From Wikitravel

Parramatta represents an inner western district of Sydney, a city in its own right within the Sydney Metropolitan Area and (as Rosehill) the second oldest European settlement on the Australian mainland.

Rich in colonial history, Parramatta is a district of elegant parks, possessing a vibrant multicultural community and forming a vibrant centre for sport, shopping, dining and entertainment. It is also a thriving legal, educational and health care centre and home to some of Australia's biggest corporations and Government agencies.

Located 24 km from Sydney CBD and just 6 km from Sydney Olympic Park, Parramatta is both the demographic heart of the Harbour City and one of its most historic neighbourhoods.

[edit] Understand

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

From Central Sydney via Parramatta Road and the M4 Western Motorway or Victoria Road.

From the West via the M4 Motorway or the Great Western Highway.

From the South and South West Sydney via Woodville Road and the Cumberland Highway.

[edit] By train

Journeys range from 25 minutes -for an express service, to 35 minutes for regular services from Central. Take the Western Line direct from Wynyard, Town Hall, Redfern or Strathfield. Services depart from Central at regular intervals from approximately 4am - 1am (the following day) each day.

[edit] By bus

Approximately 1 hour from Circular Quay. Routes L20 and 520 operate daily from Circular Quay. If coming from the Northwest or Southwest of Sydney, the T-Way bus transitways [[1] are a better option. The North-West T-Way links Parramatta to Rouse Hill, and the Liverpool-Parramatta T-Way links Parramatta with Liverpool via Bonnyrigg.

[edit] By ferry

Approximately 50 minutes from Circular Quay by RiverCat ferry. Board at Circular Quay and travel up river past historic suburbs, major wetlands and Sydney Olympic Park.

[edit] Get around

• The Loop [2] is the City Council's free bus (the only free transport in Sydney). The bus runs every ten minutes around a specified loop that covers most areas of the city, including the railway station, ferry wharf, Westfield Shopping Centre, other shops, Church Street eating areas, historic buildings, parklands and other attractions. Operates 7am till 6:30pm Mon-Fri, 8am till 4pm Sat.
• Walk. The CBD area of Parramatta is quite small and can be easily walked.
• The Parramatta suburbs of Granville, Harris Park, Rosehill and Westmead are accessible by train (CityRail). Westmead station is on the Western Line and can be accessed by taking a train west from Parramatta. Harris Park and Granville are also on the Western Line and can be accessed by taking a train east from Parramatta (towards the city). Rosehill is on the Carlingford Line and requires taking a train east from Parramatta to Clyde station and then changing trains one stop to Rosehill. Note that although Rosehill is closer to some attractions like the Rosehill Racecourse, the Carlingford Line is served infrequently by trains and some waiting time may be involved.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Historical Landmarks

As Parramatta was the first site of European settlement outside Sydney it contains many historical landmarks.

• Experiment Farm[3]. Parramatta was the site of an early farm aimed at alleviating the colony's food crisis. Owned by the National Trust, it is located at 9 Ruse Street Harris Park.
• Elizabeth Farm [4] (Historic Houses Trust), 70 Alice Street, Rosehill, tel 02 9635 9488, fax 02 9891 3740, mailto:info@hht.net.au (please put 'Elizabeth Farm' in the subject line), open daily 10am–5pm, closed Christmas and Good Friday, admission adult $8, child / concession $4, family $17 - commenced in 1793, Elizabeth Farm contains part of the oldest surviving European building in Australia, built as the home of John and Elizabeth Macarthur. As such, it was the birthplace of the Australian wool industry and was an important social, political and cultural centre of the early colony. Elizabeth Farm's deep shady verandahs (inspired by colonial homes in India) became the prototype for the Australian homestead. The interiors contain reproductions of furniture, portraits and objects belonging to the Macarthurs, allowing a 'hands-on' experience of early 19th century life. Elizabeth Farm is situated in a recreated 1830s garden and contains early plants from the Macarthurs' time.
• Hambledon Cottage, 63 Hassall Street [5]. Hambledon Cottage was built by John Macarthur in 1824 and formed part of the Elizabeth Farm estate.
• Old Government House, Parramatta Park, (02) 9635 8149, [6] was the site of the residence of early colonial governors. It was especially important during the term of office of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
• Brislington House, George Street on the corner of Marsden Street, formerly a residence built in 1821. It is now a museum of the medical and nursing history of Parramatta, with photographs and memorabilia. Open Time Open 2nd & last Thursday of every month. Closed during December & January[7].
• Parramatta Town Hall, 182 Church Street Mall, [8]. Built in 1883. The town hall is still used by council and includes the Charles Byrnes Room[9]
• The Lancer Barracks, located at 2 Smith Street Parramatta. Historic army barracks, home of the Royal NSW Lancers and contains The Linden House Museum [10] [11]

