[1] The Steps are located on the eastern bank of Bennelong Point, adjacent to the Sydney Opera House and on the north-western boundary of the Royal Botanic Garden.

[1] A prolonged and confused disagreement between the NSW Colonial (and subsequently State) and Imperial Governments, the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Government, Sydney Harbour Trust and Maritime Services Board (MSB), subsequently arose over responsibility for the Steps (as they became principally known), particularly over maintenance and policing.

[1] For many years , the principal usage of the Steps was for naval purposes: liberty boats, watering and stores handling, embarkation of crews, etc.

GH Field also complained of the "idlers" - "especially those disreputable ones of the female sex who make it a most objectionable waiting place for the wives of Officers and Men.

[5][1] A masonry, bitumen topped pier projecting in a dog-leg to the north-west, enclosing a sheltered landing for small craft, with a flight of stone steps to water level at the inner extremity.

[5][1] A plaque installed on the northern entrance to the pier pays tribute to the importance of the steps as the landing and embarkation point for men of the British and Australian fleets for 150 years.

A plaque was also installed on the southern entrance to the pier, dedicated on 20 October 1973, that detailed the history of the pier:[2][7] In conjunction with the official opening of the Sydney Opera House in 1973, the stone jetty known as Man O’War Steps, was restored jointly by The Department of Public Works and the Maritime Services Board when a ramp and berthing pontoon were added to the structure.

The stone jetty is situated near the site of the private landing steps built during the administration of Major General Lachlan Macquarie Governor (1810-1821) and for a period formed one of the walls of a small boat harbour named "Watering Place" and no doubt was used by vessels at anchorage in Farm Cove, to obtain water supplies.

The use of the jetty for the movement of personnel and stores to and from Naval vessels moored in the Man O’War anchorage nearby began early last century and the facilities continued to be used by the Royal Australian Navy until work on the present reconstruction commenced.

[5] The Jetty was restored in 1973 by the Public Works Department and the Maritime Services Board when a ramp and berthing pontoon were added.

A valuable relic of the "Old Navy" days when men of war anchored in Farm Cove and when waterman plied on the harbour.

[5][1] The Man O'War Steps was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 April 2000 having satisfied the following criteria.

[8][1] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

Of environmental significance, the stone jetty forms an important part of the harbour in the vicinity of the Opera House and Botanic Gardens at Farm Cove.