Parramatta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parramatta New South Wales
Parramatta viewed from the south in 2022
Parramatta Location in Sydney
Population	30,211 (2021 census)
• Density	5,700/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
Established	1788
Postcode(s)	2150
Elevation	18 m (59 ft)
Area	5.3 km2 (2.0 sq mi)
Location	24 km (15 mi) west of Sydney CBD (Central Sydney)
LGA(s)	City of Parramatta
Region	Greater Western Sydney Metropolitan area
County	Cumberland
Parish	St John
State electorate(s)	Parramatta Baulkham Hills Granville
Federal Division(s)	Parramatta
Localities around Parramatta: Northmead North Parramatta Oatlands Westmead Parramatta Dundas Rydalmere Merrylands Holroyd Harris Park Camellia Rosehill

Parramatta (/ˌpærəˈmætə/) is a busy city area in Greater Western Sydney, Australia. It's about 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of the main Sydney city center. Parramatta sits right on the banks of the Parramatta River. Many people see it as the second most important city center in Greater Sydney.

Parramatta is the main hub for the City of Parramatta local government area. It's one of the key places in the wider Sydney region, along with the main Sydney CBD, Penrith, and Liverpool. It has a long history as a second government center, hosting many state and federal offices and courts. People often call it "Parra" for short.

Parramatta was started by the British in 1788, the same year as Sydney. This makes it the oldest inland European settlement in Australia. It's a very important economic center for Western Sydney. Since 2000, many government groups like the New South Wales Police Force and Sydney Water have moved their main offices to Parramatta from central Sydney. The 151st meridian east line even runs right through the suburb!

History of Parramatta

Who lived in Parramatta first?

Evidence shows that people have lived in the Parramatta area for about 30,000 years. The Darug people were the first inhabitants before Europeans arrived. They found lots of food from the river and forests. They called the area "Baramada" or "Burramatta," which means "Eel Place." This name comes from the Darug words "Burra" (Eel) and "matta" (Place).

Even today, many eels and other sea creatures are drawn to the area where the salty water of Port Jackson meets the fresh water of the Parramatta River. This is why the local Parramatta Eels rugby league team chose the eel as their symbol!

When did Europeans settle in Parramatta?

Europeans settled in Parramatta in 1788, just a few months after they arrived in Sydney. This makes Parramatta the second oldest city in Australia. The British colonists who arrived in Sydney Cove in January 1788 didn't have much food. The soil around Sydney Cove was too poor to grow enough food for the 1,000 convicts, soldiers, and leaders.

In 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip looked at several places before choosing Parramatta. He thought it was the best spot for a large farm. It was the furthest point up the Parramatta River where boats could travel. It was also where the river turned from saltwater to freshwater, which was perfect for farming.

On November 2, 1788, Governor Phillip and some marines traveled upriver. They found a good spot on a curved hill near the river, which he called The Crescent. This area is now in Parramatta Park. As the settlement grew, Governor Phillip first named it "Rose Hill." This was after a British politician named George Rose. But on June 4, 1791, Phillip changed the name to Parramatta. This was closer to the name used by the local Aboriginal people. A nearby suburb is still called "Rosehill" today.

To help with the food shortage, Governor Phillip gave land to a convict named James Ruse in 1789. This land was called Experiment Farm. Ruse had to prove he could grow food successfully. He became the first European to successfully grow grain in Australia. The Parramatta area was also where the Australian wool industry began. This happened with John Macarthur's Elizabeth Farm in the 1790s.

A big battle called the Battle of Parramatta happened in March 1797. An Eora leader named Pemulwuy led about 100 Bidjigal warriors in an attack on Parramatta. The local soldiers went back to their barracks. Pemulwuy held the town for a while but was eventually shot and wounded.

Governor Arthur Phillip built a small house for himself on The Crescent hill. In 1799, a bigger house replaced it. Governor Lachlan Macquarie improved this house between 1815 and 1818. It is now the oldest surviving Government House in Australia. Governors used it as a getaway until the 1850s.

In 1814, Governor Macquarie opened a school for Aboriginal children in Parramatta. This was to help improve relations between Aboriginal and European communities. The school later moved to "Black Town".

Parramatta's Weather

Parramatta has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has mild to cool, short winters and warm to hot summers. It also gets a moderate amount of rain throughout the year.

Summer temperatures can vary a lot. They often go above 35°C (95°F) about 13 days each summer. Sometimes, they stay in the low 20s (68-77°F), especially after a cold front or a sea breeze. Winds from the northwest can bring hot air from the Australian desert. This can push temperatures above 40°C (104°F) from November to February. During severe heatwaves in January, temperatures can even go above 44°C (111°F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Parramatta was 47.3°C (117.1°F) on January 7, 2018.

