an option. Sydney Trains nearest station is at Parramatta. Heritage listing Lake Parramatta Dam was the first large dam built in Australia. It was "completed in 1856, practically simultaneously with and probably independently of the modern arch dams in Europe". As such the dam has an important place in the history of both dam technology in Australia and in the design of arch dams in the world. In detail: It is the first large dam built in Australia. It is the only ashlar masonry arch dam in Australia (B Cole). It is believed to be: the eleventh earliest single arch dam constructed in the world since antiquity; the only masonry dam in the world to combine the use of Roman and Portland cements in the one structure. It has a very slender cross section when compared with structures of similar age. It was the storage for one of the earliest suburban water projects in Australia and remained in service for sixty years. Its design and construction involved three of the most significant public works operatives of the time: Captain Percy Simpson, who was initially appointed engineer for the works and is believed to be the designer; Edward Orpen Moriarty, the supervising engineer for construction; and W. Randle, the contractor. "A dominant feature of the dam is its modest volume of 3,000m3 of masonry, resulting from the fact that the base is only 4.6m thick. Had it been a gravity type, it would have been about twice as thick at the base with a consequent doubling of the material required" The design of the dam is thought to have been a precursor to the use of the "cylinder" formula used by C. W. Darley in his design of thirteen thin arch dams constructed between 1896 and 1908 which aroused international attention. The raising of the dam's height in 1898 by C. W. Darley was part of the earliest arch dam construction programs in the world, and attracted appropriate international attention. The raising of the dam 3.3 m by the addition of a concrete ring was achieved without diminishing the integrity of the original structure. The quality of the dam's design, construction and raising is demonstrated by it remaining in excellent condition and being able to withstand Probable Maximum Flood conditions. The dam remains the focus of an important social and recreational facility for Parramatta and surrounding district. Lake Parramatta was listed