Year 12 Geography Fieldtrip – Parramatta to Berry

On Wednesday 19 March, our Year 12 Geography class went on a fieldwork excursion to Parramatta and Berry, exploring the contrasts between urban and rural areas. It was a packed day, starting in Parramatta CBD, where we looked at urban renewal in Parramatta Square. We walked along the Parramatta River, learning about sustainability challenges like flood mitigation and river restoration, and saw how the city is expanding with high-density developments and improved transport links like the metro and light rail. 

After that, we headed to Berry, which was a complete change of pace from the busy city. We had lunch and walked through the town, observing its role as a tourist destination. We explored boutique stores and antique shops, seeing how small businesses and heritage play a big role in Berry’s economy. We also looked at the impact of the Berry Bypass and how infrastructure influences rural towns.

Overall, the trip was a great way to see firsthand how urban and rural places are connected. It gave us a better understanding of the geographical processes we’ve been studying, and it will definitely help with our assessment (-(-(-Elisabetta Y12)