Night Time Economy Grants
Parramatta’s night time economy is an integral part of our City’s economy, social and cultural future. As our night time economy grows, our vision is to foster a 24-hour centre that is safe, diverse and vibrant. Parramatta provides great experiences and welcomes everyone.
Purple Flag accreditation: Parramatta's night-life
Purple Flag is a program that recognizes night time hubs that are safe, well-managed, and diverse, promoting a vibrant after-dark experience for all.
Purple Flag is an international scheme that has been successfully rolled out in the United Kingdom, Europe and New Zealand. There are currently 45 locations in the UK that have achieved Purple Flag status.
The accreditation program assessed Parramatta’s CBD against a set of criteria, including access to public transport, adequate street lighting and entertainment offerings.
Parramatta has achieved Purple Flag accreditation which means that our city’s CBD meets international standards of excellence in vibrancy, diversity and safety at night.
Open late for business
The City of Parramatta offers its residents, workers, students and visitors a vibrant and diverse night time culture. As Sydney’s Central River City, we are growing rapidly.
With $20 billion dollars of private and public investment, Parramatta’s 185,000 strong workforce is expected to grow by 100,000 over the next 20 years, and the number of people who call our City home will almost double.
In Greater Sydney, Parramatta is already the second largest night time economy by turnover and the third largest in NSW. There is still so much untapped potential for our City which developments like Metro West, Parramatta Light Rail and Parramatta Square will help to realise.
From our cosmopolitan CBD nightlife hubs like Parramatta Square and Eat Street to our live music scene, to our buzzing ‘Little India’ dining precinct in neighbouring Harris Park, we are edging closer to our vision of transforming into a true 24-hour centre.
Valued at $1.1 billion
Parramatta’s night time economy is valued at $1.1 billion. A shining example of a 24-hour economy, our City has diverse business offerings, late-night events, and vibrant experiences all year round.
Council’s Parramatta Night City Framework 2020-2024 lays out a plan for how the City can continue to achieve this thriving night time economy.
The framework highlights ways we can cater to residents, visitors, workers and students; how we can attract new and diverse businesses; make the City safer and easier to navigate at night; and help foster creativity, live music and events.
Night Time Economy Diversification Grants
City of Parramatta Council launched the Night Time Economy Diversification Grants in 2019 to support Council’s vision of the City as a thriving 24-hour destination. Local businesses and cultural and community organisations have been awarded grants of up to $10,000 to support in delivering programs and events that diversify the City of Parramatta’s night-time offerings.
The most recent round of Night Time Economy Diversification Grant recipients in 2023, included a public classical music performance by the Western Sydney Youth Orchestra, spoken word poetry performances at Westwords, Flamenco Dancers at Lola Cocina, Arabian Night program at The Albion Hotel, and a diverse range of bands at the Collector Hotel, and the Dundas Sports and Recreation Club.
Benefits of a thriving night time economy
A strong, diverse night time economy strengthens the sense of place people feel with Parramatta.
Our night city is a celebration of amazing food, our sporting teams and arts, culture and performance that tell our city’s story.
Skyrocketing patronage
Skyrocketing patronage
For businesses and investors, one of the key benefits of a thriving night time economy in Parramatta is skyrocketing patronage. As the nightlife offering gets better, more workers, residents, students and visitors are attracted to the City. With this market growing at one of the fastest rates in NSW, Parramatta provides an attractive investment opportunity for new businesses and investors.
Social and cultural
Social and cultural
Beyond the economic benefit, the night time economy also brings social and cultural benefits to the community. When workers, residents and tourists spend time in the City at night, they create that cultural and social connection to Parramatta as a place to live, work and most importantly play and socialise in.
Community benefits
Community benefits
- Long trading hours, making services more accessible to more people
- More things to do, especially in the suburbs and local centres at night
- Workers having things to do after work
- Residents staying out later in their suburb
- Visitors having distinctly different night time activities from the Sydney CBD
- Celebrating diversity in the City by unlocking creative and cultural expressions
