Lake Parramatta, Reservoir in North Parramatta, Australia.
Lake Parramatta is a reservoir in North Parramatta with a 15-meter high masonry arch dam across Hunts Creek that holds around 485 million liters of water. The water body covers roughly 10.5 hectares and is surrounded by walking paths, grassy areas, and picnic spots.
The dam was built in 1856 and supplied the region with water for decades until 1909, when Parramatta connected to Sydney's central water system. This shift ended the reservoir's role as the main water source and changed how the area received its supply.
The Darug people left traces of their presence through rock shelters, hand stencils on stone walls, and shell deposits scattered across the site. These marks show how communities lived and gathered here long before European settlement arrived.
Access is through Lackey Street, where parking and main entrances are located. Swimming is available during certain seasons, and the site offers boat rentals, walking tracks, and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy.
The surrounding nature reserve of roughly 73 hectares holds remnants of the rare original Cumberland Plain vegetation with blue-gum forests. These plant communities have become extremely scarce in the region and make the site an important refuge for native plants.
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