Although exploring the heritage is one of the best things to do in Parramatta, there's also a new vibrant food and culture scene in Sydney's 'second CBD'.
This article explores the transformative restoration of Parramatta Town Hall, blending historical architecture with modern sustainability and cultural sensitivity.
Memories of Mr. John Taylor. Interesting and Amusing Reminiscences of Parramatta (New South Wales) in 1837.
Parra Parramatta Eels Grumpy Old Rugby League Footy Football Sign Bar Pub Man Cave NEW! - Cut Price Worldwide Shipping available on all our signs! That's right ... We've introduced FREE shipping Australia wide - 1/2 price shipping to NZ & we pay a huge portion of the shipping to the UK, USA & the rest of the world. You can also see our entire range on our new website: www.saucysigns.com Please Note Re: International Shipping: Typically our signs reach major Worldwide, Canadian & US cities within 7-10 days, & from our feedback and Etsy reviews, they're generally shipping really quickly to the US in particular. We'd have to say the average delivery time to all international locations would be around 10-18 days & usually our signs are on the next flight out of here. Also keep in mind we're a day ahead down here in Australia. Once our signs hit a major airport, they're in the hands of your local postal service. Having said that, we do mention in our Esty shipping policy that international orders can take 7 - 21 days, as we can't guarantee issues that are beyond our control. *** Regular postage does not include a tracking feature. If you require tracking with your order please choose the Standard International Postage With Tracking Upon reaching the check-out. We will notify you of a tracking number as soon as your parcel is dispatched. This is also a faster postage method *** If we have your sign in stock we will post it almost immediately. Generally we make a unique sign just for you as soon as you place your order. Our signs take at least two - three days to dry & complete but we'll get them to you asap. If you buy multiple signs, sometimes we post them individually as the shipping is much cheaper and keeps your prices down. We do post your signs at the same time, however your local postal service may not deliver all your signs on the same day. Size: Our signs measure approximately 12 x 9 inches or 30 x 21 cms. Additionally, signs that appear to have white lettering actually have a neutral light timber coloured font. Each sign is original and individually hand-crafted so colours and the finish of your sign may vary slightly to the sign pictured here as no two signs are identical. Oh… and avoid hanging your sign in direct sunlight or where it can get wet. We also make custom signs subject to formatting: Just message us with your requirements. We can place almost any combinations on them or word them however you like. Custom signs may take a little longer to make & ship. Finally, if you have any questions or concerns about any of the signs you would like to purchase, or have indeed purchased, please message us and we'll be happy to discuss item specifics and any other enquiries. Many thanks & enjoy! Jodie-Leigh, Geoffers, Daniella. Saucy Signs For our full range visit: www.saucysigns.com Follow Saucy Signs on Facebook for our great specials, endless give-a-ways & our latest signs: www.facebook.com/saucysigns
Splash this wallpaper across your iPhone X lock screen to show your support for the Parramatta Eels, during the NRL 2018 Season! ** Make sure you grab the "Original" size when downloading. ** Home-screen-friendly matching wallpaper → [ HERE ] --- iPhone 6/7/8 users go → [ HERE ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ALL 2018 TEAM DESIGNS AVAILABLE: [ HERE ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Format: Photograph Find out more about this photographic collection: acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=153778 Search for more great images in the State Library's collections: acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/SimpleSearch.aspx From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales: www.sl.nsw.gov.au
This article explores the transformative restoration of Parramatta Town Hall, blending historical architecture with modern sustainability and cultural sensitivity.
