Parramatta

Parramatta is a city and major commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, about 24 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. It is commonly regarded as the second central business district of metropolitan Sydney and is the seat of the City of Parramatta local government area. Founded as a British settlement in 1788, the same year as Sydney, it is the oldest inland European settlement in Australia and the second oldest city in the country. Governor Arthur Phillip chose the site because it was the furthest navigable point inland on the river and had better soil for farming than Sydney Cove. The Battle of Parramatta, a clash of the Australian frontier wars, took place there in March 1797. Since 2000 state agencies such as the New South Wales Police Force and Sydney Water have relocated offices to Parramatta.