ParramattaOutdoor Escape Game & Treasure Hunt

From Eel Place to Colonial Hub

Parramatta's history spans over 60,000 years. The land along the Parramatta River was home to the Burramattagal people, a clan of the Dharug nation. The name 'Parramatta' comes from the Dharug word 'Burramatta' or 'Baramada,' meaning 'place where the eels lie down,' reflecting the river's food source.

European settlement began in 1788, the same year as Sydney, making Parramatta Australia's second-oldest city. Governor Arthur Phillip named it Rose Hill in April 1788, after British politician George Rose. It was intended as a farming settlement to feed the Sydney Cove colony, where the soil was poor for agriculture. The first convict work team arrived in November 1788 to clear land for farming. The town was officially renamed Parramatta in June 1791.

Shaping a Young Colony

Parramatta became a key agricultural center. In 1789, James Ruse, a former convict, received Australia's first land grant at Experiment Farm in Parramatta, where he grew the colony's first wheat crop. The 1790s saw the start of the Australian wool industry by John Macarthur at Elizabeth Farm, established in 1793. Old Government House, built by convicts between 1799 and 1816, served as a country residence for the first ten Governors of New South Wales, including Governor and Mrs Macquarie. This building, along with its garrison, is Australia's oldest surviving public building and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 19th century established Parramatta's role as an agricultural and convict hub, with the Female Factory in 1821 to house female convicts.

Transport links developed early. The Sydney to Parramatta railway opened in 1855, the first railway line in Sydney and the second in Australia. By the 1970s and 1980s, Parramatta was recognized as Sydney's "second CBD," with government offices and a commercial center along Church Street.

• —Old Government House — A UNESCO World Heritage site, this Georgian residence, built between 1799 and 1816, was the country retreat for the first ten governors of New South Wales. Visitors can explore its rooms and Parramatta Park.
• —Elizabeth Farm — Dating from 1793, this is Australia's oldest surviving European building. It was the home of wool industry pioneers John and Elizabeth Macarthur. The homestead shows early colonial life with original furnishings and gardens.
• —Lennox Bridge — Completed in 1839, this sandstone arch bridge spans the Parramatta River. It is one of Australia's earliest bridges and an example of colonial engineering.
• —Parramatta Female Factory Memorial — This site, operating from 1821 to 1848, was Australia's first purpose-built female factory, housing and employing female convicts. It provides insight into the lives of convict women.
• —St John's Cathedral — The site of St John's has hosted a church since 1803. The current structure, with its twin steeples completed in 1819, is one of the oldest churches in Parramatta.
• —Experiment Farm Cottage — This cottage stands on the site of Australia's first land grant, given to former convict James Ruse in 1789. It is where the first successful wheat crop in the colony was harvested.
• —Prince Alfred Square — One of New South Wales' oldest public parks, with trees from around 1869. Before becoming a park, it was the site of Parramatta's second gaol from 1804 to 1841 and the first female factory from 1804 to 1821.

Parramatta has a humid subtropical climate with warm to hot summers and mild to cool winters. The period from early December to late March, with a peak in the third week of January, offers clear, rainless days and temperatures between 18°C and 27°C. For warm-weather activities, early January to late February is suitable.

Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) offer pleasant weather, with daytime highs between 16°C and 26°C. Summer (December to February) can be hot, with temperatures often over 35°C, and occasional heatwaves above 40°C. Rainfall occurs throughout the year, with February typically being the wettest month and September the driest.

Parramatta is accessible. Sydney Airport (SYD) is approximately 25-30 minutes away by car. Trains from Sydney CBD reach Parramatta Station in about 30 minutes; the station is a major hub. The Parramatta RiverCat ferry service connects Parramatta Wharf to Circular Quay. The Parramatta Light Rail (L4 Westmead & Carlingford Line) connects Westmead and Carlingford via the CBD, with services from 5 am to 1 am daily.

Walking is a way to explore the city, with most sights within a 30-minute walk from the city center. For parking, several 24-hour council parking stations are in and around the CBD, such as Parramatta Square Car Park, Eat Street (Erby Place), Parramatta Station (Wentworth Street), and Justice Precinct (Hunter Street). Rates vary; some offer early bird or all-day flat rates. Free parking is available for the first two hours on Sundays at Parramatta Station and Justice Precinct car parks. On-street metered parking is also available.