Print this page John Macarthur's Parramatta: A Colonial Walk

Elizabeth Farm still has rooms built in 1793, making it one of the oldest surviving European buildings in Australia. It was home to John and Elizabeth Macarthur, the most powerful couple in the colony from the Second Fleet to the Macquarie era, whose ambitions shaped the wool industry and the politics of early Sydney. On this relaxed walk along the Parramatta River, we'll hop on the Light Rail to explore the world the Macarthurs looked out over. We'll stroll through parklands, visit the grounds of historic cottages and the old Female Orphan School, and meet the colourful, and sometimes corrupt, characters who changed this land for their own purposes. Parramatta sits on the land of the Burramattagal people of the Dharug nation, and we'll also consider how colonisation transformed the river and the lives of those who lived here first. There'll be time along the way to chat, ask questions and share your own stories of Western Sydney. Whether you live nearby or are visiting for the first time, come and see Parramatta's past with fresh eyes, in good company.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Meet outside Parramatta Town Hall 10 minutes before tour starts.

• We will be catching the Light Rail for two trips

This walk will go ahead whatever the weather, except where the guide deems there to be a threat to health and safety. In this situation you will be contacted with an alternative date. Please ensure your mobile phone number is up-to-date with WEA before enrolling and make sure you take it with you on the day in case the tutor needs to contact you.

COURSE OUTLINE

• Philip Ruddock Heritage Centre
• Light Rail from Parramatta Square to Yallamundi
• The grounds of the old Female Orphan School
• Light Rail to Tramway Ave
• Riverfront walk
• Robin Thomas Reserve
• The grounds of Experiment Farm Cottage 
• The grounds of Hambledon Cottage
• Elizabeth Farm

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Locate the most significant historic houses and sites in the Rosehill district.
• Recount the key events in the colonial history of Parramatta, particularly in relation to the life of John Macarthur
• Describe the changes in the land use of the area around Rosehill