The University of Western Sydney’s $42-million Parramatta campus on the corner of James Ruse Drive and Victoria Road was officially opened in August 1998.

Parramatta was Australia’s first European style market town, developed to supply Sydney with fresh produce.

Parramatta today is a bustling metropolis with a rich historic background. The Parramatta commercial and retail centre boasts one of the largest shopping centres in the Southern Hemisphere called Westfields providing all the services a student may need.  Parramatta also has a popular restaurant strip providing tastes from all around the world.

The site’s relatively short history as a university campus belies a much older institutional past. Former uses of the site include the Female Orphan School (1818–1886) – whose foundation stone was laid by Governor Macquarie in 1813 making it Australia’s oldest three-storey masonry building – and the Rydalmere Hospital (1888–1976).

Female Orphan School

A key feature of UWS’s Parramatta campus is the Female Orphan School. 
The foundation stone of the Female Orphan school was laid by Governor Macquarie on the 24th of September 1813, it was the first purpose-built charitable institution in Australia, and is Australia’s oldest three-storey masonry building.  Construction was supervised by the Reverend Samuel Marsden between 1813 and 1818.

The building has limitations on its use and refurbishment and has been preserved and restored to its natural condition- the process of adaptive reuse will ensure both it’s preservation and sensitive use as a public space.

Travelling By Car

From Sydney CBD, take the M4 Western Motorway and take the exit at the James Ruse Drive interchange. Note that the M4 is a tollway. Turn right onto James Ruse Drive. Take the Victoria Road exit and turn right at the traffic lights. Turn right again from Victoria Road to enter the campus.

On-campus parking is available, and a valid daily or annual parking permit must be displayed at all times.

Travelling By Train

Take the Carlingford line to Rydalmere railway station, which is next to the campus. Information about the Sydney rail system and timetables are available from the Cityrail website.

Travelling By Bus

Sydney Bus Routes 520, 523 and 524 operate between Parramatta railway station and the campus.

For more information and timetables, please see the Sydney Buses website. 

Westmead Precinct

The Westmead Precinct forms a part of the Parramatta campus. Entrance to the precinct is from Hawkesbury Road, Westmead.

The site is adjacent to the Westmead railway station. Access by car is via the M4 Motorway or the Great Western Highway.

Important Links:

» Parramatta Campus Map (PDF, 157Kb)
» Westmead Precinct Map (PDF, 33Kb)