diff --git a/src/Model.discontinuity.test.ts b/src/Model.discontinuity.test.ts
index b67068f9..889e57a7 100644
--- a/src/Model.discontinuity.test.ts
+++ b/src/Model.discontinuity.test.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     let counter = 0;
 
-    const sync = vi.fn(async () => `${counter++}`);
+    const sync = vi.fn(async () => ({
+      data: `${counter++}`,
+      sequenceID: '0',
+      stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+    }));
     const model = new Model<string>('test', { ably, channelName, logger });
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (_, event) => {
       return event.data;
diff --git a/src/Model.test.ts b/src/Model.test.ts
index b9acdc7a..afd92f89 100644
--- a/src/Model.test.ts
+++ b/src/Model.test.ts
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ vi.mock('./stream/StreamFactory', () => {
     }
     async pause() {}
     async resume() {}
-    subscribe(): void {}
+    async subscribe() {}
     unsubscribe(): void {}
     async dispose() {}
-    async reset() {}
+    async sync() {}
   }
 
   const streams: { [key: string]: IStream } = {};
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     const synchronised = new Promise((resolve) => (completeSync = resolve));
     const sync = vi.fn(async () => {
       await synchronised;
-      return simpleTestData;
+      return { data: simpleTestData, sequenceID: '0', stateTimestamp: new Date() };
     });
     const model = new Model<TestData>('test', {
       ably,
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     const sync = vi.fn(async () => {
       await synchronised;
 
-      return { ...simpleTestData, bar: { baz: ++counter } };
+      return { data: { ...simpleTestData, bar: { baz: ++counter } }, sequenceID: '0', stateTimestamp: new Date() };
     });
     const model = new Model<TestData>('test', {
       ably,
@@ -128,7 +128,6 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     await statePromise(model, 'preparing');
     completeSync();
 
-    await ready;
     await statePromise(model, 'ready');
     await expect(ready).resolves.toEqual({ current: 'ready', previous: 'preparing', reason: undefined });
 
@@ -160,7 +159,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
     s1.pause = vi.fn();
     s1.resume = vi.fn();
-    const sync = vi.fn(async () => simpleTestData);
+    const sync = vi.fn(async () => ({
+      data: simpleTestData,
+      sequenceID: '0',
+      stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+    }));
 
     const model = new Model<TestData>('test', { ably, channelName, logger });
 
@@ -185,7 +188,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     const s1 = streams.newStream({ channelName });
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
     s1.unsubscribe = vi.fn();
-    const sync = vi.fn(async () => simpleTestData);
+    const sync = vi.fn(async () => ({
+      data: simpleTestData,
+      sequenceID: '0',
+      stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+    }));
 
     const model = new Model<TestData>('test', { ably, channelName, logger });
 
@@ -208,11 +215,15 @@ describe('Model', () => {
       channelEvents: new Subject<Types.Message>(),
     };
 
-    streams.newStream({ channelName }).subscribe = vi.fn((callback) =>
-      events.channelEvents.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message)),
-    );
+    streams.newStream({ channelName }).subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
+      events.channelEvents.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
+    });
 
-    const sync = vi.fn(async () => 'data_0'); // defines initial version of model
+    const sync = vi.fn(async () => ({
+      data: 'data_0',
+      sequenceID: '0',
+      stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+    })); // defines initial version of model
     const model = new Model<string>('test', { ably, channelName, logger });
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (_, event) => event.data);
@@ -263,7 +274,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
   });
 
   it<ModelTestContext>('subscribes after initialisation', async ({ channelName, ably, logger }) => {
-    const sync = vi.fn(async () => 'data_0'); // defines initial version of model
+    const sync = vi.fn(async () => ({
+      data: 'data_0',
+      sequenceID: '0',
+      stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+    })); // defines initial version of model
     const model = new Model<string>('test', { ably, channelName, logger });
 
     await model.$register({ $sync: sync });
@@ -293,15 +308,19 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
     const model = new Model<string>('test', { ably, channelName, logger });
 
-    const sync = async () => 'foobar';
+    const sync = async () => ({
+      data: 'foobar',
+      sequenceID: '0',
+      stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+    });
     model.$register({
       $sync: sync,
     });
-    expect(() =>
+    await expect(
       model.$register({
         $sync: sync,
       }),
-    ).toThrow('$register was already called');
+    ).rejects.toThrow('$register was already called');
   });
 
   it<ModelTestContext>('fails to register after initialization', async ({ channelName, ably, logger, streams }) => {
@@ -319,11 +338,15 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
     const model = new ModelWithSetState<string>('test', { ably, channelName, logger });
 
