Parramatta, NSW 2150

all the amenities in walking distance

I used to work in the city and got moved to work in the Parramatta location. The place has a stigma and is unwelcoming. There is constantly police patrolling the streets which gives it a bad vibe. I can also shop anywhere else in Sydney without issues. But i’ve accused of shoplifting at the local IGA near Church Street and Woolworths on level 5 Westfield. This has never happened elsewhere, so there is obviously much distrust and crime in the community. I would’ve recommend Parramatta.

Live here for three years, Parramatta is changing everyday! Multicultural, active, new and safe place to live.

5 Reasons to buy in Parramatta

• Parramatta Local Government Area’s (LGA) population growth rate is 2.5%, which is twice of NSW average at 1.2%. It currently is home to more than 230,000 people

• Over 157,000 people are employed in the Parramatta LGA, which has become the centre of Western Sydney

• Parramatta's local school, both public and private, are highly regarded and the University of Western Sydney has a campus here and the new addition currently being built educating the workforce of tomorrow

•Over the last decade, Parramatta has had significant infrastructure across public transport education, health, sport and culture. It is transforming into a place of growth and long-term prosperity

• Parramatta is now a hub of commerce, culture and entertainment where you're spoilt for choice when it comes to recreation, dinning, shopping and transport.

it is central and good facilities. I miss gourmet delis and groceries especially since Harris Farm left after the high rise building came to that location but it is easy to order online. I dont miss the city as ti is easy to visit - only half an hour on the train and lot of stuff happening at Riverside theatre/general community anyway. Older apartments are really good value and can afford to have two bedrooms near a station and a park for the price of a very small studio in the inner west that still takes you 30 mins to get to the CBD. Another good thing is that there are plenty of arterial roads nearby in all different directions so not many bottlenecks. The lake and the park are excellent and it is not a pretentious or aggressive population. Some neighbouring areas can be a bit bogan but in general lots of educated Asians and Indians- pretty peaceful with nice curries. Lots of work opportunities in all directions to keep options open and a smaller mortgage means more money to live on. There is a lot of building there now so it does not look its best but will be better in five years or so with the new trains, lightrail and more facilities like a new aquatic centre.

Don't be fooled by out-dated perceptions! Parramatta is a family-friendly but lively community with a lot great events like Parramatta Lanes that suit young families and professionals.

Great value, no cockroaches, clean, quiet at night, great people, minimal air craft noise, it's the best suburb for renters. Beats the inner city by a mile. Parramatta is simply better.

Parramatta is great. True there are no beaches but the lake is now swimmable and the park is beautiful. It is a great location for families who work in opposite directions or have family in opposite directions, as it is in the middle. This was the reason I moved here, my partner convinced me that the location was good, the transport was good and the park is ideal. I haven't regretted living here at all. There are a lot of Indians and Asians here that are generally good neighbors, quiet and safe. Aspirational migrant parents are keen to do well and have no time to make trouble with anyone, so the kids have well behaved friends, which is important. I like to learn about other cultures and look forward to Parramasala and Diwali each year now. I also LOVE the free concerts in the park and the public transport. I have never driven to the airport since I moved here, or to a concert. I walked to the hospital for all my pregnancy appointments so no need for parking. The cycle path along the river is very nice- you can pretty much go from Westmead to Gladesville along the river. Sometimes I do go into the city or inner west for markets (dotn be fooled online, the markets here are nothing special- some good stalls but not enough of them and more for workers than residents) and the odd bit of shopping I cant get here but it only takes half an hour to get anywhere from here. A couple of weeks away at the beach each year does me (and it is affordable to holiday with a Parra mortgage- for now). I really don't mind living in an apartment when there is so much to do and now I am addicted to the convenience even though I sometimes visit more trendy or expensive areas I wouldn't really want to give Parra up even if I could afford to move there. As long as the council keeps the heritage, and keeps planting trees and making it green.