It promised to be an event of a spectacular nature seldom before seen in Australia. Ten days of pageantry and carnival at Parramatta from 27 October to 5 November 1938 to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the second oldest settlement in Australia. Poster publicising the Anniversary Celebrations PRS16/001 Parramatta Council Archives A management committee made up of leading figures from the district was formed a year before the event to begin the final preparations for an event that promised to produce a "galaxy of entertainment and historic features". It was an impressive array of entertainment which included a, Military Tattoo, Police Carnival, Chinese Fireworks Display, Dancing Under the Stars, Period Costume Garden Party, Venetian Carnival on the River, Swimming Fetes, Sports Gymkhana, Orange Festival, Street Parades, Massed Band Concerts, Grand Prix, and a Wild West Rodeo. There was even a Coronation Ball in which the Queen of Parramatta would be crowned. Part of the parade moving down Church Street at the corner of George Street ACC130 Parramatta Council Archives On Friday 27 October, 1938, Mayor Irwin presided over the official opening ceremony for the sesquicentennial celebrations with the crowning moment being the proclamation of Parramatta as a City. On Saturday over 200,000 people lined the streets of Parramatta to witness the highlight of the celebrations, the Pageant of Progress Parade through the city. The parade, led by 18 mounted troopers, travelled down Church Street starting from Boundary Street to Ross Street. They were followed by nearly 300 entries made up of historical floats, horse drawn vehicles, marching bands, industry, business and government floats all playing a part in telling the story of the development of Parramatta. Floats of every description including "The Cavalcade of the Golden Fleece" depicting Australia's first sheep farm, the Lennox Bridge, Granville Swimming Pool, Parramatta Hairdressers Association, and Alsatian dogs. No organisation or landmark from the area seemed to be missing from the parade. Advertisement for the 150th Anniversary PRS16/016Parramatta Council Archives The parade ended at Parramatta Park where spectators were treated to a carnival which included a motor cycle polo match, a circus and vaudeville acts. The evening featured a massive Chinese fireworks display, dancing in the streets and a donkey polo match at Cumberland oval. The Military Tattoo provided a spectacular display that thrilled the 6000 strong crowd with its recreation of the battle of Vinegar Hill, motor cycle acrobatics by the army signallers, and the air bombing of a mechanised column supported by the scream of air raid sirens. First Queen of Parramatta, Winifred Perkins Parramatta Heritage Centre LSOP00312 On the Tuesday night Miss Winifred Perkins, who bore a strong resemblance to Queen Elizabeth, was crowned the first Queen of Paramatta. The occasion was held at The Rivoli and featured all the pomp and ceremony, including trumpeters in white satin knee breeches and plumed hats, that is usually associated with coronations. The celebrations appeared to be an outstanding success, for which Parramatta took great pride, and still today the event is remembered as the ocassion Parramatta became a City. Peter Arfanis, Archivist, Parramatta City Council, Heritage Centre. 2013 References Parramatta Sesquicentennial Celebrations. PRS16. Parramatta Council Archives Imposing Pageant of Progress Through the City. (1938, November 2). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate p. 14. Parramatta Celebrates its Foundation (1938, October 31). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 12.
This article explores the transformative restoration of Parramatta Town Hall, blending historical architecture with modern sustainability and cultural sensitivity.
