Parramatta North

Honouring its place on Ngurra

Parramatta North is located on the lands of the Burramada people of the Dharug Nation. We pay our deepest respects to their culture, stories and custodianship of land and waters across the Parramatta North precinct and extend that respect to other Dharug people with strong cultural connections to this Country. We also recognise and celebrate the new and enduring connections of all other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to this important place.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and knowledge holders of Country, pay respect to Ancestors and Elders while recognising ongoing connections to Country and culture. We seek to build ongoing relationships and collaborations in the celebration of culture and revitalisation of natural systems throughout the regeneration of this place.

Our collaborative approaches demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing places in which Aboriginal people are included socially, culturally, spiritually and economically and the health of Country is prioritised. Our recognition of Aboriginal sovereignty is expressed with deep reverence, respect and commitment to Aboriginal protocols as we strive to move forward together into a better future.

A place of connection and renewal

Parramatta North is a place of connection and renewal – through reflection, discovery and opportunity. It is a place where compelling stories are shared – through experiences, in nature, in learning, and in leisure, enriching this emerging western Sydney destination.

Parramatta North is a significant, whole-of-government precinct set to unlock unused government land and building assets. It will deliver a diversity of education, research, commercial, cultural and residential outcomes.

Located on the Parramatta light rail line, Parramatta North represents one of Greater Parramatta's largest urban renewal opportunities. Across 42 ha of predominately government-owned land, Parramatta North includes about 30 significant heritage buildings and a network of open spaces.

What's happening now?

The next stage of planning is underway to transform 42 ha of land at Parramatta North into a collection of neighbourhoods, connected by green corridors and public open spaces.

A rezoning application was lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, with public exhibition taking place from Monday 13 January to Monday 24 February 2025. The community were invited to have their say and this is now being assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. Outcomes of the public exhibition are anticipated towards the end of 2025. To stay informed of the next steps, please refer to the Planning Portal.

A significant, whole-of-government precinct, Parramatta North will deliver education, research, commercial, cultural and residential outcomes over the next 30 years.

The rezoning application seeks approval to change permissible land uses, building heights and floor-space ratios across a portion of Parramatta North. This will allow housing around new public transport services, a new university to support the Westmead Health and Innovation District, as well as green corridors and open spaces.

The application also seeks to introduce planning controls for future state significant development applications across the precinct, including design guidelines and design excellence processes.

Home of the Burramada people of the Dharug Nation, we are working with local Dharug people, as well as the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council, to understand and reflect the wishes of First Nations peoples in the plans for Parramatta North.

The history, cultural significance and local heritage of the area has also been considered in the planning of Parramatta North. Parramatta North’s Cultural Precinct, which incorporates the Parramatta Female Factory, is not included in the rezoning application.

Stakeholder engagement

To support the public exhibition of the rezoning application, we hosted 5 community drop-in sessions and an online webinar in January and February 2025. These sessions provided an opportunity for the community to learn about the rezoning application at key locations, including Westmead Hospital, The Green at Parramatta North, and Parramatta Square. The online webinar ensured those unable to attend in-person could have their say.

For updates on the next steps, please refer to the Planning Portal.

Respecting heritage

The Cultural Precinct has been on Australia’s National Heritage List since 2018. It is recognised for its significant cultural and social value to the nation as a place that demonstrates Australia's social welfare history.

The NSW Government has committed to keeping the 6 ha Cultural Precinct – the national heritage-listed land parcel within Parramatta North – in government ownership.

The Cultural Precinct weaves together a diversity of destinations, businesses and activities. Even on the quietest days, compelling stories can be heard and felt here.

From the time of the First Peoples to the effects of the institutions that were here more recently, truths are told, and memories honoured, to understand, educate and heal.

New and varied uses, including places for work, spaces to visit, and venues to explore, will respect the heritage of this place and rejuvenate the sensitively restored historic buildings.

Early funding has already enabled us to restore, preserve, and activate several heritage assets. This includes the new Western Sydney Startup Hub and Havenstone café, the Parramatta Girls Home Memorial Garden, along with essential conservation works, strategic planning, and finalisation of a conservation management plan.

World Heritage Listing

In November 2022, the Australian Government announced a $1 million investment towards nominating the Cultural Precinct for World Heritage listing as the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct.

The Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct was accepted on the World Heritage Tentative List on 28 September 2023. Tentative listing is the first step towards inclusion on the World Heritage List.

We are partnering with Heritage NSW, to support the NSW Government to deliver on its election commitment, to accelerate the World Heritage List nomination for the Parramatta Female Factory and Institutions Precinct.

The World Heritage Listing nomination criteria are in line with the Parramatta North vision, which is complementary, supportive and respectful of the outstanding cultural and social significance of this place.