Parramatta Square
Redevelopment

Client: Parramatta City Council
Industry sector: Urban development and renewal
Services: Aboriginal heritage management, archaeological excavation, analysis and reporting
Location: Parramatta, NSW

About this Project

The project

The $2.7 billion redevelopment of Parramatta Square is one of the largest urban transformation projects in the country and is central to Parramatta City Council’s vision to build Australia’s next great city. The project involves more than 20,000 square metres of designed public space around six new and architecturally innovative buildings, and a refurbished Town Hall.

The project area is identified as a significant place by the Darug people. The Parramatta Square Precinct captures thousands of years of Aboriginal life and includes Parramatta Town Hall, where, in 1810, policies that led to the Stolen Generation began.

Our role in the project

Niche was commissioned by Parramatta City Council to undertake Aboriginal heritage management services as part of the development of the 7 Parramatta Square Precinct.

Our role included desktop research, Aboriginal community consultation, archaeological test excavation, the preparation of Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permits and undertaking archaeological salvage excavations with Traditional Owner groups.

Important cultural landscape

Our team worked with Traditional Owner groups and specialists to uncover archaeological deposits, stone tools and collect dating samples wherever this important cultural landscape survived below historical structures and service installations.

This work will contribute to the rich story of Aboriginal life in Parramatta over the last 10,000 years.

The advantages we delivered to this project

  • A team of locally-based and locally-experienced heritage consultants.
  • Collaborative working relationships with all project stakeholders including Traditional Owner groups, City of Parramatta Council, Casey and Lowe, and Built.

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