Historic Places To Visit Around Sydney

Visit Historic Parramatta Park, NSW

Macquarie St Gatehouse, built in 1887, Corner of Pitt & Macquarie St Parramatta Park Parramatta NSW

Parramatta is Australia's second oldest city.

Parrramatta Park is a park and historic site in Western Sydney, NSW.

Located on the edge of Parramatta CBD, Parramatta Park has 85 hectares of lawns and is about 27 km from Sydney CBD.

The Darug people who have lived in the area for thousands of years, called the territory Burramatta. More info.

A native camp near Cockle Bay, New South Wales with a view of Parramatta River, taken from Dawes's Point / drawn by J. Eyre; engraved by P. Slaeger [sic]. Published 1812

The Darug people lived in family groups of five to 60 people and each group had its own territory and traditional rights and responsibilities.

In April 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip of the First Fleet explored the Parramatta River and established a fortified camp on a hill overlooking Parramatta Park.

Parramatta Park was where the first successful farms grew sufficient food to feed the colony.

Governor Phillip named a natural landform feature, The Crescent, and in November 1788, Phillip sent convicts to establish agriculture here. You can visit The Crescent today.

Government House at Parramatta was completed by Governor Hunter in 1799 and ten governors of New South Wales from 1788 to 1857 occupied the building. Today, it is Australia's oldest public building and is opened to the public.

OLD GEORGE-STREET, Parramatta, NSW, in 1791.

Dairy Cottage, at Parramatta Park, was built between 1798 and 1821, in part by ex-convict George Salter. Later, the building was converted to a dairy by Governor Macquarie.

On 28 December 1814, Governor Macquarie had his first meeting with Aboriginal peoples of the Cumberland Plain at Parramatta. Maria, the daughter of Yarramundi "Chief of the Richmond Tribes" became the first student of the Native Institution, voluntarily admitted by her father.

Maria was a successful student of the Native Institution and won a prize in an examination. Read more

Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 23 December 1804

The Parramatta Observatory was established by Governor Brisbane, who was educated in astronomy and mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, in March 1822, on the grounds of Government House. The observatory's major contribution was Rümker's rediscovery of Encke's comet in 1822.

The Bath House at Parramatta Park was constructed in 1823 for Governor Brisbane, whereby water was pumped through lead pipes from the nearby river. It was later converted into a pavilion.

The original Macquarie Street Gatehouse building was constructed in 1848, The present house built in 1887, was built around this original dwelling.

Parramatta Park is one of the earliest gazetted public parks in Australia, dedicated as a park in 1857.

Between 1859 and 1889, large parts of the Government Domain of Parramatta Park were subdivided into the suburbs of Westmead and Northmead.

Church St, Parramatta, NSW, in 1861, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 26 October 1938,

The George Street Gatehouse was built on the site of Governor Macquarie's small stone lodge in 1885.

Sydney's Hunt Club at Parramatta Park, NSW, 1906

The Soldiers' Memorial, Parramatta Park, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 22 November 1911

"Entrance to Parramatta Park," by John Henry Harvey (ca. 1880–ca. 1934), featuring the George Street 'Tudor' Gatehouse. The horse and cart stand in front of a building on the corner of George and O'Connell Streets, a location which is thought to have been the site of the first public brewery in Australia (established 1803).SLVIC

Strangely, in the 1930s, a Zoological Garden existed at Parramatta Park. Read more

Parramatta Gatehouse, NSW, 1935, (There are six gatehouses in Parramatta Park located at the entrances on George Street (the Tudor Gatehouse), Ross Street, Park Road, Macquarie Street, Great Western Highway at Mays Hill and Queens Road)

AT THE PARRAMATTA (N.S.W.) 150th ANNIVERSARY (Government House) Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 12 November 1938,

The atmosphere of an early-colonial vice-regal reception and garden party was recaptured during the150th birthday celebrations at Parramatta, NSW, Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 9 November 1938

In the early 1950s, motor races went through the park.

