New Report on Waves of People in Parramatta

Parramatta has a unique identity as a gathering place for many different cultures. It is the place where Aboriginal peoples lived through periods of intense change, including a period of colonization and massive disruption. As Australia’s first inland European settlement, Parramatta is often described as the ‘cradle of the colony’.

Following the first arrival of Europeans, successive waves of migration have shaped the culture and identity of the city in vital ways. Parramatta is now home to many people with many different pasts.

The ‘Waves of People’ (opens in a new window)(PDF,8MB) report was produced by researchers at the Institute for Culture and Society for the City of Parramatta.

The research recounts the history of Parramatta’s inhabitants – from the generations of Darug families living along the Parramatta River and Australia’s first inland European settlement, to the waves of migrants and refugees from all over the world who made a home here.

2 May 2018.

Image on ICS homepage: 'Swimming at Little Coogee, Parramatta Park in 1930'. Image is taken from page 10 of the 'Waves of People' report.