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  2. river foreshore parramatta

The River Foreshore Parramatta

The River Foreshore Parramatta

This historic precinct of Parramatta includes the section of the river from the Gasworks Bridge to the Marsden Street.  It was once the heart of the township where industry, commerce and agriculture all met for trade and exchange. Prior to European arrival in 1788 it was the tidal meeting place of fresh and salt water, and the Darug meeting place which gave Parramatta its name,  the place ‘where eels lie down’.

This stretch of river foreshore, particularly the southern bank, was arguably the most significant piece of land during the early European settlement of the area. It was here that Governor Phillip landed his boats on 2 November 1788, six months after first discovering the site, and it was from here that they set about building Australia’s second European settlement.

Between 1788 and 1840 this section of river was also of great importance for the feeding of the Sydney region. Australia’s agricultural and farming industries were born in the Parramatta district and the services to support them sprang up along these riverbanks.

Before this the foreshore was of immense significance to the local Darug People as it was the meeting place of the salt water from Sydney Harbour and the fresh water from the Parramatta River. The tides and extremes in climate meant that this section of river could range from being virtually empty of water to a raging torrent.

This changeability was also the source of the local Burramatta name ‘Parramatta’ meaning ‘where eels lie down’ This phrase referred to the period when the eels travelled up the river to spawn and many were caught in the open at low tide.

In the maps and blog posts below you can see how early the early township of Parramatta developed along the foreshore. All this started to change around 1860 with the opening of the railroad line which ran from Sydney to Parramatta. This saw the movement of goods and services to the southern side of Parramatta and the movement of the center of the city towards Centenary Square.

Our River Foreshore articles are compiled into a publication - access this here

Where the Riverside Theatres Stand

James Houison’s Bond House, Church Street, Parramatta

Captain Henry Mance – The Prince of Parramatta River

First European Exploration of Parramatta, 22 to 28 April 1788

Governor Phillip and the ‘Kings Wharf’, 1788

Harvey’s Mill, The Cumberland Steam Mill, and Dares Mill, Parramatta

Captain Henry Mance – The Prince of Parramatta River

William Sherwin – Parramatta Pioneers

Governor Phillip and the ‘Kings Wharf’, 1788

Thomas Halfpenny – George (High) Street – Parramatta Pioneers

James Houison’s Bond House, Church Street, Parramatta

Parramatta’s Rangihou Reserve and its Maori History

Michael Murphy – George Street – Parramatta Pioneers

The Centennial Baths of Parramatta

Byrnes Cloth Factory Parramatta

Rivercat Wharf – Parramatta

Governor Arthur Phillip – Part 1 – by John McClymont

Governor Arthur Phillip Part 2 by John McClymont

Parramatta Gaol Bridge: 1794 - 1837

Australia’s Retail History – the David Jones building Parramatta

Where the Riverside Theatres Stand

River Foreshore Parramatta – Public Health Issues 1889-1940

David Lennox

Parramatta Gasworks Bridge

John Irving – Australia’s first emancipated convict

Howell’s Wind and Water Mill – Parramatta

Bernie Banton AM

Former Shell site at Camellia

Rivercat Wharf – Parramatta

The Demolition of the David Jones Building, Parramatta. Time Lapse Video

Barry Charles Wilde 1967-1974

Governor Phillip Part 5 – Sydney 1788

Shale and Brick Quarry – River Foreshore Parramatta

The First Kings School – Harrisford House Parramatta

The Parramatta River 1848 to 1861 – Personal Observations by W S Campbell

Parramatta Gasworks and the Australian Gas Light Company

Lennox Bridge, Parramatta, 1836-1839

 

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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