Lennox Bridge, looking south down Church Street, Parramatta Council Heritage Centre Collection David Lennox was born in Ayr, Scotland, and was trained as a stonemason. He was experienced in bridge building under the famous engineer Thomas Telford having worked on a stone bridge across the Severn in Gloucester and the Menai suspension bridge in north-west Wales. After the death of his wife, he sought employment in the colony arriving as an unassisted migrant in 1832. His talents were soon recognised and he was appointed as Superintendent of Bridges; became the first skilled bridge builder on the mainland. Any doubts about his ability were dispelled after his design and construction of a horseshoe shaped bridge at Lapstone (1833) and the 110 feet clear span bridge at Lansdowne over Prospect Creek (1834-1836).[55] Lennox prepared preliminary designs for the bridge at Parramatta for Surveyor General Thomas Mitchell to whom he was responsible. Ambrose Hallan, the recently appointed Colonial Architect, countered with a proposal for a prefabricated iron bridge be imported from England.[56] Fortunately for Parramatta, Governor Bourke, finding Hallan's lack of ability as an architect intolerable, interceded and requested a plan for 'an ornate bridge'.[57] Mitchell's assistant, Captain Perry, entered the fray with a plan shortening the arch from 90 feet to 60 feet. Lennox dismissed this plan claiming correctly that such a narrow spanned arch would restrict flood waters. Midst the inter-departmental controversy that existed apart from the bridge plans, Lennox simply went ahead, and adapted the timber centering used on the Lansdowne project, declaring that as he had done so, he did not intend to alter his design. All opposition collapsed and in May 1836 when Bourke, whose patience had been taxed over the whole proceedings, approved the Lennox plans and the bridge work was commenced on 22 October 1836.[58] In July, Lennox applied for stonemasons and later arranged for the supply of lime and cartage of quarried stone. The governor laid the foundation stone on 23 November, 1836.[59] Progress was slow because of labour problems but by September 1838 one side was open to limited traffic and it was completed in the following year at a final cost of £1,797. The structure may be described as a sandstone bridge with a single semi elliptical arch of 90 feet in length and 30 feet wide. Even though the approaches show all the softly graded curves of his earlier bridges, Morton Herman described the main arch perhaps as 'coarse and heavy'.[60] If not as elegant as some of his other designs, it was nonetheless a valuable and worthy addition to the Georgian architecture of the town. The bridge remained nameless until 1867 when a motion before the Parramatta District Council proposed that it be named after the current governor, Sir William Denison (1855-1861) but it lapsed. Alderman Birmingham then proposed the name Lennox Bridge and the motion was passed. John McClymont , Parramatta Historian, 10/94 John McClymont's article written in 1994 also pointed out how the structure of the bridge had been altered over the years. As early as 1802 there was a stone bridge at this location on Church Street but by the early 1830s it was in an 'insecure state', and around 1833 Lennox started planning to replace it with the what is now known as the 'Lennox Bridge'. In 1885-86 the Department of Public Works removed the wall on the upstream side of the bridge to widen it, and put up the present railing at the same time. In 1912 it was widened for a tramway [to Castle Hill] and in 1930 the Sydney Morning Herald reported that there was a proposal to demolish the bridge. This 1930 article also mentions how the passage of time had worn away the words "Lennox Bridge" on the inside of the parapet wall on the downstream side of the bridge. Compiled by Geoff Barker, Coordinator Research and Collection Services, Parramatta heritage Centre, 2013 References H. Selkirk, 'David Lennox, the bridge builder and his work' in JRAHS, Vol 6, p. 203-4; M. Herman, Early Australian Architects, pp. 116-17, 158-61; J.Jervis, Cradle City , p. 116. Sir Thomas Mitchell papers, 5 May 1833, pp. 186-87, ML A292. Perhaps this proposal was made because of the success of the first Iron Bridge in England. H. Selkirk, 'David Lennox', JRAHS, p. 211. J. Jervis, Cradle City, p. 117. M. Herman, Early Australian Architects, p. 165. Parramatta Advertiser, weekly issues between Jan and Jun 1990. Sydney Morning Herald, May 31 1930. Lennox Bridge - Time Line 1790: July - Town of Rose Hill (later Parramatta) marked 1794: First (wooden) bridge over the river at Parramatta Constructed 1795: Wooden Bridge swept away by floodwater 1796: Second Bridge constructed of timber girders on stone piers erected on site of existing bridge. 