ABOUT COUNCIL - Parramatta City Council - NSW Government

PARRAMATTA’S PROUD PAST• Home to the Burramatta clan of the Darug people,Parramatta’s rich Indigenous heritage is reflected in theCity’s name, official crest and prominence of Indigenousinspiredpublic artwork throughout the City.• Parramatta’s fertile alluvial soils saved the strugglingBritish colony from starvation, with Australia’s firstsuccessful crops harvested in what is now Parramatta Parkin 1789.• Officially declared as Australia’s second Europeansettlement on 2 November 1788, Parramatta is home tomore than 1,000 heritage-listed buildings or sites.• Australia’s oldest private dwelling, Elizabeth Farm (c 1793),and the nation’s oldest public building, Old GovernmentHouse (c 1799), are both located in Parramatta.• In 1813 Parramatta was officially designated a markettown, with its original markets located close to the presentday Parramatta Town Hall.• In 1824 Parramatta’s market place was the site of thecolonial Government’s first ‘reconciliation’ feast, attendedby Indigenous people from local and regional areas.• Established in 1861, the Borough of Parramattaamalgamated in 1948 with Dundas, Ermington, Rydalmereand Granville councils to form the City of Parramatta.• In 1988, Parramatta’s mayoral position was upgraded toLord Mayor status• In 2005 Parramatta was formally recognised by the NSWGovernment as the Capital of Western Sydney.• For more information on Council’s history and heritage,visit Council’s website andsearch under ‘Parramatta Heritage Centre’.Tudor Gates, Parramatta Park, ParramattaParramatta is home to a large number of impressive heritage buildingsElizabeth Farm, built in 1793 by the Macarthurs, is Australia’soldest European building40 PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL - ANNUAL REPORT 2010/11