Discover Parramatta City
Accommodation in Parramatta City
Parramatta City brings together places rich in history and cultural heritage, riverside paths and trails through Parramatta Park. Depending on your interests, you can explore the early colonial period, learn about traditional land use or make a hike the focus of your trip. Parramatta City offers a range of reasons to consider your own interests when choosing a travel destination.
History and heritage
Old Government House in Parramatta Park was built around 1799 and extended in 1815. From its earliest days, the house was connected with the administration of the colony. Hambledon Cottage also tells the story of Parramatta: it was built in 1824 as the second residence on John Macarthur’s Elizabeth Farm Estate in Parramatta. Those interested in life in the early colonial period can also visit the Philip Ruddock Heritage Centre at 45 Macquarie Street. This curated museum is dedicated to the subject.
In Parramatta Park, surviving Aboriginal plantings and scar trees recall traditional land use. The Dairy Precinct has an exhibition space, digital displays and landscape designs; the Precinct is designated a World Heritage site. Group tours for up to 15 participants can be arranged there by emailing education@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au. These places offer different ways to explore the park’s history, from traces of traditional land use to the exhibition space and digital displays.
Riverside and city walks
Those who enjoy walking can choose from routes of different lengths and destinations. The Harris Park Heritage Trail is a self-guided, 2.4-kilometre route. It starts at Parramatta Wharf and follows the river east to Harris Park. The Great West Walk is on a different scale: this 65-kilometre walking trail runs from Parramatta Park to the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The two routes differ considerably in length, making them suitable for different ideas about how much walking a trip should include.
The Parramatta River Walk ends in Parramatta, where Toongabbie Creek and Darling Mills Creek meet. Another named route is the Governor Phillip Walk, which passes through some of Australia’s oldest government-owned lands. For a self-guided look at the built environment, there is also the Parramatta Heritage Architecture audio tour. It takes visitors to the city’s architectural treasures and explores their stories and features. Together, these paths and tours offer a range of ways to explore, without limiting your trip to just one approach.
Culture and city life
PHIVE at 5 Parramatta Square spans the original, heritage-listed Parramatta Town Hall. A free guided tour of PHIVE is offered at 5 Parramatta Square, in the heart of Parramatta’s Central Business District. Riverside Theatres is located on the banks of the Parramatta River. Weekly farmers’ markets are now held in the square around Parramatta Town Hall. As well as historic houses and walking trails, architecture, theatre and markets can all be interests to explore during a stay.
If you want to bring together the different interests of your fellow travellers, you can choose individual themes for your trip, such as colonial history, traditional land use, architecture or longer hiking routes. This variety makes Parramatta City a destination you can choose based on the experiences you have planned. If this mix suits your travel plans, consider Parramatta City as a destination when searching for a holiday rental.
More destinations
If you’d like to compare different destinations, also take a look at Windsor, Brookvale, Maroubra, North Narrabeen, Como, Engadine, Randwick and Rooty Hill.
For the broader travel overview: Sydney.
