Hidden gems of Parramatta audio tour

Stop 1: Circa Espresso

Audio transcript

When Circa Café first opened, one of its most devoted customers was a friendly pug dog who would be waiting for the café to open and would then grace it with his presence for much of the day.  The café owner, Aykut Sayan, decided to celebrate his doggy devotion by commissioning this quirky portrait. 

It was painted by New Zealand born artist Mr G (Graham Hoete), who is now a Sydney resident. 

While you’re admiring the artwork, you may like to drop in for a Middle Eastern inspired brunch of Ottoman eggs, recommended by Time Out Sydney, or a great coffee, ethically sourced and roasted onsite.

More about the artist

The artist Graham Hoete (Mr G) is also well-known for his Purple One mural of Prince, located in Liverpool, which went viral on social media, inspiring Mr G to paint a second portrait in Prince’s home town, Minneapolis, USA, which has been personally endorsed by Prince’s family. Find out more.

Stop 2: Beyond Stereotypes AR

Audio transcript

This interactive mural, featuring the faces of seven women, depicts the welcoming of diverse people and cultures, celebrating connected communities.  It amplifies the voices of young women from Western Sydney, a group who frequently felt unheard.  

This collaboration between the City of Parramatta and Youth Action was created by artist INOVIS. You can bring the mural to life and connect with these vibrant women by downloading the City of Parramatta Beyond Stereotypes app from the iStore.  

More about the artist

INOVIS is a Blue Mountains-based artist, renowned for his expressive and colourful imagery.  You can find him on Facebook.

Stop 3: Fire Horse Lane and Old Parramatta Fire Station

Audio transcript

Can you picture a team of horses galloping out of this lane pulling a fire cart fitted with manually operated pumps, with the volunteer fire crew clinging on?  Now imagine the clang of the fire bells ringing! 

Parramatta’s first fire station was located here in 1898, giving the lane its name.  

A new station was built in its place in 1937 which remained until 1992 when it was moved to more modern premises. 

The Escen building around the corner was established above the old fire station and the photographic mural in the lobby is the acknowledgment of its heritage.

About the artist

Heritage 21, Rappoport Heritage Consultants worked with Paintwrights artists to create the photographic mural at the entrance to the Escen building. Find out more.

Stop 4: Movement through landscape

Audio transcript

More than 30 000 people stream in and out of Parramatta Station daily - locals, workers, students, shoppers and visitors from all over Sydney and beyond. Take a look! They move fast, going about their own business. 

Do you think many notice the artwork created by Peter Mc Gregor to celebrate their movement? Peter embedded coloured, baked enamel cups in these massive concrete panels, to represent the daily ebb and flow of people. They stretch along Argyle street for 150 metres and then work their way up Darcy Street. 

About the artist

Peter Mc Gregor of Mc Gregor Westlake Architecture has received the National Concrete Association Award for Wall Category in 2007, and again in 2010, working in collaboration with Hassell, the designers of the Parramatta Interchange. A more recent award in 2020 is the NSW Australian Institute of Architects Award for Urban Design, Sydney Metro North West (with Hassell and TCS = Tata Consultancy Services). Find out more.

Stop 5: St John’s Cathedral – Stained Glass Windows

Audio transcript

Here at St John’s Cathedral stories of the achievements of some of Parramatta’s citizens are represented in the stained glass windows which enhance the sandstone walls of the church.  Each window represents a local Parramatta identity and celebrates his or her involvement in the community.  My favourite window is dedicated to the memory of James Houison, Parramatta architect, builder and stonemason, who helped rebuild this church in the mid-1800s. 

Did you know that the art of making stain glass windows dates back to the 7th century and by the 12th century it had become a sophisticated art form, practised by artisan craftspeople to this day?

There are many stories to be discovered within the Cathedral, so spend a little time to uncover more.  

About the artist

The Artists for the stained glass windows are to date unknown. Find out more.

