This view of the dam across the Parramatta River at Marsden Street shows, on the left of the photograph, some of the outbuildings associated with the Parramatta District Hospital and, in the middle distance, Old Government House and its associated buildings.
The dam was originally built in 1818 and provided the town of Parramatta with its main water supply until water was pumped from the reservoir at Hunt's Creek (now Lake Parramatta) in 1881. The dam wall was rebuilt after severe damage during floods in 1864, and again in 1888 after more storm and flood damage. [ref: Shylie & Ken Brown
Parramatta, a town caught in time, 1870 Sydney: Hale & Iremonger, 1995, pp.92, 131-132]