My wife and I moved to Parramatta a couple of years back and we just love it! We have 2 parking spaces for our centrally located apartment so parking isn't an issue. We love Parramatta so much we've opened a business not quite 2 blocks from home!
Love the restaurants. There's plenty of choice and some have both great service and great food! Harris Park is a close alternative for foodies as well.
We walk most everywhere and never feel threatened. It's a vibrant CBD without the hassles of Sydney CBD. Parks are terrific. The Council has plenty of events happening year round for the community. It's always clean and tidy between the early morning clean ups and the mobile guys that patrol the CBD daily, they do a great job! Lots of choice with medical facilities and shopping. Couldn't ask for more!

We have just bought a 2 bedroom apartment on the border of Parramatta and North Parramatta.
My thoughts comparing it to living in inner city for over 10 years:
Positive:
• Location is very central
• Trains are reasonably fast getting to the city for work. Other options to get into the city are available such as bus and River cat
• Great restaurants nearby
• Everything you need is quite close and convenient
• People are generally friendlier, has more of a community vibe
• Suburb is green and there are a lot of native birds around
• Parramatta park is beautiful!
• More events such as Sydney Festival happening
• Plans for development in the pipe line for Parramatta which could improve it overall.
Negative:
• Some parts are dirty and need an overhaul
• Undesirable types especially around the Westfield’s
• The Westfield’s needs a make over
• Church street mall needs a make over
I think there is a lot of potential for Parramatta to become greater. North Parramatta is a lovely part and quieter but you still have the benefit of being near a CBD. I really like living here and feel safe.

Have been living in Parramatta for the past few years and found that it was a convenient location if you work in Parramatta or to the West. The trains in Sydney are not up to standard with other capital cities, so it's not really Parramattas fault, but the amount of weirdos you see on it heading out this way is unnerving especially at night.

The food scene is not particularly fantastic other than Church street. But if you want a decent meal without having to pay an arm and a leg for it, you'll have to leave Parramatta to one of the other suburbs.

Parramatta Westfield is very convenient and has everything you need except for the specialist stores that you'll have to go into the city for. Castlehill and Westpoint Blacktown aren't too far away either.

For the amount of rent you pay to live here, it's not justified unless you work here. It's not very happening on one hand, but there isn't a good community neighbourhood feel to it either. Perhaps it's because of the crime that is portrayed in the media.

Good facilities and suburb layout with medium capital growth set. Not very safe compared to the Hornsby and Castle Hill areas only slightly higher priced but can you really value your safety.

I lived in Parramatta for 13 years, and only moved away this year. This suburb is actually a good suburb, it is Sydney's second CBD, has one of the biggest shopping centres in Australia and public transport is great too. There are trains to Penrith and City and buses to almost everywhere ( hills, Hornsby, hurstville, chatswood, Macquarie etc.) There are many restaurants and cafes available with all types of cuisines.
Although, Church Street mall does drag the suburb down, with many questionable people hanging around there day & night. South of Parra CBD is horrible too, especially the area bordering Merrylands.
The best area is probably the northern side of Parramatta River & nearby UWS. The property prices in that area reflect this. I lived there for 13 years and not once did I feel threatened. We recently sold our townhouse on Grandview Street for 550k, which was the record price in that LOT.

Parramatta has over the years developed a reputation as Sydney's poor cousin. It is one of those suburbs that everyone seems to have an opinion on and generally it is not a good one. But in my experience, after having lived in Parramatta for four years, the reputation does not match reality.

Parramatta is an easy commute to the city if you need to. But more importantly it is rapidly becoming a city in its own right. It is now the sixth largest CBD in Australia - that means in terms of the number of jobs available it is bigger than the capitals of some states in Australia. The pace of change in this suburb at the moment is quite astounding. A quick look at the council's page on approved developments shows that there are in excess of 20 major developments in various stages at the moment, both commercial and residential. The face of the restaurant district in Parramatta has undergone rapid change also. Gone are the tired old restaurants where the most exotic choice you had was the Sicilian. Now there are five or six thai restaurants, a plethora of indian, brazilan, japanese, lebanese, greek, and yes still the odd italian restaurant. Plus there is Parramatta's very own China town.

