Harris Park: Things to do in Sydney’s Little India
The best attraction in Harris Park, Sydney, is Experiment Farm Cottage, although chances are you’ll visit for Little India’s restaurants.
Harris Park, Sydney, is a neighbourhood that’s effectively part of Parramatta. It is between the Western Motorway and the Parramatta River, around 23km west of central Sydney.
Top of the list of things to do in Harris Park is a visit to Experiment Cottage Farm. This is one of Australia’s oldest buildings, although nearby Elizabeth Farm in Rosehill is generally accepted as the oldest.
13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book
- (💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
- Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
- Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
- Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
- See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
- (Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
- Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
- Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
- Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
- Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
- Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
- (🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.
Things to do in Harris Park, Sydney: Experiment Farm Cottage
Experiment Farm Cottage is the oldest homestead built by European settlers. It dates back to 1835. The cottage is on the site of the first ever land grant given to settlers. It is, in effect, the birthplace of pastoralism in Australia.
In 1789, a year after the First Fleet arrived in Sydney Harbour, James Ruse was granted 1.5 acres of land. It was an experiment, hence the name of the farm. Governor Phillip wanted to see how long a man needed to be able to support himself in the new colony.
Ruse sold the farm four years later to John Harris. He’s the builder of the cottage and the man Harris Park is named after.
Today, the National Trust manages Experiment Farm Cottage. Inside, you learn how Ruse became self-sufficient working his land. The sections on Harris look at his role as colonial surgeon and early life in the colony. Tours of the cottage are also available.
Things to do in Harris Park, Sydney: Little India
The other reason to visit Harris Park is that it has become Sydney’s de facto Little India. Indian clothing shops, food shops and restaurants cluster around Marion St, Wigram St, and Station St in Harris Park.
The Little India label isn’t entirely accurate – the likes of Tibetan Momo and Chulho are Nepalese. But it works as a catch-all name, and the City of Parramatta is now actively promoting it. Good Indian restaurants in Harris Park include Ginger Indian and Chatkazz.
More Sydney neighbourhood guides
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