Parramatta

Fort Parramatta is a fort north of Wellington, New Zealand

Parramatta is a city, suburb and Local Government Area in Sydney, Australia, 25 kilometres west of the central business district (CBD) in Western Sydney. Parramatta is approximately at the geographical centre of the Sydney urban area. Situated on the banks of Parramatta River, Parramatta is a major commercial and retail centre, widely regarded as Sydney's "second central business district". It is home to Westfield Shoppingtown Parramatta, the largest shopping centre in Australia.

History

European settlement at Parramatta was begun by Governor Arthur Phillip in November 1788, just nine months after the First Fleet arrived in Sydney Cove. For a time in the early 1800s it was the seat of government of the colony of New South Wales (which at that time encompassed the eastern two-thirds of the Australian mainland). Afterwards the seat of government was moved back to Sydney, but the Governor's former residence, Old Government House, remains as an historic site and Museum and is Australia's oldest surviving public building.

Parramatta is the site of Australia's oldest farmstead, Elizabeth Farm. The property was named after the wife of the pioneer Australian farmer James Ruse, and is still a tourist attraction today. The name Parramatta is derived from a local Aboriginal expression meaning "place of many eels". The area was at first named Rose Hill, later changing to the native name for the area. It is located at a portion of the nearby Parramatta River which was indeed a gathering place for native species of eel. The eel has been adopted as the symbol of the Parramatta Eels Rugby League club who compete in the prestigious NRL.

Landmarks

Lake Parramatta

Lake Parramatta is a 10 hectare reserve. The catchment area for the Lake is bounded by North Rocks Rd, Pennant Hills Rd and Hunts Creek. Enter from Lackey Street, North Parramatta.

Parramatta City Council

The Parramatta City Council as well as Parramatta itself is the local government body covering all or part of the following Sydney suburbs:

• Winston Hills
• Toongabbie
• Pendle Hill
• Wentworthville
• Northmead
• Granville
• Guilford
• South Granville
• Harris Park
• Rosehill
• Camelia
• Rydalmere
• Dundas
• Telopea
• Ermington
• Dundas Valley
• Carlingford
• Eastwood
• Epping

See also: Parramatta Rail Link

External links

• 2001 Census Information