Imagine eels. Imagine many eels. The Aboriginal word Burramatta means ‘place where the eels lie down’. Today, we’re standing in Parramatta.
Parramatta is a major commercial center. It’s also rich in history. It is located approximately 24 kilometers west of Sydney CBD. This is on the banks of the Parramatta River.
Parramatta’s story stretches back over 60000 years. The Burramattagal people, a clan of the Darug, lived here. They settled along the Parramatta River’s upper reaches. The Darug people still live in areas around Parramatta today. They live in Greater Western Sydney, La Perouse, and the Blue Mountains.
The Burramattagal had a close connection to the river. They caught fish and eels there. The river provided them with food.
In 1788, Governor Phillip arrived with the First Fleet. He developed Parramatta as a farming settlement. The goal was to feed the new English colony.
Initially, Phillip named this place Rose Hill on April 24, 1788. This honored George Rose. He was the secretary to the treasury. The first wheat crop was harvested here in 1789. By 1791, Rose Hill was renamed Parramatta.
Parramatta is also known as the ‘River City’. The Parramatta River flows through it. It’s the second European settlement in Australia. Parramatta is the economic capital of Greater Western Sydney. People call it the “cradle city”. This is because of its farming contribution to feeding the colony.
Parramatta Square stands next to St John’s Cathedral. This area has been a community hub for over 200 years. It was a marketplace. It was an Aboriginal and European meeting place. It has been a city center and a civic hub.
Parramatta earned city status through an Act of Parliament. The Governor of New South Wales, Lord Wakehurst, inaugurated it on October 27, 1938. This was the first day of its 150th Anniversary.
Parramatta was known as the City of Asylum in the 1840s. It housed many hospitals and mental institutions. These cared for the mentally ill.
Church Street is also known as Eat Street. It’s home to restaurants and shops. Many restaurants have outdoor dining areas.
The western part of Parramatta is the Parramatta Justice Precinct. It houses the headquarters of the NSW Department of Attorney General and Justice.
Parramatta has several historic churches. St John’s Cathedral is the oldest. St Patrick’s Cathedral is one of Australia’s oldest Catholic churches. The Leigh Memorial Church was the tallest spire in Parramatta in 1885.
Parramatta has several parks. Parramatta Park covers 85 hectares. Prince Alfred Square is a Victorian-era park. It is one of the oldest public parks in New South Wales.
Parramatta has many primary and secondary schools. Arthur Phillip High School is the oldest public school in the district.
According to the 2016 census, the most common country of birth in Parramatta is India. It represents 29.8% of the population. Only 6.5% identify as Australian.
So, as you wander through Parramatta, remember its long history. Think of the Burramattagal people. Remember the early settlers and the convicts. Consider Parramatta’s journey from a farming settlement to a major city. It’s a city of significance.