Parramatta is usually warmer than the Sydney CBD in summer. This is because of the urban heat island effect and its location further inland. Sometimes, it can be 5–10°C (9–18°F) warmer than Sydney. This happens when sea breezes don't reach inland on hot summer and spring days. For example, on November 28, 2009, Sydney reached 29.3°C (84.7°F), but Parramatta hit 39.0°C (102.2°F). This was almost 10°C (18°F) higher! In summer, Parramatta and other parts of western Sydney can be very hot. This is partly because the Blue Mountains can trap hot air in the region.

Rainfall is a bit higher in the first three months of the year. This is because moist easterly winds from the Tasman Sea can reach the city. The second half of the year, especially late winter and spring, tends to be drier. Thunderstorms are common from early spring to early autumn. Sometimes, these storms can be quite strong. Snow is very rare in Parramatta. It has only been recorded in 1836 and 1896. Parramatta gets about 106 clear days each year.

Parramatta's Commercial Hub

Church Street, a busy shopping area.

Church Street is a main street in Parramatta with many shops and restaurants. The northern part of Church Street, near Lennox Bridge, has lots of outdoor dining with food from all over the world. South of the city center, Church Street is known as 'Auto Alley' because it has many car dealerships.

Since 2000, Parramatta has become an even bigger government center. Important groups like the New South Wales Police Force Headquarters and the Sydney Water Corporation have moved here from central Sydney. There has also been a lot of building work around the railway station. The Westfield Shoppingtown was made bigger, and a new transport hub was built.

The western part of Parramatta's city center is called the Parramatta Justice Precinct. This area holds the main offices for the Department of Communities and Justice. Other legal offices include the Children's Court of New South Wales and the Sydney West Trial Courts. The NSW Government plans to move even more workers from the Sydney CBD to Parramatta.

6 & 8 Parramatta Square, one of Parramatta's tallest buildings.

Parramatta Square is a modern area in the heart of the city, next to Parramatta Town Hall. This area has been redeveloped with new buildings and a plaza. For example, a 55-story office building was built here. National Australia Bank moved 3,000 employees to Parramatta Square from the Sydney CBD. Other big companies like Westpac and KPMG also have offices here.

Centenary Square was created in 1975. The Parramatta City Council closed part of the main street to make a walking area. It has an 1888 Centennial Memorial Fountain and is next to the 1883 Parramatta Town Hall and St John's Cathedral.

A hospital called The Colonial Hospital opened in Parramatta in 1818. This later became Parramatta District Hospital. Today, Parramatta is a major business and commercial center. It is home to Westfield Parramatta, which is the tenth largest shopping center in Australia.

Places of Worship in Parramatta

St John's Cathedral was finished in 1802.

Church Street gets its name from St John's Cathedral (Anglican). This church was built in 1802 and is the oldest church in Parramatta. The towers were built when Governor Macquarie was in charge. The historic St John's Cemetery is also nearby.

St Patrick's Cathedral.

St Patrick's Cathedral (Roman Catholic) is one of Australia's oldest Catholic churches. Building started in 1836. A new church was planned in 1854, and its tower was finished in 1880. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 1996, with only the stone walls left. A new St Patrick's Cathedral was opened on November 29, 2003. The historic St Patrick's Cemetery is in North Parramatta.

Other churches include Leigh Memorial Church (Uniting Church) and Parramatta Salvation Army. Parramatta also has the Parramatta and Districts Synagogue for the Jewish community. The Greek Orthodox Church of St Ioannis was started in 1960 for the Greek population. A Buddhist temple is on Cowper Street, and Parramatta's Mosque is on Marsden Street. There are also BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu temple and Murugan Hindu temples nearby.

Parks and Green Spaces

The Old Government House is a key site in Parramatta Park.

Parramatta Park is a large park next to Western Sydney Stadium. It's a great place for walking, jogging, and bike riding. It used to be the Governor's private land for farming. In 1858, it became a public park. For a while, Parramatta Park even had a zoo, but the animals moved to Taronga Zoo in 1951.

Parramatta is known as the 'River City' because the Parramatta River flows through its city center. The riverfront has a playground, seating, picnic tables, and paths. These are popular with people living, visiting, and working in the city.

The Victorian Gazebo at Prince Alfred Square.

Prince Alfred Square is an old park from the Victorian era. It's in the city center on the northern side of the Parramatta River. It's one of the oldest public parks in New South Wales, with trees dating back to around 1869. Before it was a park, it was the site of Parramatta's second jail and the first female factory in Australia.

Getting Around Parramatta

Many people in Parramatta use public transport to get to work. In 2016, more workers (45.2%) traveled by public transport than by car (36.2%).

Train Services

Parramatta railway station.

Parramatta railway station is a major train hub. It serves Sydney Trains' services like the Cumberland Line and North Shore & Western Line. NSW TrainLink also runs intercity trains from here. The station first opened in 1855. It moved to its current spot and opened on July 4, 1860. The station was updated in the 2000s, with a new transport interchange opening in 2006.

Light Rail and Metro

The Westmead & Carlingford Line runs from Westmead through Parramatta's city center to Carlingford. There are plans for a future branch to go to Sydney Olympic Park.

