Mind-over-Parra-Matta
In mid-February when Tropfest flew the coop to Parramatta Park, even us Easties sat up from the brunch table and took notice. Yes, that’s right folks; the demographic and geographic centre of Sydney is Parramatta. Culture vultures beware! The state and federal government is starting to pour time and resources into making sure we all know our East from our West.
To help get your head around the concept of a dual CBD – think in terms of New York City and its relationship to Brooklyn. Bridge and tunnel. Forget about Barangaroo, N.Syd and Macquarie Park, the NSW State Government is backing Pazz-Mat-Taz to be a winner.
This week we caught up with Surry Hills resident and Financial Advisor Chris Bates who works in Parramatta. We chatted to ex-GoodFood guide editor Joanna Savill – a bonafide bon vivant – and sat down with Urbanist Linda Gregoriou to hear her point of view.
They told us that Sydneysiders need to start nipping out to Parramatta to see a theatre show, or planning a coffee meeting there in the middle of the day. The future is bright on the Riverside.
New data reveals the Parramatta CBD will grow by 32 per cent over the next five years. More than a million people are expected to move into Western Sydney in the next two decades, and right now around 200,000 people depart the area everyday to attend jobs outside the region.
That’s a lot of wasted time on public transport. To solve this, the first stage of a $20 billion metro line is under construction at present, between Sydney’s north-west and Chatswood, and this is due for completion in 2019. The plans are all part of the ‘smart cities strategy’ that Turnbull is banging on about, and it is, in part, a response to low housing affordability close our first CBD.
New builds
A quick survey reveals a lot of development in Parramatta. First up there’s a new town square planned to rival Martin Place. There’s also a Westmead health ‘village’; a massive sports stadium and a high-rise-high-tech school designed by Grimshaw Architects. There’s a new uni campus for the Uni of Western Sydney and lots of high rise apartment buildings being planned. A NAB office tower has gone up already, our State Government is shifting jobs there and the WestConnex is happening despite the kerfuffle. Eventually, in addition to WestConnex there will be a mass-transit WestMetro that will zip us all out to Parramatta in 10 minutes. But let’s face facts, creating a second city is not without its challenges.
As Chris Bates points out, attracting people of all demographics and knowledge workers will be key to it really getting going. The place needs lots of jobs and a cool culture to attract more folks. It’s not just about the supply of housing. And according to Chris Bates it’s not really that houses will be that much cheaper in Parramatta anyway. You might save 100k by buying an off-the-plan apartment in the Parramatta, that’s not incredibly significant. What is significant, is that 2 million people currently live within 45 minutes drive of Parramatta. It’s ripe to become a throbbing satellite city in Sydney.
The future
So, will chic apartment living, fab dining and sexy shopping all become the ‘new’ heart of ‘the new Parramatta’? Urbanist Linda Gregoriou says its already started. On 1 March she took the plunge and opened the first high-end homeware and retail store at Old Government House, for The National Trust. This is not a souvenir and tea towel kind of shop, it’s a design-led, local makers offering with sophisticated products meant for a discerning clientele.
“I think it’s about being innovative and thinking more about the future. There is quite a lot money out in Greater Western Sydney. All those people who have bought apartments want to go out and spend their money,” she says. Linda has a nose for these things and has been spending a lot of time recently sourcing and commissioning products from local artisans. “Parramatta is in the process of reinventing itself. It is actually really buzzy and vibrant,” she says.
Indeed Linda, sees herself as an early mover and a progenitor of change in the hood. Not far from the site of her store, the Parramatta town square is packed with cafes and restaurants like Jamie Oliver’s Italian and Bourke Street Bakery. They both feel familiarly Paddington and bourgeois.
Combined with sell out events at Parramatta Riverside and the quiet hum of work being done at Parramatta Artists Studios – there’s clearly a new breed of creative class that is being supported by P.Mt-aa. “There are a lot of new food places, there’s a lot of Indian and Malaysian food, and there are loads of tiny little cottages that are being turned into a big eatery,” says Gregoriou. “To me it’s really vibrant and multi cultural.”
Indeed, the new plan for Parramatta’s CBD is about moving away from the homogenous, white Anglo-Saxon template of an Australian city, toward something far more representative of Sydney’s racial mix. Now that sounds good.
Chris Bates, like Linda, is a big believer in the future of Parramatta. But he says more green and social zones should be being planned in right now. “The Riverbank is a key ingredient to create a buzz through restaurants, bars and atmosphere. A $30mil Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences is getting built, to get tourists flocking in and there are also a list of high-rise buildings planned on the river banks with swimming pools. One day they want people to swim in the river again,” he marvels.
While Bates says he really loves the Parramatta Riverbank Strategy he’s sceptical about the amount of building-to-green space ratio. “You need to make a city that prioritises people not cars. A city that builds spaces to socialise and congregate,” he says. All generations are needed in Parramatta, but Bates says if companies really want to attract younger generations, they will not be able to hire them ‘unless a cool lifestyle is waiting for them’. “The biggest and most important challenge I think will be creating knowledge based jobs. There must be a lot of office based jobs created. When I say a lot, I mean a lot. Maybe 50,000, maybe 100,000, maybe 200,000 over the coming years,” Bates says.
Joanna Savill who is currently working at Western Sydney Parklands and Parramatta Park Trusts says: “It’s all happening!” “Parramatta provides lifestyle, amenities plus a sense of future possibilities,” she says. Savill believes that Parramatta is rapidly becoming a new centre for fantastic events, particularly in the arts and cultural space. “Parramatta has a great community feel as well as the excitement of a rapidly developing city hub. Transport is excellent, trains to the city take under 30 minutes and all the facilities and services are here. Including the beautiful World Heritage-listed Parramatta Park and a very active, cultural life with a diverse range of food options.”
As a long time lover of events based around food, Savill cites areas like Harris Park and the town square as culinary lynch pins.
“There is a great vision for what is happening here and it’s inspiring to be part of it. The energy and commitment is present in everyone who works and lives here.” Wanting to see for yourself? Below is a guide on where to start.
Cheats guide to Parramatta now
The Store, Old Government House
Selling a mixture of innovative design, homewares, furniture, domestic gifts, ceramics, plants and fresh cut flower, visit ‘The Store’ at Old Government House – it just opened on Wednesday 1 March.
These fab markets are on every Friday from 8am–2pm. Sample goods from local growers in the Sydney food basin and get a true taste of regional NSW. There are tasty morsels to suit every possible palate.
The Parramatta Artist’s Studios
Want to see brilliant artist’s like Emma Fielden and Kate Beckingham? Then book a tour of Parramatta Artists Studios. This studio has birthed recent curatorial successes including Mehwish Iqbal, who was one of last year’s most promising finalists for the Blake Prize. Curators from the Guggenheim visited Parramatta Artist Studios last year to give a talk and take a peak at our homegrown talent.
Love dance? Then don’t miss shows like Past Forward on 11 March 2017. Part of the Parramasala Festival and is a body of creative work by Bharatanatyam dancer Leela Samson. Her show depicts an inward journey experienced through the individual body and the group collective.
Harris Park
Want an authentic taste of the subcontinent? Then head to Billu’s at Harris Park. They’ve got you covered for fine dining Indian at 62-64 Wigram St, Harris Park, Parramatta, 9687 7785.
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