Stop 6: Welcome Wall 1 – Mandala of Peace

Audio transcript

This Mandala is made up of universal symbols of peace and unity, encouraging us to reconnect with the human story. Its creation was inspired by the voices of many refugees and migrants within our community. The figures on either side of the Mandala represent two strangers reaching out to each other. 

Created by Muralisto, an art enterprise, Welcome Studio, an artist initiative partnering and supporting refugees and the City of Parramatta it represents the rich cultural diversity of our City.

About the artist

Dynamic duo Xander "Knoswet" Zee and Dan Cydes perfected this mural, a design of Xander Zee and Atefeh Hekmat. Xander is passionate about using his skills as a muralist, public artist & designer to encourage positive change, education and conversation. Dan Cydes is a Blue Mountains resident who creates exceptional murals with connections to the natural world. It took 2 weeks, 70 litres of Taubmans paint and 65 Sugar Spray Cans to complete the mural - and a heavy Scissorlift to access the wall! Find out more.

Stop 7: Welcome Wall 2

Audio transcript

You may wonder why there are two murals so close to each other.  The answer is that Welcome Walls, a public art festival in Greater Western Sydney, made these twalls available in 2017 and invited the public to engage and participate in the creation of the murals. 

This second mural was a collaboration between artists from the Welcome Studio, the Creative Women’s Group and the City of Parramatta. The mural represents our local Parramatta community and follows a traditional western Indian art style called Warli. The Warli decorations encircle the peacock and kookaburra and celebrates a new beginning for refugees.

About the artists

Artists Sally Ann Conwell and Katherine Nelson together with Creative Women’s Group worked on this mural. Both women are established artists and hold a Fine Arts Degree from the UNSW.

Stop 8: Pari – Hunter Street Art Gallery – Parramatta Clay & Arts Studio

Audio transcript

Are you a budding artist with hopes of one day exhibiting your creations?  In front of us is the Pari Art Gallery, with Pari standing for the Parramatta Artists Run Initiative. Opened in 2019, it provides new artists with a space to exhibit their work. 

Joining the City of Parramatta Art Society next door to PARI could be another way of gaining artistic inspiration and an alternative place to exhibit your artwork. The Society was formed back in the 1950s and is the longest running art society in NSW.  Go in and be inspired by local artworks displayed by society members.

If clay is your medium, then the Parramatta Clay & Arts Studio is the place for you. It is run as a social enterprise, offering the community a chance to engage with handcrafted ceramics and sculptural forms.

A dedicated team of experienced artists is available to mentor you, and workshops will allow you the opportunity to further extend your creativity.

About the artist

Variety of different artists on display. Find out more about Pari, Hunter Street Gallery, Parramatta Clay & Arts Studio.

Stop 9: Milky Lane Burger Restaurant

Audio transcript

If you like Rhythm and Blues or Rap this popular eatery is the place for you to explore. Not only does Milky Lane craft an astounding selection of burgers, they also blend iconic drinks and shakes. Whilst you enjoy your meal and the music you can also check out the exciting murals which line the walls. R&B queen Rihanna is on one wall, facing WuTang and Snoop Dog on other side. Remember to say hello to manager Puruss, a fountain of R&B knowledge.

About the artist

4 artists were involved: Stephen Evans, Steve Smith, Dallas Clark and Peque. Here is some information on one of them, Stephen Evans. Stephen is influenced by some of the great names in art, like Van Gogh, Cezanne and Matisse and his technique draws from personal experience and a combination of both. He works from his studio at Bondi and gives workshops for adults and students alike.  

Stop 10: Horse Parapet

Audio transcript

Looking up to the roof above Chemist Warehouse, you could be forgiven for thinking that horses were once stabled within this building. But no, the two Arabian horses which are depicted, moving elegantly in the classical Spanish walk, were commissioned by the original owner of the building, Cyrus Edgar Fuller, who also published the local newspaper, the Cumberland Mercury. In 1881 he commissioned two local plasterers, James Smith and John Jones, to create these magnificent horses, because he had a mad passion for trotting.