The nightlife is also picking up. A few of the old pubs have given themselves a face lift and in the process have become vibrant spots to get a meal or a drink any night of the week. This aspect still has some way to go but there is a sense that it is heading in the right direction. The council is also very much focused on promoting the use of public spaces at night. To that end there are a dozen or more festivals that will light up the river or an area of the CBD at some point throughout the year - be it Parramasala, Loy Krathong, Parra Laneways, or participation in the Sydney Festival.

Moreover the position that Parramatta holds geographically makes it an ideal place to live. Just about any place you could care to get to in the Sydney metropolitan area can be gotten to in under one hour. There wouldn't be many other places in Sydney that could attest to the same thing. And you can usually get to most places by public transport with ease - in fact it is often much faster than driving.

Finally despite all the conveniences that Parramatta offers it is still affordable. I suspect this is due to the lingering reputation the suburb holds. However I doubt the price differential between Parramatta and comparable suburbs like Chatswood will last for long - it may never be exactly equal but it will certainly get closer. Once the river foreshore is redeveloped and residences like the new V by Crown become the norm I think it will only be a matter of time before a price shift is inevitable. But for now, if it means that housing remains affordable, then it is still a win for us.

I am very pleasantly surprised with Parramatta - Parramatta Park is world class, there are constant cultural and artistic events (like Parramasala), it is culturally diverse and my neighbours are hard-working and polite. There are draw-backs: too many cars, a longer commute to work (although the train from Parramatta to Central takes no more than 30 minutes), it's a bit polluted and the West is hotter than Elizabeth Bay, where I moved from.
It is nothing like the Bronx.
Buying a townhouse and living in Parramatta is one of the best decisions I have made since moving to Sydney.

I moved in about 6 months ago and Parramatta consistently surprises me and beats expectations. I can walk to Coles, Westfields and the Chinese groceries on Church st all within 15 minutes making grocery shopping a breeze. Parramatta Park has got to be one of the most picturesque parks along the river, I go for jogs there 2 evenings a week. Love going for strolls along the river precinct with my lady. Trains and the Rivercat are super convenient if you need to go to the CBD. Neighbours are really nice, we're a culturally diverse bunch but everyone gets along well. Did I mention the effort the council goes into improving the suburb image with the numerous festivals - we've got part of the Sydney Festival this year but recently there was a Thai Festival, Parramasala, The Art Festival - it's much more cultured than most people give it credit for.

I think the only downside are the non-local people who go to Westfields on the weekend from Western Sydney and clog up the roads and the carpark.

I bought a unit in Parramatta 10 years ago as an investment property. Ended up moving in within a year and haven't left! I didn't expect it, but I absolutely love living in Parra. Everything you need is within walking distance. The commute to the city is a quick train ride - with very regular trains. There is an abundance of shops, services, schools, buses, medical, cafes, restaurants and entertainment options. It has one of the best football stadiums in the country and there are plenty of beautiful parks everywhere. It is a city, but feels open and green.

I've been pleased to see my council rates spent on further beautifying and cleaning up the Parramatta River and its foreshores. They have done a good job so far and I'm looking forward to seeing what concept they come up with for fixing up the river opposite the Riverside Theatre - which really is the only 'ugly' spot left.

I also hope the council wins the court case so they can fix up the Darcy Street side of the train station and get rid of that Hungry Jacks corner. Parramatta Church St Mall is no where near as bad as word has it (I actually really like the church, its gardens and Town Hall area), but the area would be vastly improved with the proposed Civic Place development or something similar.

I'm also hope that the future development of the old David Jones site on Church St does the river and restaurant precinct justice and makes a great precinct even better. It has massive potential and if they do it right, it will lift Parramatta to another level again.

There has been a lot of commercial and residential developments since I moved here, and again I have mostly been impressed with what has been built. The designs of most buildings have been tasteful and many include public areas, trees and many have displays of historic artifacts found on the sites. Given the historic nature of Parramatta and its position as Sydney's second CBD - its difficult to balance progress and development with historical preservation. So long as they preserve the remaining historic sites and keep them as a shrine to our past, the city should continue to develop and thrive around them.