1802: Two stone bridge piers replaced by timber trestles 1826: Second Bridge sustained further damage but repaired 1832: August 11 - David Lennox arrives in Sydney 1832: October - David Lennox appointed Sub-Inspector of Roads 1833: June – David Lennox appointed Superintendent of Bridges 1833: Lennox reported on deteriorating Condition of second bridge at Parramatta, submitting plans for a replacement structure 1835: July - Second Bridge reported to be in a very insecure state 1836: October 22 - Lennox announced that construction of a new stone bridge to be built alongside the old one would commence in about a fortnight 1836: November 23 - Foundation stone of a new bridge laid by Governor Bourke 1838: March - Bridge only half complete 1838: September - A section of the new bridge was first opened to traffic 1839: Stone arch bridge finally completed at a cost of 1797 pounds 1867: Bridge officially named "Lennox Bridge" by Parramatta Council in honour of its designer 1873: November - David Lennox died and was buried in Parramatta 1885: November - Plans were prepared for the construction of cantilevered foot way on either side of the bridge 1895: February - widening of bridge from 30 feet to 52 feet 1901 – 1902: Width of 10 feet of the stone arch was strengthened internally for the purposes of carrying the Parramatta-Castle Hill Tramway. 1902: August 18 - Tramway opened for traffic 1912: Parapet on the western side was removed and a continuous foot way 5'3" wide was added to the bridge 1932: Tramway Bridge was closed 1934 – 1935: Bridge was widened. 1976: Lennox Bridge classified by National Trust of Australia (NSW) 1989: December - Lennox Bridge entered on Australian Heritage Commission’s register 1990: February 21 - Lennox Bridge declared a “National Work” under Local Government Act Compiled by Neera Sahni, Research Services Leader, Parramatta Heritage Centre 2013 References: 1. Submission to save Lennox Bridge by the Parramatta & District Historical Society (1990) 2. Terry Kass et al, Parramatta, A Past Revealed, Parramatta City Council, 1996 3. Photo from Local Studies and Family History Library, Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre. 4. Lennox Bridge, Vertical File, Local Studies and Family History Library, Parramatta Heritage and Visitor Information Centre.
Parramatta, Sydney, Australia - about a year ago by RedditPerson9014
Parramatta Central Domestic Science School (now Macarthur Girls High School) Dated: No date Digital ID: 4346_a020_a020000298 Rights: www.records.nsw.gov.au/about-us/rights-and-permissions We'd love to hear from you if you use our photos/documents. Many other photos in our collection are available to view and browse on our website using Photo Investigator.
Parramatta Central Domestic Science School (now Macarthur Girls High School) Dated: No date Digital ID: 4346_a020_a020000298 Rights: www.records.nsw.gov.au/about-us/rights-and-permissions We'd love to hear from you if you use our photos/documents. Many other photos in our collection are available to view and browse on our website using Photo Investigator.
Black & white photo of Wycombe House in Church Street, Parramatta c1910
This article explores the transformative restoration of Parramatta Town Hall, blending historical architecture with modern sustainability and cultural sensitivity.
Lennox Bridge, Parramatta.
On 13 May 1787, the First Fleeters sailed from Portsmouth Harbour - 1530 people consisted of officials and their wives, marines and their wives, the ships’ crews, male and female convicts, and children. Total forty five children landed at Sydney Cove in 1788. These were the sons and daughters who were born during the voyage, or accompanied their parents on board the ships at Portsmouth. Twenty-three were the children of marines and ten were born during the voyage. The remaining twenty-two were the children of women convicts, and eleven of these children were born during the voyage to Australia. The Female Orphan Institution (also known as the Female Orphan School) was established in 1800 by Governor King to care for orphaned and abandoned children in the colony of NSW. Located in Lieutenant William Kent's house in George Street, Sydney, the orphanage was supported financially by port duties and the income generated from allocated parcels of land. It was officially opened on 17 August, 1801. It was home to 31 girls aged between the ages of 7 and 14. The girls were taught spinning and sewing and some were taught reading and writing. Evidence given by Governor Bligh to the British Select Committee on Transportation in 1812 suggested that there was little emphasis on education, and that the Institution had instead become a clothing factory and a source of domestic servants for colonial households. The Female Orphan School building's foundation stone was laid in 1813 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie and was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by the fledgling colonial government. The building was to be modelled after Mrs Elizabeth Macquarie’s family home ‘Airds’ in Appin, Scotland, and would have been an imposing sight. The building was finally ready for occupation in 1818. . The George Street, Sydney site became the Male Orphan School. By 1829 the female orphanage housed 152 girls from a cross-section of colonial society including Aboriginal communities. Most girls had convict parents or