Welcome to the Parramatta City Council Population Forecasts

Parramatta City is located in Sydney's western and north western suburbs. The City is a predominantly established, residential, commercial and institutional municipality with a diverse range of housing stock and residential neighbourhoods. The Parramatta CBD area is one of the earliest areas of settlement in Australia and serves as the major commercial centre of western Sydney. The Parramatta township was established in 1790, with development starting south of the Parramatta River, then progressing to the north. Growth was minimal until the 1850s, aided by the construction of the railway line. Expansion continued in the late 1800s, with Parramatta becoming a commercial centre for the western Sydney area. The City’s growth continued in the 1920s. The most significant development occurred during the post-war years, aided by industrial growth, immigration and the establishment of several public housing estates. The population boomed during the 1950s and 1960s. Growth has continued since the 1960s, although at a slower rate. The southern and western sections of the City adjacent to the main western and south railway lines are heavily influenced by their proximity to industrial employment which expanded significantly in the post war period. These areas attract relatively large numbers of overseas migrants. The City’s north west has traditionally provided family housing for people originating in areas to the east. The City’s population has increased steadily in recent years as the dwelling stock has increased through the development of medium density housing, both in central Parramatta as well as in transport nodes throughout the City.

In recent years, the City has played a range of housing roles specific to different suburbs. The most prominent role has been the attraction of young adults to the City from surrounding Local Government Areas. The City is attractive due to its access to employment, education and transport. The City has a broad economic base, with significant employment in office, institutional and industrial uses. The location of some of Sydney’s major hospitals is a significant source of local employment. While the City is an attractor of young adults, it loses young families with children to areas to the north and west. The supply of family style detached housing is not being expanded in the City while at the same time; significant numbers of new detached houses are being constructed in The Hills Shire and Blacktown City.

It is generally assumed that most of these broad patterns will continue into the future, most notably flows into the City from areas to the south, the loss of population to growing areas to the north, and the attraction of young adults.

With the progressive residential development of the City, areas have developed different roles within the housing market. Many areas within the City tend to be attractive to established families, such as the north eastern suburbs of Carlingford, Epping and Eastwood as well as Winston Hills. The southern areas of the City such as Guildford, South Granville and Merrylands have relatively high rates of turnover and are attractive to recent migrants. Areas around central Parramatta (Parramatta CBD and Remainder, Harris Park, Northmead, Westmead) are more strongly influenced by the inflow of younger people. Some western areas such as Toongabbie and Pendle Hill are likely to regenerate over the forecast period attracting some younger families. This variety of function and role of the small areas in the City means that population outcomes differ across the City.

There are also large differences in the supply of residential property within the City which will also have a major influence in structuring different population and household futures over the forecast period. The most significant new residential opportunities have been identified in Parramatta CBD, Epping, Granville-Clyde, Northmead and Westmead. New dwellings in these areas range from major lower density redevelopment sites to multi storey apartment developments. Other areas such as Constitution Hill and Old Toongabbie are expected to have relatively low numbers of additional dwelling stock in the forecast period.