“Eels lying down.” What a curious name for a place. That’s what the Darug people called this area long ago. They knew North Parramatta as a rich food source.
Welcome to North Parramatta a suburb steeped in history. It’s a place where the past whispers from every corner. We’re standing in a suburb that’s seen indigenous settlements convict labour and modern development.
Let’s journey back to the time of the Burramattagal clan. They were part of the Darug people. This land was their home. The river was their lifeblood. They fished for eels and gathered food from the forests. “Baramada” or “Burramatta” meant more than just a place. It was sustenance.
As colonial settlers arrived North Parramatta transformed. Governor Arthur Phillip set aside land north of Parramatta for future use. The earliest land grant in North Parramatta went to Charles Smith in 1792. He received 30 acres on what is now the Cumberland Hospital Precinct. Smith had been transported to Australia. He became a free settler after receiving a pardon.
Samuel Marsden later bought Smith’s land. He intended to build a mill. Marsden acquired more land toward Darling Mills Creek. Governor William Bligh also received a large grant. His 105 acres extended to what is now The King’s School.
Speaking of schools The King’s School is Australia’s oldest independent school. It was established in 1831. The school moved to North Parramatta in 1968.
Now let’s turn our attention to St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cemetery. It’s on the corner of Church Street and Pennant Hills Road. This is Australia’s oldest Catholic cemetery. Headstones here date back to the 1820s. Approximately 2000 graves tell silent stories. The cemetery was closed to new burials in 1972.
North Parramatta is also known for the Parramatta Female Factory. Construction began in 1818. It became the first purpose-built destination for convict women in Australia. The Factory was a prison a school a home and a place of manufacture. Later in 1848 it was transformed into the Parramatta Lunatic Asylum. In 1878 it was renamed the Parramatta Hospital for the Insane. By 1983, the site was again renamed Cumberland Hospital.
The Roman Catholic Orphan School also stands in North Parramatta. It was the first orphanage for Catholic children. Construction started in 1840.
Let’s not forget Lake Parramatta. Parramatta Dam was built to provide drinking water. Work began in 1851. Fresh water was piped to Parramatta by 1881. The dam was used until 1916. Lake Parramatta is the first large dam. It is also the first arch dam built in Australia.
North Parramatta has a rich history. It’s a suburb that has evolved through different phases. It’s a place where Aboriginal heritage colonial settlement and modern life intertwine.
Take a moment to reflect on the layers of history beneath your feet. Consider the stories of the Darug people. Think about the convicts the settlers and the children. North Parramatta is more than just a suburb. It’s a living testament to Australia’s past.