Other Parramatta historical sites including the Macquarie Street gatehouse, Lennox Bridge, Kia Ora House, Queens Wharf, and lots more [12]. Other properties now used for commercial purposes include

• Perth House, 85 George Street, Parramatta [13]
• Deskford, located on Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead [14]
• Murphy House, located at Marist Place, Westmead [15]
• Oatlands House, located at Dundas [16]
• Jeffrey House, located at 158 Marsden Street. Opened in 1944 as part of Parramatta Hospital. It has recently been refurbished as part of the Parramatta Justice Precinct development {http://www.wsahs.nsw.gov.au/services/publicaffairs/JefferyHouseInternet.htm}
• Former Cumberland Building, Land and Investment Company (now a restaurant). Built in the year 1889 to resemble the famous… “ Santa Maria Del Fiore” (The Florence Cathedral – Our lady of the Flower) in Florence Italy. It is now Liana's Restaurant ( see EAT below)

[edit] Cemeteries

• St John’s Cemetery in O’Connell St,between Argyle and Campbell Sts, isAustralia’s oldest Christian cemetery. The oldest surviving grave is Henry Dodd (1791). The Reverend Samuel Marsden is also interred here. OPEN: Daily in daylight hours.
• St Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, corner of Church St & Pennant Hills Rd, dates from Governor Macquarie’s time.
• All Saints Cemetery (Fennell Street)contains the grave of noted explorer Gregory Blaxland.
• Mays Hill Cemetery[17] Land grants were made in 1839 and 1849 to establish Presbyterian and Baptist cemeteries which soon expanded to include burials for other denominations. Regular tours are held by the Friends Of Mays Hill Cemetery.

[edit] Churches

• St Patricks Catholic Cathedral, Marist Place [18]. This is the cathedral church for the catholic diocese of Parramatta, which stretches from Granville in the east to Mount Victoria in the west. Although the cathedral was only built in the 1930s it is interesting because it was burnt down in 1995 and rebulit in 2003. The new cathedral incorporates the old church with a new wing designed by Romaldo Giurgola who designed Australia's Parliament House in Canberra.
• St Johns Anglican Cathedral, Hunter Street, [19]. The cathedral was built over many years but work commenced at the time of Governor Macquarie. It is Australia's oldest continually functioning church. There is a tour of the chapel available on Thursdays and Fridays
• All Saints Church, Corner of Victoria Road and Elizabeth Street, [20]. It was completed in 1847 and is of a "Victorian Academic Gothic" style of architecture
• Our Lady Of Lebanon Catholic Church, Alice Street [21]. The church forms part of the Maronite Rite and was opened in 1978. It originally was 'crowned' by a statue of Our Lady 7m high. This was replaced by a smaller bronze statue (5m) in 1980 due to complaints from neighbours.
• Leigh Memorial Church, 119 Macquarie Street. It was originally a Methodist church. It was completed in 1885 it was dedicated to Samuel Leigh, the first Methodist Minister in Parramatta
• St Ioannis, Greek Orthodox Church, 11 Hassall St. A tall blond brick church with 4 flag poles out the front. A war memorial to Australian soldiers who died in Greece. The foundation stone was laid on the 25th December 1965.
• Salvation Army Corps, corner Phillip & Smith Street. Although the Salvation Army in Parramatta is 120 years old, the current corps building was built in 1969