Car race at Parramatta Park, NSW, Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953), Sunday 7 September 1952

GHOST of Lady Mary Fitzroy, killed nearby in 1847, is still said to appear on the columned
porch of Old Government House, Parramatta. Once the seat of colony's early Governors, the building is now The King's School Junior House. Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), Friday 19 March 1954

In 2010, Parramatta Park with Old Government House was one of the 11 Australian Convict Sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Register.

There are two children's playgrounds and a sealed off-road area to ride bikes at Parramatta Park.

Around Parramatta Park

The Bath House at Parramatta Park, NSW, was constructed in 1823 for Governor Brisbane. Now a pavillion

The observatory at Parramatta Park, NSW, was built by Governor Brisbane in 1822 and was used to make some of the most important early astronomical observations in the southern hemisphere (The observatory’s transit stones – which originally supported a transit telescope)

The Soldiers' Memorial. Canons from the 1850s defense of the Port Jackson, now at Parramatta Park, NSW

There are six gatehouses in Parramatta Park, NSW, located at the entrances on George Street (the Tudor Gatehouse), Ross Street, Park Road, Macquarie Street, Great Western Highway at Mays Hill and Queens Road.

The oldest surviving public building in Australia, Old Government House is a heritage-listed former "country" residence used by ten early governors of New South Wales between 1800 and 1847, located in Parramatta Park, NSW

Places To Go

Virtual Tour of Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park -Macquarie St, Parramatta, AU 2150

The Lancer Barracks is made up of several historic buildings built in c1820, including the Georgian building of Linden House – home to the Lancer Museum.

View archaeological remains from the early settlement of Parramatta at Philip Ruddock Heritage Centre.

Harris Park Heritage Area encompasses important historic landmarks such as Experiment Farm Cottage, Elizabeth Farm Cottage and Hambledon Cottage.

Female Orphan School was commissioned in 1813 by Governor Macquarie to provide a place to train orphaned, convict and Aboriginal females as domestic servants.

Parramatta Female Factory

Newington Armory was used as an explosives store during WWII.

Parramatta Town Hall - the foundations were laid in 1792.

Lennox Bridge was completed in 1839, designed by David Lennox.

NSW Schoolhouse Museum, Ryde

The NSW Schoolhouse Museum is located on the school grounds of North Ryde Public School, in North Ryde, a suburb of Sydney.

The museum has many artifacts, where visitors can participate in lessons, write using ink and on slate boards. Also, have fun with various outdoor activities of the past, such as playing quoits and maypole dancing while dressed up in clothing typical of that time.

The museum includes preserved classrooms dating from 1877 and 1910 and a 1950s demountable classroom.

A day full of fun and historical learning.

"UNFURLING THE FLAG"-EMPIRE GREETINGS AT RYDE
SUPERIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wednesday 20 November 1907

Corporal George Victor Goodwin, second youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Goodwin, of Belmore-street, Ryde, is reported to have been killed in action at the Dardanelles between August 7th and12th. He was 26 years of age, and was educated at the Ryde Superior Public School. Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 11 September 1915

OLD PAROCHIAL SCHOOL. This building, which stands on the corner of Parramnatta-rqad and Belmoroe Street, Ryde, is about to be demolished. It was erected in 1838 and was used as a parochial school.Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Friday 25 March 1927

Around the NSW Schoolhouse Museum

The Ryde Schoolhouse Museum, NSW, includes preserved classrooms dating from 1877 and 1910 and a 1950s demountable classroom

NSW Schoolhouse Museum, Ryde, NSW

Places To Go

The NSW Schoolhouse Museum

Addington House is a heritage-listed former farm, residence and orchard and now community facility located at 813 Victoria Road, Ryde in the City of Ryde local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1794 to 1841

Randwick and The Art Deco Ritz Cinema

Randwick is part of the country of Kameygal/Gameygal people.

In 1833, the first horse race was held at Randwick Racecourse. (A race track was first laid out in Randwick using convict labour and called the Sandy Course)

The first stone house at Randwick was built in 1848, called Blenheim House, which still exists.

