Parramatta Things to Do

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PARRAMATTA
John Macarthur was a soldier that arrived in Sydney in 1790 with the infamous and notorious second fleet..He was accompanied by his wife Elizabeth and their infant son..being a resiliant soldier he worked his way through the system to be The Inspector of Public Works and in 1793 was given a grant of 100 acres .. his then position and being in charge of convict labour and building materials he had no trouble having built this marvellous old classic home for his wife Elizabeth and their infant son..This is a great example of an early colonial bungalow..building commenced in 1793.He so named the house and farm after his wife .so succesful were the Macarthurs with their early flock of sheep..they became the pioneers of the Australian wool industry..Parramatta in the early 1790's was a very prosperous agricultural area..
The gardens here are vast and well cared for they are a re-creation of an 1830's garden..The house being under National Trust is in amazing condition and is a real museum ..but with no barriers ..you can walk through all of the house and even sit in the chairs ..The house was clearly built for the Australian heat in mind and all windows and doors I noticed open right out to let in the breeze ..and all have shutters also..There was a fire burning in the wood stove and a big kettle on the boil...the kitchen was large ..and all the antique furniture here is an exact replica of the original furniture..The house stayed in the hands of the Macarthurs for nearly a century when it was sold and the land subdivided..then it had many different owners..Today it is in the hands of the National Trust..
There is a Tea roon where you can obtain light refreshments..there are tables and chairs under trees and umbrellas..that were nearly all occupied...I had the freshly made "hot"scones with strawberry jam and cream....couldn't resist the wonderful aromas wafting from the kitchen...they were ..I must admit a little self indulgent ..but why not!!..but I wasn't the only one...smile...
Access to the house is available for wheel chairs everywhere except the kitchen..which can be viewed from the doorway..
OPEN FRIDAY TO SUNDAY TO THE PUBLIC..THERE IS A SMALL ENTRY FEE..
CLOSED GOOD FRIDAY AND XMAS DAY.....CONCESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE..

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PARRAMATTA
Located in the heart of Parramatta is the site of the first market ever held in Australia on the 12th January 1813. Parramatta being the site chosen for its fertle soil and most of all its access to water was where the food came from to feed the new Colony. The Colony was due to fail because of its lack of water.There was an abundance of water in the city but had not been found.The majority of the fruit and vegetables grown in the area were taken to the city of Sydney for sale. Much of this food was sold at the market place in Parramatta.
The site today is directly outside the Parramatta Town Hall. so if/when you are in Parramatta have look at this local historical site.

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PARRAMATTA
The Old Goverment House in Parramatta is the oldest surviving Government building in Australia. Located in Parramatta Park this lovely old building has been restored and is caringly originally furnished in the Maquarie period who was the then Govenor (1810-1821).
This large building of the time was built over a period of nearly twenty years (1799-1818). This period was shared by two Govenors being Governor John Hunter and Governor Lachlan Maquarie.
This is a very historical Australian building and can be enjoyed by everyone. The intereior of the building is well restored and is a step back in time as to how the landed gentry lived.This is a fine example and one of the best collections of early colonial Australian furniture in the country..

Old Government House is the oldest remaining public building in Australia.
Every Governor from Phillip to Fitzroy spent some time in residence at Parramatta.

The existing building is located on the site of the original small house built in 1790 for Governor Phillip. A larger residence was built in 1799 by Governor Hunter to replace the smaller home, with still improvements being made until 1816. It was used as a Vice-Regal residence until 1855.
The restored National Trust building was officially re-opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970.

Old Government House is open for guided tours and functions.

OPEN... Tuesday to Friday - 10:00am to 4:30pm (last tour at 4pm)
Weekends and Public Holidays - 10:30am to 4pm, Mondays - booked groups only.
ADMISSION
National Trust members free, adults $9, concession $6, families$24, groups $6pp.

A joint ticket for both Old Government House and Experiment Farm Cottage can be purchased which includes a 10% discount on National Trust shop merchandise and dining at Lachlan's Restaurant at Old Government House - adults $13, concession $9, family $35.

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I have lived in Parramatta for awhile now and it is only today that I got to visit The Lancer Barracks and the Lancers Memorial Museum..home to the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers..The oldest continuous serving regiment in Australia.. a regiment going back to 1885..The Regiment dates from the inauguration of the Sydney Light Horse.and holds more battle honours (21) than any other regiment and is the most highly decorated unit in the Australian Army ...
..and as my father was a trooper in the Australian Light Horse..This is a place I have long time wanted to visit...Often seeing the Lancers dressed as Light Horsemen and marching (horsed)with their "feathered hats".. in the Anzac day march commemorations..always stirred the desire to visit their barracks in Parramatta..
The Lancer Memorial Museum here is a great detailed history of The Lancer Regiment from the Boer War till now (from when they were Lancers with horse... to the mechanised regiment of today)..The Memorial Museum is situated in a two storey sandstone building called "Linden House"(built 1828) originally was an officers quarters..till 1840 when it became a school.. (that building used to be outside the barracks area)...and as it was in private hands it was donated to the regiment in 1963 and was moved from an area 500 meters away.. it was then demolished and..brick by brick rebuilt on its present site by the parade ground...The Lancer Barracks today is a working military establishment and The 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancer Regiment is a mechanised regiment with some personnel currently serving in the middle east..being a working military base..one has a volunteer guide to show you around the area..which includes the Parade Ground ...The Museum..and many old military vehicles parked nearby by the paradeground..The Museum is not run by the Australian army but by volunteers..There is a small charge for entry..and well worth it..
The Linden House building was dedicated on March 1st 1981 as a Memorial to the members of The New South Wales Lancers ..(campaigns) South Africa..1899-1902
1st Light Horse Regiment AIF.. Gallipoli,Sinai-Palestine 1914-1918
1st Armoured Regiment (RNSWL) AIF ..New Guinea,Borneo 1939-1945..
OPEN EVERY SUNDAY FOR INSPECTION FROM 10..AM TILL 4.00 PM

The Parramatta Railway station is the major transport hub in Parramatta. The Blue Mountain, Cumberland and Western line run here. The station is very large and is a major hub of activity. Liz and I caught a train from Parramatta back into the city. The schedules are clearly posted on monitors and the station is very clean and in good condition.

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St. John's Cathedral is an Anglican church in Parramatta. It is the oldest Church in Parramatta having been built in 1803. Our visit to Parramatta was during the summer and the Cathedral was surrounded by beautiful red and yellow flowers. Liz loves old churches and this particular one reminded her of her travels through the English countryside.

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This place is in the quiet part of Olympic Park and not many people come here as it is a bit far off from Olympic Park itself. However, I read about it, being a new area, we checked it and were not disappointed!

There are lots of artistic elements incorporated in the design of this park. Of course you will see heaps of bush trails leading to the ferry wharf which ends up in one part of the mighty Parra River. It is a heavenly place!There are artworks described as part of SCULPTURES BY THE SEA

Picnic tables are lined up with the views of the river and there are numerous water features as well. It is a fantaastic place for families to spend time with each other.It is a peaceful and extremely clean and organised area to visit!

Do come here early as the parking can get busy. We had to park right at the front and walk about 50 metres or so to the ferry wharf. But is was all worth it! We enjoyed our picnic there tremendously. There is a kiosk but one tip- the other side of the kiosk.resto is more quiet and that's where we stayed! The kiosk side is a bit crowded and filled with skaters, cyclists, etc.