Mount Druitt

Mount Druitt
Sydney, New South Wales
The Manse (mid-1880s)
Mount Druitt
Coordinates 33°46′20″S 150°49′10″E / 33.77222°S 150.81944°E / -33.77222; 150.81944Coordinates: 33°46′20″S 150°49′10″E / 33.77222°S 150.81944°E / -33.77222; 150.81944
Population 16,726 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 2770
Location 38 km (24 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s) City of Blacktown
State electorate(s)
Federal Division(s) Chifley
Suburbs around Mount Druitt:
Dharruk Whalan Hebersham Plumpton
North St Marys Mount Druitt Rooty Hill
Oxley Park Colyton Minchinbury
Mt Druitt Court House, North Parade

Mount Druitt is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 38 kilometres (24 mi) west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown, and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.

There are numerous encompassing, smaller suburbs nearby including Bidwill, Blackett, Dharruk, Emerton, Hebersham, Lethbridge Park, Minchinbury, Whalan, Shalvey, Tregear and Willmot.

History

Major George Druitt (1775–1842) was granted 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) in the area by Governor Macquarie. He named his grant, where he died in 1842, Mount Druitt.[2]

Rail services to Mount Druitt commenced on 19 August 1881. The railway station operated as the post office between 1885 and 1918. The station had two platforms and a level crossing at the western end and included small goods yard, servicing a small mill. A railway gatekeeper's lodge was built circa 1867, and was later converted to the station master's cottage. It was later sold and converted to commercial use.

Electric train services to Mount Druitt commenced in 1955, at a service presided by then Premier of New South Wales, Joseph Cahill. In 1975, the railway station was relocated approximately 500 metres east to service a new shopping centre that was locally known as "The Great Western" and is now owned by Westfield. The old railway station was demolished almost immediately, although the level crossing remained until a road bridge carrying Carlisle Avenue over the railway line was completed. A footbridge was also built for pedestrians.

Mount Druitt Hospital was opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II. The 200-bed hospital was opened following significant fundraising and political agitation from the local community due to perception that the community was unable to access medical services at either Blacktown or Nepean Hospitals.

In April 2006, the Attorney General's Department of New South Wales opened a new court house at a cost of A$12 million. This was to become the first metropolitan area courthouse to utilise "circle sentencing", with aims to reduce over representation of Indigenous Australians in custody. [3][4]

A local landmark is the Georgian cottage known as The Manse, situated in The Avenue. It was probably built by John Harris in the mid-1880s; the land on which it was built was originally part of Druitt's property. Later it was sold to Robert Kennedy. Kennedy left it to the Presbyterian Church when he died, and it was used for some time as a manse. It was acquired by Blacktown City Council in 2000 and restored. It is now the headquarters of the Mt Druitt Historical Society and is open to the public. It has both a local government and state government heritage listing.[5]

Heritage listings

Mount Druitt has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Commercial area

The Mount Druitt township was serviced by a relatively small shopping area known as Mount Druitt Village.

In 1975, a new shopping centre, known locally as "The Great Western", was opened approximately 500 metres to the east when the railway station was also relocated and a large bus/rail interchange was built. The Westfield corporation took over the shopping centre, which is now known as Westfield Mount Druitt, located on the corner of Carlisle Avenue and Luxford Road, both major roads in the area. The complex has over 200 stores, ranging from discount department stores to specialty shops. Shopsmart is another shopping centre located in the suburb. Other services such as a hospital, coffee shops, small bars, council-operated swimming pool and library are all located within walking distance of the railway station.

The area is under a Blacktown council redevelopment Plan.

Bovis Lendlease is about to embark on a major project in the area to revitalise the station and surrounding area in conjunction with the local Shire Council.

Much of the Housing commission has been sold off to Developers and the area is being revitalized - with Mixed use developments taking place. The area is becoming extremely popular with the Chinese, Thai and Filipino community. Due to the affordability, excellent schools, parks and transport links.

Transport

Mount Druitt railway station is located on the North Shore, Northern & Western Line of the Sydney Trains network. There is an express service which runs all day taking 30 minutes to get to Parramatta and 55 minutes to Sydney. It features a newly upgraded interchange with bus routes operated by Busways with routes to all suburbs in the Mount Druitt area, Blacktown and Glendenning.

The government has announced a North south Line across Western Sydney, which will link Mount Druitt to the new Western Sydney Airport and create a link to the South West.

The Council is embarking on a feasibility to install a new light rail which will link Mount Druitt to the other Blacktown Shire suburbs.

Education

Mount Druitt High school was established in the 1960s.[8] The school is currently located within the suburb of Dharruk, adjacent to the local Emerton Shopping Village. It later rebranded as Chifley College Mount Druitt Campus, educating years 7–10. Chifley College Senior Campus educates the senior classes (years 11–12), and is within walking distance from Mount Druitt Station. Mount Druitt schools have become extremely favorable in recent years, with the high Asian Demographic helping to raise the bar in educational achievements. A number of private schools such as the Church of England Grammar school have acquired parklands in the area. There are plans to build a 2000 student private school in the area adjacent to Wimot. This is in partnership with the State Government who are selling off the failed public housing estate in the area.

Population

Demographics

An original settlement of English migrants as well as Australian working class families in the 80's Mount Druitt became popular with Italian, Greek, Maltese, and German migrants. The 2001, the City of Blacktown Social Plan identified that a high portion of Mount Druitt residents were now migrants from non-English speaking nations.[9] These statements are backed up by the 2011 census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most common occupation categories were tradesmen (17%), retail workers (15%) and government workers (15%).

It states that 42% of Mount Druitt's 15,794 residents were born in Australia mostly descendants of Chinese migrants, compared to the national average of 70%, with 12.0% born in the Philippines, 4.4% from Iraq, 4.2% from Pakistan, 3.7% from India and 3.0% from Fiji. The most common ancestries were Filipino 13.3% and Chinese who made up 45%, Australian born Chinese 12.5%, English 11.1%, Indian 5.8% and Pakistani 4.1%. The most common languages spoken at home other than English were Tagalog 5.7%, Arabic 3.0%, Urdu 2.1%, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic 1.9% and Samoan.5%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 35.7%, Islam 18.0%, Anglican 7.9%, No Religion 6.0% and Hinduism 4.4%.[10]

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Mount Druitt (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 March 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ↑ "Mount Druitt". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  3. ↑ "Mount Druitt Court opens". Attorney General's Department of New South Wales. 2006-04-26. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
  4. ↑ Erin O'Dwyer (2005-10-16). "Court circle of shame helps beat black crime". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  5. ↑ State Heritage Website
  6. ↑ "Neoblie, New South Wales State Heritage Register (NSW SHR) Number H00245". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. ↑ "The Manse, New South Wales State Heritage Register (NSW SHR) Number H00206". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. ↑ Chifley College - Mount Druitt Campus - Celebrating 40 Years of Education Archived 13 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ WESTIR Ltd (2003). "The 2001 City of Blacktown Social Plan". City of Blacktown. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2006. Retrieved 26 August 2006.
  10. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Mount Druitt (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 April 2015. Edit this at Wikidata
  11. ↑ "Beki Lee". Retrieved 2012-08-09. Lee grew up in Mt Druitt in Western Sydney
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