Parramatta Park tours
Immerse yourself in nature and history. Taking guided and self-guided tours of Parramatta Park is a great way to learn about its significance and gain insight into Australia’s early colonial history.
Guided tours
Old Government House
The National Trust runs guided tours of Old Government House, which is associated with all of the early governors of New South Wales and has a major collection of colonial furniture. The oldest standing public building in Australia, Old Government House is also one of the most historically significant.
Tours are offered Tuesday to Sunday (and on most public holidays), between 10 am and 4 pm.
The Dairy and Rangers Cottages
The Dairy Cottage is one of the oldest intact cottages still standing in Australia.
The precinct features the historic Dairy and Rangers cottages and grounds, which are bound by timber fencing. The Dairy Cottage was built between 1796 and 1805 by former convict George Salter. The adjacent Rangers Cottage was built around 1870.
Group tours of up to 15 participants can be organised by emailing City of Parramatta at [email protected].
Virtual tours with Google Arts & Culture
Take a virtual tour of the Dairy and Rangers cottages from anywhere in the world through the Google Arts & Culture platform.
You can also take the tour using virtual reality. You’ll need:
- the Google Arts & Culture app for iOS or Android mobile
- a pair of virtual reality goggles (which you can buy online or in Australian shops for $10 and up) to enjoy a fully immersive 3D experience.
Search for ‘Parramatta Park’ in the app to get started.
Google captured 360-degree images from inside each building, allowing you to move through and inspect every detail in high definition.
The free virtual tours showcase convict-era architecture and building techniques, and feature stories about the people who made the buildings their home.
You can also take a virtual walk around the grounds of the Dairy and Rangers cottages.
Self-guided walking tours
Colonial Rose Hill
Explore the colonial landscape of Rose Hill, the second settlement site the English established in Australia after Port Jackson. Despite the passing of time, the marks and signs of the early town and the former Governor’s Domain are still discernible within Parramatta Park.
Download the Colonial Rose Hill self-guided walking tour pamphlet (PDF 509 KB).
Monuments and sites
This self-guided tour takes in many of the park’s historic sites and monuments, including its gatehouses, The Crescent, the Observatory Transit Stones, the Bath House and the Boer War Memorial.
Download the monuments and sites self-guided walking tour pamphlet (PDF 428 KB).