I have never once had any trouble in Parra in 10 years and have walked home at all hours from the train station through the city. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've always felt very safe walking around Parra. Like anywhere - you keep your eyes open with any groups of kids etc - but that's anywhere! But I've never ever had trouble!

Buying and then living in Parra was the best decision I ever made. It's such a good place to live, I'm now aiming to buy a bigger place here!
(...Only thing that would make it better is if my Eels could become more consistent!!!!)

Very very very close to the station, shops, restraunts, bars... well.. everything really.

You dont need a car at all, people are friendly and its just a compfy city really.

The street is called Hassall st but there is no hassal really.. :)

I love living in Parramatta - I have all my shopping, transport, education and cultural needs met with so much variety. I love the cafe strip, the river and the fact I can get anywhere in Sydney in about 45 minutes. Where I live is surrounded by parks and ovals, and I have the friendliest neighbours who are now great friends. It's a very affordable place to live which will always hold (or increase) its value due to its unbeatable convenience and proximity to everything. Downside is the hoons on Church St at night showing off their pimped up cars.

I love the area and would never leave it.

Parramatta is Sydney's 2nd CBD, as it is a busy commercial and government hub. With a number of government agencies based here and the headquarters for many businesses, there a many job opportunities for professionals in this area.

The commercial area is flanked by some high density apartment blocks - great for efficient, low maintenance living with the convenience of the CBD at your doorstep. The density loosens up a bit as you move further away from the CBD, where you will find a number of older homes and townhouses on larger blocks. The city is very pretty, with a number of historic and heritage-listed buildings and homes too.

Its a great spot for family, with a number of schools and a strong emphasis on sport.

The area is a major transport hub, so you can quickly and easily be wherever you need in the Sydney CBD which is just over 20 kilometres away.

Parramatta is a city on the banks of the Parramatta River 23 kms west of Sydney. This is a large commercial and residential area and has been acknowledged at the administrative centre for the Greater Wester Sydney. There are many parks along the riverbanks where locals and visitors alike have picnics, go walking, jogging or cycling. Parramatta Stadium is the home of the Parramatta Eels NRL team and there is the Parramatta Leagues Club which offers all kinds of entertainment. There is a large swimming centre at Parramatta which is well patronised. There are some heritage building to see, galleries and museums. Parramatta City Raceway is the place to see top level sprint car racing and Rosehill Racecourse is great for a day out. The area has major shopping centres, restaurants, cafes and bistros as well as fast food outlets. Accommodation is plentiful and there are schools and colleges of high quality. Home prices are rising but are not unobtainable for the average working family.

Parramatta is conveniently located in the heart of Western Sydney and is easily accessible by public transport. It is easily accessible by road, rail and ferry. Additionally, this multi-cultural city has plenty to offer to its residents and visitors alike.

In the main part of the city, there is Westfield, many office buildings, "China Street" and Church Street. Westfield Parramatta is a shopping haven for shoppers around the area. This mall offers everything from women's apparel to discount stores and Borders. On the Church Street entrance of the mall is where "China Street" is located. There you will be able to find cinemas, yum cha, Asian groceries and Asian bakeries.

Towards the northern end of Church Street, there are many office buildings surrounding the city. From banks to the Immigration Department, this city offers plenty of convenience when it comes to running your daily chores. There are also restaurants, sports stores, boutiques and cafes scattered along Church Street. I frequent Church Street on the weekend to eat at the famous Malaysian restaurant called "Temasek".

Living in Parramatta is not only about concrete buildings. On the weekends, you see many families and couples enjoying picnics, bike riding and chill out time around Parram Parramatta and Lake Parramatta. Getting around is also a breeze as the Council has introduced "City Loop" - a free bus that runs around Parramatta. This bus is great as it drops you right outside the Parramatta Leagues Club where Tingha Palace offers excellent yum cha in this area.

Although Parramatta has all the benefits of city living, it is not for everybody. It can get crowded and busy on the weekends as many people decide to drive into Parramatta and hence making it difficult entering the city. This is especially bad during Christmas. Despite this, I will still recommend Parramatta as a place to live in for singles and couples.