Parramatta City: History, Routes and Culture
Accommodation in Parramatta City
Parramatta City can be approached through several themes when planning a trip: colonial history, architectural heritage, self-guided routes, riverside culture and a weekly market. When choosing a hotel for your stay, your main interest can help set the direction. Would you like to explore historic buildings and early colonial history, are you more interested in the city’s architecture, or would you prefer to find your way around by following a route? The distinctions below can help you explore Parramatta City according to these interests.
Colonial History and Cultural Heritage
Old Government House in Parramatta Park was built around 1799 and extended in 1815; from its early days, the house was associated with the administration of the colony. Hambledon Cottage has a different original purpose: it was built in 1824 as a second residence on John Macarthur’s Elizabeth Farm estate in Parramatta. These places reflect two distinct historical uses: administration and residence. The Philip Ruddock Heritage Centre at 45 Macquarie Street is a curated museum about life in the early colonial period. It complements the history of the buildings with a thematic look at life during that era.
At the Dairy Precinct in Parramatta Park, cultural heritage is connected with exhibitions and the landscape: the site is designated a World Heritage site and houses an exhibition space, digital displays and landscaped areas. Group tours of the Dairy Precinct for up to 15 participants can be arranged by emailing education@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au. PHIVE at 5 Parramatta Square spans the original, heritage-listed Parramatta Town Hall; a free tour of PHIVE is offered there in the heart of Parramatta’s Central Business District.
Self-Guided Routes and Their Focus
The self-guided Parramatta Heritage Architecture Audio Tour focuses on the city’s architectural features, stories and characteristics. The self-guided Harris Park Heritage Trail is 2.4 kilometres long, starts at Parramatta Wharf and follows the river east to Harris Park. At 2.4 kilometres, it is considerably shorter than the 65-kilometre Great West Walk, which runs from Parramatta Park to the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The two self-guided options have different focuses: the Audio Tour explores architecture and stories, while the Heritage Trail is mapped out as a route with a starting point, length and course.
The Governor Phillip Walk passes through some of Australia’s oldest government land, anchoring another route in the historic landscape. The Parramatta River Walk ends in Parramatta at the confluence of Toongabbie Creek and Darling Mills Creek.
Riverside and Weekly Market
Riverside Theatres is located on the banks of the Parramatta River. Weekly farmers’ markets are now held in the square around Parramatta Town Hall. The weekly market adds a recurring activity in present-day Parramatta to the construction dates of its historic sites.
Discover more destinations: Camperdown, North Sydney, Kingsford, Rosehill, Clovelly, Narrabeen, Palm Beach, Windsor.
For the broader travel overview: Sydney.