[edit] Parks

• Parramatta Park, Cnr Macquarie & Pitt Streets, (02) 8833-5000, [22] including the Tudor GateHouse, Governor's Bath House, Old Dairy and Boer War Memorial.
• Lake Parramatta, [23]. Accessible via Church Street, Barney St, Iron St, Bourke St, Lackey St & Illawong Drive - You will need a car to visit this park as there is no public transport nearby. A dam and popular recreation spot formed by damming one of the creeks which forms the Parramatta River. Recently opened for swimming on certain Council-sponsored event days.
• Queens Wharf Reserve, [24] this is the first place that Governor Phillip landed in Parramatta and is included on the Harris Farm Heritage walk. It also incorporates the memorials to all the ships from the Royal Austrlian Navy that have borne the name HMAS Parramatta [25] and has the stern of the first HMAS Parramatta
• Prince Alfred Park, located opposite St Patrick's Cathedral and bounded by Church Street, Market Street, Victoria Rd and Marist Place. It was named after Prince Alfred who visited the colony in 1867. It was the site of the colony's first goal [26]

[edit] Bridges

Parramatta River runs through the Parramatta CBD. There is a weir at Charles Street which is the limit of navigation from Sydney. Between the Charles Street Weir and the O'Connel Street Weir the river is really only a wide canal, though there are a number of pleasant riverside walks including new walks by the northern bank by the Riverside theatres and on the south bank through the new Justice Precinct. The river widens upstream of the O'Connel Street Weir. There is another weir damming the river further upstream in Parramatta Park. There are a large number of bridges spanning the river, in the city centre. In order they are -

• Gasworks Bridge, Macarthur Street near its junction with George Street [27]. The bridge was built in 1885. It is supported by large sandstone piers and was a significant bridge construction when built.
• Charles Street Weir, marks the upper reaches of the present day tidal influence on the river
• Elizabeth Street Footbridge, Elizabeth Street [28]
• Barry Wilde Bridge, crosses the Parramatta River at Smith Street. Prior to the construction of the Charles Street Weir this was the uppermost reaches of the tidal influence of the Parramatta River.
• Lennox Bridge, Church Street [29]. The bridge is one of the oldest in Australia. It was built by the colony's first superintendent of bridges (David Lennox) in the 1830s. It is on the site of the first recorded crossing point on the Parramatta. The bridge has been classified by the National Trust of Australia (NSW)...and is also included on the Australian Heritage Commission's Register of the National Estate.
• Marsden Street Bridge.
• Marsden Street Weir, this weir holds back the Parramatta River and was the source of Parramatta's first water supply built under instruction from Governor Macquarie. The current weir is not the original weir. Prior to the Marsden STreet bridge being constructed the weir was the Marsen Street crossing but frequently flooded.
• Bernie Banton Bridge, O'Connell Street, named after a famous Australian anti-asbestos campaigner.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Brand Smart Good for those on the bargain that you could get.

• Westfield Parramatta

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Rydges Parramatta Sydney, 116 James Ruse Drive ph 1300 857 922 - Rydges Parramatta is located in the heart of Western Sydney with many local attractions includin the Parramatta Stadium, ACER arena, Superdome, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Homebush Bay, Telstra Olympic Stadium, and Sydney Aquatic Centre. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Austrailian owned and operated company.

• Crowne Plaza Parramatta, 30 Phillip Street ph 61 2 9689 3333 - Situated in the heart of Parramatta's commercial area. Just 5 minutes walk from Westfield Shopping Centre and Parramatta Train Station. Even closer is Parramatta's main restaurant and entertainment strip on Church St.

[edit] Contact

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