Parramatta sits on the river of the same name at the geographic heart of Greater Sydney, with Harris Park, Westmead, North Parramatta and Granville nearby. It is one of the older settled parts of Sydney, and today it holds heritage buildings, post-war suburbs and a skyline that keeps filling with apartment towers.
Towers, cottages and the river
In the apartment core, everything runs through the building: pump rooms, shared risers and a manager who decides when water can be shut off. Fixing a leak in one unit may require a notice to others. In older neighbourhoods, houses show the usual signs of age, with mixed pipe materials, older drains and renovations that cover earlier layouts. Sites near the river can be low and flat, so stormwater and drainage deserve attention during heavy rain.
- Tower residents: know the building's process for shutting off water and reporting leaks.
- Older houses: expect a mix of pipe materials, and document what you find.
- Low-lying sites: keep gully grates, drains and downpipes clear before storms.
Around Parramatta
Parramatta is the only suburb with its own page in the Central West region so far. For a contrasting set of houses, compare the Castle Hill guide, where blocks are larger and newer, or the Concord guide for older river-side streets.
Keep reading
Return to the Central West region or the Sydney areas hub. For hot water questions in apartments, read hot water systems, and keep the emergency guide to hand.