-    const sync = async () => 'foobar';
+    const sync = async () => ({
+      data: 'foobar',
+      sequenceID: '0',
+      stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+    });
 
     model.setState('ready');
 
-    expect(() => model.$register({ $sync: sync })).toThrow(
+    await expect(model.$register({ $sync: sync })).rejects.toThrow(
       `$register can only be called when the model is in the initialized state`,
     );
   });
@@ -335,7 +358,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (_, event) => event.data);
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => 'data_0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: 'data_0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -373,7 +400,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
 
     const events = new Subject<Types.Message>();
-    s1.subscribe = vi.fn((callback) => {
+    s1.subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
       events.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
     });
 
@@ -381,7 +408,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (_, event) => event.data);
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => 'data_0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: 'data_0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -426,7 +457,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
 
     const events = { e1: new Subject<Types.Message>() };
-    s1.subscribe = vi.fn((callback) => {
+    s1.subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
       events.e1.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
     });
 
@@ -434,7 +465,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (_, event) => event.data);
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => 'data_0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: 'data_0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -484,7 +519,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
 
     const events = { e1: new Subject<Types.Message>() };
-    s1.subscribe = vi.fn((callback) => {
+    s1.subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
       events.e1.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
     });
 
@@ -492,7 +527,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (_, event) => event.data);
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => 'data_0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: 'data_0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -541,7 +580,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
 
     const events = { e1: new Subject<Types.Message>() };
-    s1.subscribe = vi.fn((callback) => {
+    s1.subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
       events.e1.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
     });
 
@@ -549,7 +588,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (state, event) => state + event.data);
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => '0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: '0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -622,7 +665,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
 
     const events = { e1: new Subject<Types.Message>() };
-    s1.subscribe = vi.fn((callback) => {
+    s1.subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
       events.e1.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
     });
 
@@ -630,7 +673,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (state, event) => state + event.data);
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => '0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: '0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -710,7 +757,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (state, event) => state + event.data);
 
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => '0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: '0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -738,14 +789,18 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     const events = {
       channelEvents: new Subject<Types.Message>(),
     };
-    s1.subscribe = vi.fn((callback) => {
+    s1.subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
       events.channelEvents.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
     });
     s1.unsubscribe = vi.fn();
 
     let counter = 0;
 
-    const sync = vi.fn(async () => `${counter}`);
+    const sync = vi.fn(async () => ({
+      data: `${counter}`,
+      sequenceID: '0',
+      stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+    }));
     const model = new Model<string>('test', { ably, channelName, logger });
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (_, event) => {
@@ -810,7 +865,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
       return state + event.data;
     });
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => '0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: '0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -846,7 +905,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
 
     const events = { e1: new Subject<Types.Message>() };
-    s1.subscribe = vi.fn((callback) => {
+    s1.subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
       events.e1.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
     });
 
@@ -854,7 +913,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (state, event) => state + event.data);
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => '0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: '0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
@@ -880,7 +943,7 @@ describe('Model', () => {
     s1.subscribe = vi.fn();
 
     const events = new Subject<Types.Message>();
-    s1.subscribe = vi.fn((callback) => {
+    s1.subscribe = vi.fn(async (callback) => {
       events.subscribe((message) => callback(null, message));
     });
 
@@ -888,7 +951,11 @@ describe('Model', () => {
 
     const mergeFn = vi.fn(async (state, event) => state + event.data);
     await model.$register({
-      $sync: async () => '0',
+      $sync: async () => ({
+        data: '0',
+        sequenceID: '0',
+        stateTimestamp: new Date(),
+      }),
       $merge: mergeFn,
     });
 
diff --git a/src/Model.ts b/src/Model.ts
index 79fca61d..369723f4 100644
--- a/src/Model.ts
+++ b/src/Model.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import type {
 import type { OptimisticInvocationParams } from './types/optimistic.js';
 import EventEmitter from './utilities/EventEmitter.js';
 
+const REWIND_INTERVAL_MARGIN_SECONDS = 5;
+
 /**
  * A Model encapsulates an observable, collaborative data model backed by a transactional database in your backend.
  *
@@ -128,11 +130,9 @@ export default class Model<T> extends EventEmitter<Record<ModelState, ModelState
    * The sync function that allows the model to be manually resynced
    * @returns A promise that resolves when the model has successfully re-synchronised its state and is ready to start emitting updates.
    */
-  public get $sync() {
-    return () => {
-      this.init();
-      return new Promise((resolve) => this.whenState('ready', this.state, resolve));
-    };
+  public async $sync() {
+    await this.init();
+    return new Promise((resolve) => this.whenState('ready', this.state, resolve));
   }
 
