 1199

Visa 643 1131

  COURIERS

DHL 317 8300

Local: Crisis 964 0000

International: Kangaroo317 3666

  SPECIALIST TRAVEL AGENCY

Showtravel 352 9999

  PUBLICATIONS

Local daily: Sydney Morning Herald. National daily: The Australian. Weekly: The Bulletin-with-Newsweek, Time Australia. Monthly: Australian Business Monthly (ABM).

  NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Top rating news: Channel 9, 6pm weekdays. Best world news: SBS, 6.30pm daily. Best current affairs: The 7.30 Report (ABC, 7.30pm daily); A Current Affair (Channel 9, 6.30pm daily); Sunday (Channel 9, 9-11am Sunday). Film reviews: The Movie Show (SBS); Sunday (Nine Network); Review (ABC TV)