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  2. parramatta square over 230 years history

Parramatta Square Over 230 Years History

Aerial view of what is now Parramatta Square, about 1924

Situated adjacent to St John’s Cathedral is the area now referred to as Parramatta Square. But don’t be fooled by the modern facade for this area has been a community hub at the centre of Parramatta for over 230 years. Over its long a chequered history it has been a market place, an Aboriginal and European meeting place, a city centre, and a Civic hub.

Historically the area has been defined as the large block of land bounded by Church Street, The Railway Line (and later Darcy Street), Smith Street and Macquarie Street. It is hard to imagine now, but once this land was part of a natural valley that fed three separate ponds, with tall stands of trees growing in the rich volcanic soil. All of which was managed for tens of thousands of years by the local Burramattagal clan of the Darug Peoples.

Read the stories compiled by Research Team: Parramatta Square

Parramatta Square
Parramatta in 1856 by T.A.G.
The Old Markets in Parramatta Square 1813-1880
Revitalisation of the Market Space in Parramatta Square 1880-1930
Parramatta Square in the 1870s, Sam Crouch Reminisences
The Old Parramatta Market Place Building
Missing content item.
The Star Hotel, Church Street, Parramatta – Centenary Square
Parramatta City Library - 1 Civic Place
Parramatta City Council Administrative Building – 2 Civic Place
Parramatta Town Hall Site
The Parramatta Town Hall
Keeping Good Time: Clocks of Parramatta
Dr. Johnson’s Residence, Macquarie Street
30-38 Darcy Street, Parramatta. Former Council Building
Dr. Woolnough’s Residence, 153 Macquarie Street
The Parramatta Soldiers’ Hut
The famous stagecoach of John Hilt, Parramatta
History of Darcy Street, Parramatta
Hart, Hitchcock and Co. Timber Merchants, Darcy Street, Parramatta
Henry Garlick and the Public Pound
Macquarie Hall and Jubilee Hall, Macquarie Street
Harper Timber: a 160 year-old Parramatta business
Bas Relief on the MLC Building Parramatta
Harriet Holland, ‘Cranbrook’ House, Macquarie Street
A.R.C. Thomas Clock, Civic Place Parramatta
The Strand, Macquarie Street, Parramatta
Macquarie House 169 Macquarie Street
Parramatta’s Convict Drains and Sewer System
Craig’s Stone Masonry Yard, Church Street
The Town Clerk’s Cottage and Mr Wickham
Leigh Memorial Church, Parramatta
 

The City of Parramatta respectfully recognises the traditional owners of the land and waters of Parramatta, the Darug peoples.
Sensitivity notice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website may contain images and voices of deceased ancestors.

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