The Parramatta River through time
The Parramatta River has been an essential waterway for Australia’s indigenous population as well as for the early settlement of the colony. Over time settlement followed the river, spreading into surrounding districts in order to secure the best agricultural land and open up the area.
Visit Willandra, an 1840s Georgian home, on Sunday 19 May from 11am to 2pm. Built on Wallumedegal land by James Devlin in the 1840s and saved from demolition by the community in the 1970s. Willandra had been a house, then a service station. A private buyer proposed to demolish, remove and rebuild the house in the Hunter Valley, however community agitation led by the Ryde District Historical Society resulted in Federal and State government grants enabling the purchase of the house by Ryde Municipal Council. The restored building was opened in 1980 and is home to the RDHS. During Open Day you can explore the house and its views of the Parramatta River, see displays of memorabilia of Ryde’s history from its origins, watch a display of images of Ryde, see what’s in our Archives and purchase RDHS publications.
The Parramatta River was important in opening up the area, was used for transport, communication, ship building, sport and pleasure.