mothers. Many had one living parent. Girls were accepted in the house from two years of age which was lowered from the original age limit of five. Girls received a basic education and were placed as domestic servants at thirteen. The Female Orphanage was supervised by voluntary committee of distinguished individuals appointed by the Governor which includes magistrates, government officials, clergy and settlers. The first committee was comprised of two Anglican Chaplains, Rev. Samuel Marsden and Rev. Richard Johnson, Mrs King (the Governor's wife) and Mrs Paterson (wife of the Lieutenant- Governor), the surgeon William Balmain and John Harris, surgeon, magistrate and officer-in-charge of police. In March 1926, the management, care and superintendence of both the Male and Female Orphan Schools became the responsibility of the Clergy and School Lands Corporation. From 1833 the Female and Male Orphan Schools continued under the control of the Colonial Secretary. A resident Matron and her husband were responsible for the daily management of the orphanage. The first Matron was Mrs John Hosking (1800-1820), followed by Mary Collicott, Susannah Matilda Ward (1821-) and Sarah Sweetman (1823-1824). The Wesleyan missionary William Walker and his wife Cordelia Walker took up the positions in 1825, bringing with them a number of girls from the Blacktown Aboriginal settlement, where they had previously worked. They resigned following difficulties with Archdeacon Scott, the official Visitor of colonial schools, and were succeeded in mid-1827 by the Reverend Charles Pleydell Neale Wilton and his wife. Wilton was succeeded in turn by Captain Alexander Martin, RN, and his wife. On 30 April, 1850 the Male Orphan School, which had been relocated at Liverpool in 1823 was closed. The remaining residents moved to the Female Orphan School site at Parramatta and the two establishments amalgamated to form the Protestant Orphan School. The Female Orphan School has had a varied institutional history. It originally operated as a school for orphaned girls and expanded in 1850 to include orphaned boys. The school was closed in 1887 when a change in government policy favoured placing orphans with foster families. In 1888 Sir Henry Parkes authorised that the building be used as a hospital for the mentally ill, and the building became the Rydalmere Hospital for the Insane. From 1893-1904 expansions to the wings were added by Liberty Vernon, the New South Wales Government Architect. In 1975 the school was listed by the National Trust and in the mid 1980s it was vacated when the Rydalmere Psychiatric Hospital was closed. The psychiatric hospital operated for some 90 years. The NSW Government transferred ownership of the Female Orphan School which had been derelict since the mid 1980’s to the University of Western Sydney in 1995. The University undertook an internal restoration of the three-storey central section of the main building as well as a complete external restoration of the entire Female Orphan School. The building was formally re-opened on 21 October 2003. The building now houses the Whitlam Institute and the Margaret Whitlam Galleries. In June 2012 Federal Government announced the restoration of the East Wing of the Female Factory Orphan School at the University of Western Sydney. Fully restored Female Orphan School building was opened on 24th September 2013. The building is the new home of the Whitlam Institute and the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection. Neera Sahni, Local Studies Leader, Parramatta Heritage Centre, Parramatta Council, 2013 References: Collison, April J., The Female Orphan Institution, 1814, Rydalmere Hospital, 1986, Rydalmere Hospital Parents and Friends Association, [Riverwood, N.S.W.], [1986], 32 pp D.D. Mann, The Present Picture of New South Wales 1811, First published by John Booth, London, 1811. This edition John Ferguson, Sydney, 1979. Female Orphan School', in State Records New South Wales, 2000, http://investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/Details/Agency_Detail.asp?Entity= Global&Search= clergy%20school%20land%20corporation&Op= All&Page= 1&Id= 398&SearchPage= Global. Joanne Penglase, Orphans of the Living, Fremantle Arts Centre Press, Perth, 2005. Marion Fox, The Provision of Care and Education for Children in Catholic Institutions in New South Wales, 1881-1981, Ph.D. thesis, University of Sydney, 1994, pp. 9-11 Mollie Gillen, The Founders of Australia, Library of Australian History, Sydney, 1989, p. xviii. Photos from UWS webpage: http://www.whitlam.org/about_us2/female_orphan_school_precinct Photos from Local Studies Library, Parramatta Heritage & Visitor Information Centre Photos from Michelle Library Rydalmere Hospital Orphan School Precinct Conservation pp31-37 Neera Sahni, Research Services Leader, Parramatta Heritage Centre
Historic Black & White Photo of the Post Office, Church Street, Parramatta c1910
Archaeologist overseeing construction work on Parramatta's historic Lennox Bridge were pleasantly surprised to find an even earlier - and no less historic - bridge lurking inside.
