The Parramatta Aquatic Centre - 2023
The Parramatta Aquatic Centre, or “PAC”, will be a year-round destination for swimming, fitness and wellness, catering to the families, schools, workers, and visitors to the Parramatta LGA.
The facility sensitively integrates with the site’s Parramatta Park surrounds. The striking ring enclosure, and primary identifying design element, takes inspiration from both the history of farm enclosures and river swimming enclosures along the Parramatta River.
Our heritage display and associated stories explores the history of swimming through time in Parramatta, highlighting the Parramatta Memorial Swimming Club that was established in 1964. The Parramatta Memorial Swimming Club has encouraged the wider Parramatta community to develop a healthy and safe approach to swimming.
Club volunteers encouraged new swimmers to participate and develop their swimming and life-saving skills, with learn to swim activities free of charge from the early years of the Club’s history, until the closure of the City of Parramatta War Memorial Swimming Centre in 2017.
The focus on improvement of swimming techniques and competition can be seen through their collection of memorabilia, kindly on loan to the City of Parramatta, and now on display at the Parramatta Aquatic Centre.
A site for a Golf Club
The first golf course in Parramatta - In 1902, the Parramatta Park Trust received an application from several wealthy citizens of Parramatta for a golf course to be established in the parklands. The eighteen-hole Parramatta Golf Club course was designed by champion golfer Carnegie Clark, with one drive notably played over the railway line. In 1929, the Parramatta Park Trust terminated the lease and the course was utilised for cricket pitches and horse pasture.
The second golf course in Parramatta - In 1958 a new course was constructed on Mays Hill, where PAC is now situated. The land was cleared again, with extensive land-forming taking place, along with a clubhouse and car park. The Parramatta Golf Club remained at this course until the organisation went into voluntary administration in April 2015. (source :HIS&P artefact heritage)
