Parramatta is a sub-city, or a satellite city, located about 24 kilometres west of Sydney's central business district. A commercially important city that hosts headquarters and offices of many prominent Australian companies, Parramatta is famous as one of the primary hubs of the Greater Sydney metropolitan area and a major administrative centre in the region. The city of Parramatta is home to various state government establishments and offices, including multiple courts. As a sub-city of Sydney, it holds particular significance as an economic centre. Find out more such interesting and historical facts about the city of Parramatta in this article.

Also read, Things to Do in Parramatta

Parramatta was founded in 1788 as a British settlement, along with the city of Sydney.

The area that is now called Parramatta was once inhabited by the Darug people. It was said to be rich in food, water and forests.

The area was originally called Burramatta, which in the Darug language meant Eel-Place or the place of eels, symbolizing the massive concentration of eels and sea animals in the region.

In terms of age (since foundation), Parramatta is the second oldest city in Australia, after Sydney.

In 1788, Parramatta was chosen by British Governor Arthur Phillip as the best place for a successful large farm, which commenced the development of a settlement in the area.

The city was named “Parramatta” by Governor Phillip on 4 June 1791.

The city is also famous for the “Battle of Parramatta”, which occurred in March 1797 between a group of Bidjigal warriors led by Pemulwuy and the local regiment.

The oldest surviving Government House in Australia is the house of Governor Arthur Phillip, which was built in the late 18th century.

Parramatta is a commercial and business hub for Greater Western Sydney. Church Street is a major market and home to many offices, shops, restaurants and car dealerships.

Since 2000, Parramatta has been home to a number of government agencies, including the New South Wales Police Force Headquarters and the Sydney Water Corporation.

Parramatta Square is a major commercial and civic precinct near Parramatta Town Hall. It features a culture and arts centre, a plaza and offices of companies like Westpac, Endeavour Energy, KPMG and Deloitte.

Parramatta is home to Westfield Parramatta, one of the largest shopping centres in Australia.

The city of Parramatta is a major transport hub, providing connectivity to all major locations throughout the country. Major transportation options include trains, buses, a ferry port and metro.

Parramatta railway station is a major railway station in New South Wales. It was first opened in 1855. The Parramatta bus interchange is located in the southeast of the railway station.

Major places to visit in Parramatta include St John's Cathedral on Church Street, the oldest church in Parramatta built in 1802, St John's Cemetery, St Patrick's Cathedral and St Patrick's Cemetery, BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Temple,

Major parks in the city limits include Parramatta Park, one of Parramatta’s oldest parks, Ollie Webb Reserve, Jones Park, River Foreshore Reserve, and Prince Alfred Square.

The Parramatta River passes through the city’s centre and is the reason why Parramatta is called the “River City.”

As per the 2021 census, the population of Parramatta was 256,729, of which 69,127 were families.

Around 22.3% of the region’s population was Chinese, while other top ancestries included English (14.4%), Australian (13.9%), Indian (11.2%) and Korean (5.9%).

In terms of the country of birth of residents, 42.4% of the population was born in Australia. Other top responses included India, China, Korea and Hong Kong. Top languages include Mandarin, English, Hindi and Korean.