[1] Historically, it was also referred to as the Spanish River[3] from the 18th century French name for its estuary, Baie d’Espagnols.

[4] It separates the communities of Coxheath and Westmount, on the north bank of the river, from Howie Centre, Sydney River, and Sydney on the south and east banks.

Sydney River rises in Blacketts Lake and runs 12.5 km (7.8 mi)[dubious – discuss] to its mouth, between the Westmount shore near Amelia Point and Battery Point on the Sydney shore,[1] at the South Arm of Sydney Harbour, draining a watershed of 140 km2 [5]: 6  south of the crest of the Coxheath Hills.

[2] The Sydney River valley is glacial with thick deposits, kames, eskers and outwash gravels creating a series of shallow lakes connected by narrow channels.

This low valley was a traditional canoe portage used by the Mi'kmaq for travelling between Sydney Harbour and the East Bay of Bras d'Or Lake.