Parramatta River
/ˌpærəˈmætə ˈrɪvər/noun
A tidal waterway in Sydney, Australia, extending from the junction of the Lane Cove and Parramatta rivers to Sydney Harbour.
Did you know?Parramatta is commonly linked to the Dharug people and to eel fishing, although historians note that the exact original meaning remains debated.
Etymological Timeline
Before 1788
Dharug
Burramattagal / Baramada
“Recorded forms associated with the Dharug region and its people; the precise original form and meaning are debated.”
1788
English
Parramatta
“The name adopted by British colonists for the settlement and surrounding area on the river.”
1790s
English
Parramatta River
“The English name used for the waterway leading from the Parramatta settlement toward Sydney Harbour.”
Early 19th Century
English
Parramatta River
“An established colonial cartographic and administrative name for the tidal river.”
Modern English
English
Parramatta River
“The official modern name of the major estuarine waterway in metropolitan Sydney.”