The Sydney Metro West is a new metro line being built. It will connect the Sydney city center and Westmead. This line is expected to open in 2032 and will have a station in Parramatta.

Bus Services

Parramatta also has a big bus interchange next to the train station. Buses use special T-ways to go to places like Rouse Hill and Liverpool. There's also a free bus, Route 900, that circles the Parramatta CBD. Another free bus connects Western Sydney Stadium to the train station during big sports events.

Ferry Services

Parramatta ferry wharf.

The Parramatta ferry wharf is where the ferry services end. It's on the eastern edge of the city center, at the Charles Street Weir. This weir separates the salty tidal water from the fresh water of the upper river. It's the furthest west that Sydney Ferries can travel on the Parramatta River ferry services.

Roads and Highways

Parramatta Road has always been an important road for Sydney. From Parramatta, the main road to the west is the Great Western Highway. The M4 Western Motorway runs next to the Great Western Highway and takes a lot of traffic away from it. There are ramps near Parramatta to get on and off the motorway.

James Ruse Drive is a road that goes around the eastern part of Parramatta. It connects with the Cumberland Highway to the northwest. The main north-south road through Parramatta is Church Street. To the north, it becomes Windsor Road, and to the south, it becomes Woodville Road.

People of Parramatta

Parramatta Town Hall in 2023.

According to the 2016 census, the suburb of Parramatta had a population of 30,211 people.

Famous People from Parramatta

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Parramatta, including:

• Richie Benaud (1930–2015), a famous cricketer and TV commentator.
• Paul Hogan (born 1939), a well-known comedian and actor.
• Harry Hopman (1906–1985), a tennis player.
• Rev. Samuel Marsden (1765–1838), an early church leader.

Education in Parramatta

Parramatta has many schools for primary and secondary students. Arthur Phillip High School has been a school since 1875, making it the oldest public school in Parramatta that has been open continuously. Parramatta High School was the first coeducational (boys and girls together) school in the Sydney area, started in 1913. Our Lady of Mercy College is one of Australia's oldest Catholic schools.

Macarthur Girls High School.

Other schools include Macarthur Girls High School, Parramatta Public School, and St Patrick's Primary Parramatta.

Old King's School.

Several universities also have campuses in Parramatta. The University of New England has a study center. Western Sydney University has two campuses here: Parramatta South and Parramatta City Campus. Alphacrucis University College is a Christian college with a campus in Parramatta. The University of Sydney also plans to open a new campus in Parramatta.

Media and News

The Parramatta Advertiser is the local newspaper for Parramatta and nearby areas.

In 2020, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) opened a new newsroom in Parramatta. This was part of their plan to have a stronger presence in outer city areas. In 2021, the ABC also announced that it plans to move about 300 employees to Parramatta. This is part of a five-year goal to have most of its content creators working away from its main headquarters in Ultimo by 2025.

Culture and Sports

CommBank Stadium.

As a major center in the City of Parramatta, Parramatta hosts many fun festivals and events. Riverside Theatres is a performing arts center on the northern bank of the Parramatta River. Some of the events held in the city include:

• January – Sydney Festival and Australia Day
• February – Lunar New Year and Tropfest (a short film festival)
• April – Anzac Day
• July – Winterlight and Burramatta Day (Naidoc)
• October – Parramasala and Parramatta Lanes
• November – Loy Krathong, Christmas in Parramatta and Foundation Day
• December – New Year's Eve

Parramatta Park has the Old Government House. This means Parramatta was once the capital of the New South Wales colony. The park also has a natural outdoor theater called "the Crescent," which is used for concerts. It's home to the Dairy Cottage, built between 1798 and 1805. This is one of Australia's oldest surviving cottages.

Sporting Teams

Parramatta is home to several professional sports teams. These include the Parramatta Eels rugby league team and the Western Sydney Wanderers soccer team. Both teams used to play at Parramatta Stadium. This stadium was torn down and replaced with the 30,000-seat Western Sydney Stadium. The new stadium, also known as CommBank Stadium, opened on April 14, 2019. The first big sports event there was a rugby league game between the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers on April 22, 2019. The Eels won that game 51–6.

Entertainment and Filming Locations

The music video for Duran Duran's song “Union of the Snake” was filmed in Parramatta in 1983.

The 2013 superhero movie The Wolverine used the intersection of George Street and Smith Street in Parramatta as a filming location. It was made to look like Tokyo, Japan, in the movie!

Historic Places in Parramatta

Parramatta has many places that are listed for their historical importance. These sites help us remember the past.

Images for kids

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  View of Parramatta in 1812

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  Parramatta from May's Hill by Joseph Lycett (c. 1824)

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  Parramatta in 1886

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  The former Female Orphan School was one of the first schools in the area

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  Eclipse Tower

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  Various events are held on the Parramatta River

See also

In Spanish: Parramatta para niños