About the artist

The horses were commissioned by Cyrus Edgar Fuller and made by plasterers James Smith and John Jones. Find out more.

Stop 11: National Australia Bank 

Only open Monday to Friday

Audio transcript

On a weekend the bank is closed and, with the artworks being inside, you should continue to the next stop.  Otherwise enter the bank for some artistic inspiration.
How would you like to have a hotel named in your honour??? Have you heard of Art Hotels? 

Well, Michael Johnson, the creator of this painting called Cerulean, has a Brisbane Art Hotel named after him. The Johnson Art Hotel has a large variety of Michael’s paintings in the public areas and also in individual guest rooms.  Michael has worked internationally, achieving artistic recognition worldwide.  His paintings are colourful and his horizontal bars, or zones as he calls them, each represent a different place in time and space.

Don’t miss the superb heritage interpretation exhibit further along from the Cerulean.

About the artist

Michael Johnson is a Sydney-based artist with international accreditations. Throughout his prolific career, he has combined painting with a passion for educating a new generation of artists. Find out more.

Stop 12: Parramatta Square – Story Box

Audio transcript

Are you good at spinning a yarn? Well, here is your chance to shine. With the help of the Parramatta story box you can create your own visual story to share with the community.

This virtual storytelling platform presents stories of Parramatta’s past, present and future. The City of Parramatta is a key partner in this initiative where the local community is invited to create their own stories as part of the “Tiny Stories” Series

Before you move on search out the many Aboriginal Heritage Interpretations embedded in Parramatta Square. They too tell significant stories of Parramatta’s past and future.

About the artist

Aboriginal, local community members share their stories. Works include digital videos, photos, ABC archival footage, sketches, poetry, Tiny Stories, interactive media, portraits, and quotes about life in Parramatta. Find out more.

Stop 13: James Martin Bronze Statue

Audio transcript

Who is this little boy, captured in bronze for posterity? What is he doing here? This is a young James Martin, who daily walked or hitched a ride on a cart all the way from Parramatta to school in Sydney, in order to pursue his education. From humble beginnings as a stablehand’s son here at Parramatta, James became the Premier of NSW on three occasions and also Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Martin Place in Sydney bears his name and you will find a twin statue of the young James there signalling the end of his daily commute.  This statue should be an inspiration to thousands of students attending the Western Sydney University Campus next door.

About the artist

The artist is Alan Somerville. His body of works include the commemorative statues of soldiers on Sydney’s Anzac Bridge.

Stop 14: Sydney Water – Angle of Incidence by Julia Davis, 2009

Audio transcript

Without water, no lifeform as we know it could survive! Water allows us to live, work and enjoy our surroundings.  These sculptures remind us to use it wisely and to preserve this precious commodity wherever possible. What a brilliant idea to locate these reflective water droplets at the entrance of the Sydney Water office tower. The water droplets dissolve into a puddle, which in the artist's eyes form a counterpoint to the verticality of the buildings.

About the artist

Created by Julia Davies in 2009 the cast polished stainless-steel forms create a welcome entry to the headquarters of Sydney Water. She is a Sydney-based artist who works with a wide range of media including objects, videos and prints.  Her installations are often site-specific.

Stop 15: Parramatta Square 4 – Points of Intersection by Yioryios Papayioryiou 2020

Audio transcript

You have almost come a full circle on your tour to this point, where Parramatta Station meets with Parramatta Square. Thousands of people arrive via the station, as you have already considered, spill out into Parramatta Square, disappear into large office towers and reappear to refresh, eat, talk and interact.  This colourful, abstract creation represents, in the words of the artist, an encounter of movement through time, space and light.

About the artist

Yioryios Papayioryiou is a Sydney-born artist who shares his time between Australia and Greece.

His installation was fabricated and curated by Urban Arts Projects. Points of Intersection stands guardian in the plaza of Parramatta Square P4, home to a large NSW government department.  

Recently the artist was commissioned to create a large-scale public artwork as part of the West Connex Canal to Creek Public Arts Program, launched in 2020.