Overview - Parramatta City Council - NSW Government

Proud Past
Promising Outlook
Home for hundreds of generations to Aboriginal people including
the Burramattagal, a clan of the Dharug, Parramatta’s rich Aboriginal
heritage is reflected in its name, official crest and the widespread
use of Aboriginal designs in public art throughout the City.
The ‘cradle of a nation’, Parramatta’s fertile alluvial soils saved the
struggling British colony when the first successful crops were
harvested in 1789 at Rosehill government farm.
Selected as the site of Australia’s second oldest European
settlement on 2 November 1788, Parramatta is home to some of
the nation’s oldest buildings and has over 1000 heritage-listed
buildings or sites, many which have national significance.
Laid out in 1790, Parramatta quickly became the settlement of
choice, with early Colonial Governors living in Parramatta Park’s
Old Government House rather than the port of Sydney for the
next 55 years.
Australia’s oldest private dwelling – Elizabeth Farm (c.1793) and
our oldest public building – Old Government House (c.1799) are
both located in Parramatta.
Parramatta’s 1881 town hall stands on the site of Australia’s first
European marketplace, designated when Parramatta officially
became a market town in 1812.
Now part of the Church Street Mall, the market place was the site
of the Colonial Government’s first ‘peace process’ in 1824, with
feasting and blanket hand outs to local and regional Aboriginal
people who had survived hostilities and disease.
Established in 1861 the Borough of Parramatta was amalgamated
in 1948 with Dundas, Ermington, Rydalmere and Granville
councils to form the current City of Parramatta.
In 2005 Parramatta was recognised by the NSW Government as
the Capital of Western Sydney, Australia’s fastest growing region.
> Due for completion in 2006, our Parramatta Twenty25 Strategic Plan will define the 20 year course that ensures Parramatta lives
up to Council’s vision of becoming the Leading City at the Heart of Sydney.
> Parramatta will be revitalised over the next few years by the $1.4 billion Civic Place Redevelopment and 21st century Parramatta
Justice Precinct.
> Council will continue to work with business and other partners to market the city through promotion of the Parramatta First
brand and the many advantages of investing in Sydney’s second CBD.
> Promoting quality urban design and positioning Parramatta as a creative city and regional hub for Western Sydney is high on our list,
as is progressing our Artists Studios.
> Parramatta’s infrastructure will benefit from the investment of $28.2 million capital works upgrade of its footpaths, roads,
streetlighting and neighbourhoods during 2006/07.
> The upgrade of Council’s multi-storey car parks, residential parking schemes and on-street paid parking will improve access to the
City and parking in general.
> Making Council a more constructive and positive workplace will continue with the roll out of our Human Resources Plan and
Internal Communications Plan, further improving our customer service.
> Improving customer responsiveness via phone and email and optimising our new Councils Online computer technology to deliver
effficiencies, remain a priority.
> Upgrading our website and providing better integrated, more convenient online services will offer the community around the
clock access to information, rate paying and Development Application tracking.
> Finalising Council’s review of its Residential Development Strategy (RDS) in response to the State Government’s requirement that
local councils accommodate Sydney's population growth, including preparation of a new Local Environment Plan.
> Preparing and implementing a transport plan for the Parramatta Central Business District that helps unlock the economic and
social potential of the City.
Parramatta at a Glance
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Parramatta City Council 2005/06 Annual Report