Hooper Cottage at 17 Gilderthorpe Avenue, Randwick, was also built around 1848. It also survives and is still in good condition.

Randwick was Sydney's first municipality outside the CBD in 1859. In the same year, Coogee Bay Road was constructed between Carrington Road and Coogee Beach.

An asylum for Destitute Children was built at Randwick in 1858 to house 400 children on 60 acres. A new wing was built in 1863 for 400 more children.

The oldest house in Randwick, NSW, Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Saturday 29 September 1900

GATHERING OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF THE INSTITUTION FOR A HOLIDAY EXCURSION. RANDWJCK ASYLUM, SYDNEY. FOR THE RELIEF 0F- DESTITUTE CHILDREN. Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 21 December 1907

The old council chambers at Randwick, NSW, built in 1866, Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930)

Allison Road, Randwick, NSW, in the 1870s. SLNSW

In 1880, Randwick Tramway Workshop was established.

Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club was established in 1882.

Derby Day, Randwick, NSW, Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 21 September 1895

Grand Stand, Randwick, NSW, Punch (Melbourne, Vic. : 1900 - 1918; 1925), Thursday 17 September 1903

The Randwick Theatre opened in 1921 and donated the opening night takings to the Eastern Suburbs District Ambulance Service.

Everyones. Vol.2 No.68 ( 22 June 1921)

An "R" type model in course of construction at the Randwick tramway workshops. This model wasinspected by the Minister for Transport (Mr. Bruxner) and officers this week. Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Friday 18 November 1932

General Store owned by Mrs Humphrey Nichols, at 20 Wentworth Street, Randwick, NSW. It is known that the store had the first ever public telephone in the neighborhood

The Ritz Theatre on Saint Pauls Street in Randwick, built in the Art Deco style, opened in 1937.

The Ritz was designed by Aaron Bolot, the same architect who designed other Art Deco buildings in Potts Point. This theatre was nearly demolished in 1993 until interventions by the Randwick Council saved it. The building is now protected by a Permanent Heritage Order.

Around Randwick and The Randwick Ritz

The Randwick Ritz, Randwick, NSW

Randwick Ritz, Randwick, NSW

Hooper Cottage at 17 Gilderthorpe Avenue, Randwick was built around 1848.

The Spot is located in the south-eastern part of the suburb of Randwick, NSW, around the intersection of Perouse Road and St Pauls Street

Superintendent's Cottage, Prince of Wales Hospital, built (The Prince of Wales Hospital was initially part of the Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children, which was established on its current High Street Randwick site in 1858)

Randwick Town Hall, NSW, opened, 3rd February 1882

Corana and Hygeia, also known as Randwick Lodge, Avoca Street, Randwick, NSW. They were built from 1893 to 1894.

Tayar, The Avenue, Randwixk, NSW, a two-storey Victorian Italianate house built in c1900

St Jude's Church, Avoca Street, Randwick, NSW ( built 1865 to design inspired by St John's Church, Randwick, Gloucestershire, England)

Venice is a heritage-listed apartment building and residence in Randwick, City of Randwick, NSW, built from 1884 to 1885 by Stephen Gee.

Former Randwick Post Office, NSW, built in 1898 is Federation Freestyle

"Aston Lodge" was built for John Watkins in 1865. Randwick, NSW. Now a private school, the Emanuel School

Ventnor Avoca Street, Randwick Built 1858 by Edward Dawson. Bought c. 1876 by George Kiss, auctioneer of Kiss' Horse Bazaar, George Street, Sydney. Mayor of Randwick 1878. Family resided there until 1963 when sold to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church.

Places To Go

The Ritz Cinema, also known as the Ritz Theatre, is a heritage-listed cinema located at 43 St Pauls Street, in the Sydney suburb of Randwick, NSW

Randwick Art Deco Walk

Randwick & District’s HistoryDiscovery Walks

The Spot Food and Film Festival

The La Perouse Museum is located at 1542 Anzac Parade, La Perouse, NSW