Parramatta by ferry
We have been meaning to visit Parramatta ever since we arrived in Sydney and Saturday seemed to present the ideal opportunity – not too hot, not too cold, just right! Rebecca decided she would come with us and so we caught the ferry from Old Cremorne mid-morning and then had a twenty minute wait for our ferry to Parramatta.
Parramatta is 23kms west of Sydney’s CBD and was explored by Governor Phillip on 2nd November 1788. He had been looking for land that was more fertile than that in Sydney Cove where the crops he had planted had failed. Soil near the coast was very sandy, but Parramatta had richer soil which was more suited to crop production. In the early days, the journey to Parramatta from Sydney normally took several days with the passengers sometimes having to pick up the oars themselves. Luckily, our journey took much less time – just under one hour on a fast jetcat!
The journey was quite different to what I’d expected. Turning left and passing under the Harbour Bridge we passed residential areas on both sides of the wide river and several islands, including Cockatoo Island, which we had visited several months ago. Quite soon, however, the river narrowed.
We passed next to the Olympic Park and after that we entered the narrowest part of the river, with no banks, just low trees with spreading branches growing out of the water. It was like we were in the mangrove swamps of the Florida Keys! We stopped just once and then arrived at Parramatta Wharf, a weir preventing any vessels continuing up the river and separating the tidal salt water from the fresh water of the river.
The sun was shining as we disembarked and walked the short distance along the path by the river to the main street. After a quick visit to the Tourist Office we decided that lunch was our priority and chose an Italian restaurant to give our business to. There were lots of restaurants to choose from, all ranged either side of the main street. We sat outside and enjoyed a club sandwich (Clive), spaghetti Bolognese (Rebecca) and delicious minestrone soup (me!). All very yummy and all for around £20 which was fantastic value.
Feeling very satisfied we set off to explore the attractions of Parramatta. It’s an important business centre these days and many of the streets, which would be heaving mid-week, were eerily quiet. We avoided visiting the shopping precinct (they’re all the same!) and instead enjoyed a walk through the park in Parramatta’s centre. It was beautifully peaceful, not what Centennial Park is like on a Sunday afternoon. Governor Phillip had a house built on the hill, which is still standing and was used as a retreat by many past Governors. It’s now a museum, restaurant and function suite – there was a wedding in the grounds as we walked past.
From the park we wandered through the town, checking out a few other original buildings, including the Town Hall and St John’s Cathedral. We ran out of time to walk back across the river to the other side of Parramatta to Elizabeth’s Farm (where John Macarthur had a pioneering wool industry) and instead caught the 4pm ferry back to Circular Quay. Clive got blown away in the cold breeze for the sake of some lovely photos and Rebecca and I kept warm inside!
Here are some photos from the day.
Parramatta is 23kms west of Sydney’s CBD and was explored by Governor Phillip on 2nd November 1788. He had been looking for land that was more fertile than that in Sydney Cove where the crops he had planted had failed. Soil near the coast was very sandy, but Parramatta had richer soil which was more suited to crop production. In the early days, the journey to Parramatta from Sydney normally took several days with the passengers sometimes having to pick up the oars themselves. Luckily, our journey took much less time – just under one hour on a fast jetcat!
The journey was quite different to what I’d expected. Turning left and passing under the Harbour Bridge we passed residential areas on both sides of the wide river and several islands, including Cockatoo Island, which we had visited several months ago. Quite soon, however, the river narrowed.We passed next to the Olympic Park and after that we entered the narrowest part of the river, with no banks, just low trees with spreading branches growing out of the water. It was like we were in the mangrove swamps of the Florida Keys! We stopped just once and then arrived at Parramatta Wharf, a weir preventing any vessels continuing up the river and separating the tidal salt water from the fresh water of the river.
The sun was shining as we disembarked and walked the short distance along the path by the river to the main street. After a quick visit to the Tourist Office we decided that lunch was our priority and chose an Italian restaurant to give our business to. There were lots of restaurants to choose from, all ranged either side of the main street. We sat outside and enjoyed a club sandwich (Clive), spaghetti Bolognese (Rebecca) and delicious minestrone soup (me!). All very yummy and all for around £20 which was fantastic value.
Feeling very satisfied we set off to explore the attractions of Parramatta. It’s an important business centre these days and many of the streets, which would be heaving mid-week, were eerily quiet. We avoided visiting the shopping precinct (they’re all the same!) and instead enjoyed a walk through the park in Parramatta’s centre. It was beautifully peaceful, not what Centennial Park is like on a Sunday afternoon. Governor Phillip had a house built on the hill, which is still standing and was used as a retreat by many past Governors. It’s now a museum, restaurant and function suite – there was a wedding in the grounds as we walked past.
From the park we wandered through the town, checking out a few other original buildings, including the Town Hall and St John’s Cathedral. We ran out of time to walk back across the river to the other side of Parramatta to Elizabeth’s Farm (where John Macarthur had a pioneering wool industry) and instead caught the 4pm ferry back to Circular Quay. Clive got blown away in the cold breeze for the sake of some lovely photos and Rebecca and I kept warm inside!
Here are some photos from the day.
posted by Hawkins Family @ 8:24 am
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