   /**
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ export default class Model<T> extends EventEmitter<Record<ModelState, ModelState
    * @param {Registration<T>} registration - The set of methods to register.
    * @returns A promise that resolves when the model has completed the registrtion and is ready to start emitting updates.
    */
-  public $register(registration: Registration<T>) {
+  public async $register(registration: Registration<T>) {
     if (this.wasRegistered) {
       throw new Error('$register was already called');
     }
@@ -199,8 +199,9 @@ export default class Model<T> extends EventEmitter<Record<ModelState, ModelState
       this.merge = registration.$merge;
     }
 
-    this.init();
-    return new Promise((resolve) => this.whenState('ready', this.state, resolve));
+    const result = new Promise((resolve) => this.whenState('ready', this.state, resolve));
+    await this.init();
+    return result;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -294,27 +295,30 @@ export default class Model<T> extends EventEmitter<Record<ModelState, ModelState
   private async init(reason?: Error) {
     this.logger.trace({ ...this.baseLogContext, action: 'init()', reason });
     this.setState('preparing', reason);
-
     this.removeStream();
-    this.addStream();
-
-    const data = await this.syncFunc();
+    const { data, sequenceID, stateTimestamp } = await this.syncFunc();
+    await this.addStream(sequenceID, stateTimestamp);
     this.setOptimisticData(data);
     this.setConfirmedData(data);
     this.setState('ready');
   }
 
   private removeStream() {
-    this.stream.reset();
     const callback = this.streamSubscriptionsMap.get(this.stream);
     if (callback) {
       this.stream.unsubscribe(callback);
     }
-    this.stream.reset();
-    this.streamSubscriptionsMap = new WeakMap();
+    this.stream.dispose();
+    this.streamSubscriptionsMap.delete(this.stream);
   }
 
-  private addStream() {
+  private async addStream(sequenceID: string, stateTimestamp: Date) {
+    const interval = Math.floor((Date.now() - stateTimestamp.getTime()) / 1000) + REWIND_INTERVAL_MARGIN_SECONDS;
+    if (interval > 2 * 60) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `rewind interval ${interval}s from state timestamp ${stateTimestamp.toString()} is greater than 2 minutes`,
+      );
+    }
     const callback: StandardCallback<AblyTypes.Message> = async (err: Error | null, event?: AblyTypes.Message) => {
       try {
         if (err) {
@@ -330,9 +334,10 @@ export default class Model<T> extends EventEmitter<Record<ModelState, ModelState
         }
         await this.onStreamEvent({ ...event!, confirmed: true, rejected, ...(uuid && { uuid }) });
       } catch (err) {
-        this.init(toError(err));
+        await this.init(toError(err));
       }
     };
+    await this.stream.sync(`${interval}s`, sequenceID);
     this.stream.subscribe(callback);
     this.streamSubscriptionsMap.set(this.stream, callback);
   }
diff --git a/src/stream/Stream.ts b/src/stream/Stream.ts
index 4fcbd5db..c344035c 100644
--- a/src/stream/Stream.ts
+++ b/src/stream/Stream.ts
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ export interface IStream {
   get channelName(): string;
   pause(): Promise<void>;
   resume(): Promise<void>;
-  sync(rewind: string, sequenceID: string): void;
-  subscribe(callback: StandardCallback<AblyTypes.Message>): void;
+  sync(rewind: string, sequenceID: string): Promise<void>;
+  subscribe(callback: StandardCallback<AblyTypes.Message>): Promise<void>;
   unsubscribe(callback: StandardCallback<AblyTypes.Message>): void;
   dispose(reason?: AblyTypes.ErrorInfo | string): Promise<void>;
 }
diff --git a/src/types/model.ts b/src/types/model.ts
index 8bce2cd6..b5839583 100644
--- a/src/types/model.ts
+++ b/src/types/model.ts
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export type OptimisticEventWithParams = OptimisticEvent & {
  * Defines a function which the library will use to pull the latest state of the model from the backend.
  * Invoked on initialisation and whenever some discontinuity occurs that requires a re-sync.
  */
-export type SyncFunc<T> = () => Promise<T>;
+export type SyncFunc<T> = () => Promise<{ data: T; sequenceID: string; stateTimestamp: Date }>;
 
 /**
  * A state transition emitted as an event from the model describing a change to the model's lifecycle.