Living in Parramatta
Parramatta is a suburb and major urban centre of Sydney, located 23 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district on banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area (LGA) of the City of Parramatta.
History
During 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip chose Parramatta as the place for a large farm, after food supplies in the First Fleet dwindled, and the soil around Sydney cove was unable to support agriculture. The house he built on The Crescent, now called Old Governors House, continued to be used by subsequent governors until the 1850s, and is today situated within Parramatta Park as Australia’s oldest surviving public building.
Transport Links
Parramatta railway station is a major transport interchange on the CityRail network and is served by the Blue Mountains line, Cumberland line and the Western line. The area is well served by buses and a ferry which runs from the wharf on the Sydney Ferries River Cat ferry service into the City.
Shopping and Recreation
Westfield Parramatta can be found here, and is one of the largest shopping centres in Australia. The suburb is also home to a great number of restaurants for every taste and budget. Parramatta Park is a very large park and home to an amphitheatre as well as many historical sites and buildings. Next to this is Parramatta Stadium, home to the Parramatta Eels rugby league team. Also in Parramatta is Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, the Parramatta Swimming Centre, Parramatta City Raceway and the Riverside Theatre.
Schools
Schools here include Parramatta High School, Arthur Phillip High School, Macarthur Girls High School, Parramatta Public School, Our Lady of Mercy College and The King’s School Parramatta. The University of Western Sydney also has a campus here.