Historic Black and White Photo of Church Street and Post Office, Parramatta North c1910
Old Church Street Parramatta, from early etching Let us walk, in imagination, along Church Street in it’s early convict period. Reference has already been made to the huts erected for the women and for married convicts. They probably lay between George Street and the river. Between George and Macquarie Streets, on the eastern side, stood a number of buildings owned by the Crown. Near the George Street corner there was a barrack, erected either by Governor Phillip or Governor Hunter, which was demolished in 1818. On the southern side of this building the barrack of the Superintendent of Stock stood, but it also was demolished prior to 1823. Further south, and near Macquarie Street, a granary had been erected, but this structure was removed in 1811. At the south-eastern corner of Macquarie and Church Streets a watch house had been erected by Governor Macquarie. On the Town Hall site a market stood for many years, although it was originally intended as a site for a Town Hall by Phillip. Beyond this lay the grant of Darcy Wentworth. On the north-western corner of Church and Macquarie streets stood the residence of the Rev. S. Marsden, and in later years the school of Rev. John Eyre. Tull's school, as mentioned earlier, was on the site of the post office, and the Court House stood on the south-western corner of George and Church Streets. The record of leases issued in 1823 enables us to determine the occupiers of land in Church Street. Commencing from the river, the following persons occupied leases on the western side of the street, between the river and Phillip Street: William Barnes, George Smith, John Beale and Charles Stuard; the latter's lease was at the north-western corner of Church and Phillip Streets. Barne's lense ran through to Marsden Street. The land, later purchased by Barnes, was offered for sale in 1835. At this period a slaughter house stood on the site. Charles Stuard also leased the land at the south-western corner of Church and Phillip Streets. John Malone and John Lacey leased the blocks between Stuard’s and J. Stephenson's lease, which stood at the north-western corner of George and Church Streets, An inn known as "The Straggler" kept by Lacey, stood on his lease in 1817. Stephenson kept an inn "The Glasgow Arms" on the site of the present White Horse Hotel. Apparently a new building was erected on this land in 1834. An 'advertisement in the "Sydney Herald" of June 9, 1834 referred to … J. Ward having taken the newly erected house at the comer of George and Church Street, had on sale drugs and groceries.This building, used some years later as the inn known as "The White Horse Cellars, is said to have been built by John Thorn, chief constable of the town. … we will post the second part of Old Church Street next week References James Jervis, The Development of Settlement in the Town of Parramatta, Parramatta Historical Society, Journal and Proceedings, 1935
In August 2013 work began on the demolition of the David Jones building in Parramatta. The building was located on the south eastern end of the Lennox Bridge, Church Street, Parramatta. With the office of the Parramatta Heritage and Visitors Information Centre located directly across from the David Jones building we thought it was an ideal opportunity to record the demolition using time lapse video. We purchased a GoPro camera and set it to take a photograph every 1 minute for a few hours each day. The images used to create this video were recorded between August 2013 and January 2014. The video above is a shortened 4 minute version. This is a high definition video so it is best viewed on a full screen. For further information regarding the history of David Jones Building visit our blog post. Peter Arfanis, Archivist, Parramatta Council, Parramatta Heritage Centre, 2014
A petition to nominate Parramatta's Female Factory for the UNESCO World Heritage List draws 10,000 signatures.
