Shortly after the arrival of the British First Fleet in 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip established Parramatta as a market town to supply fresh produce to the new settlement at Sydney Cove. Parramatta then outshone Sydney as a cultural and social centre for a time.
As a result Parramatta has some excellent examples of early colonial architecture including Old Government House, Elizabeth Farm, St John’s Cathedral, the Lancer Barracks and the Linden House Museum. Today’s Parramatta is a modern city with a range of cafes and restaurants exploring cuisines from around the globe, large shopping centres, cinemas, theatre and the Rosehill Racecourse.
Parramatta is best a understood with a visit to the visitors centre which features Parramatta: People and Place, a major exhibition that traces the development of Parramatta, and can then be explored following a walking map.
Parramatta is easily accessed on a picturesque Rivercat ferry ride up the western arm of Sydney Harbour. Notable historical sites include: Old Government House, Governor's Bath House, Tudor Gate House, Elizabeth Farm, Lancer Barracks and The Regimental Museum Linden House.
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