Macarthur is a region in the
Outer South-West part of the
Greater Sydney
Greater Sydney is the most populous metropolitan area in Australia and Oceania. Located in the state of New South Wales, it encompasses the City of Sydney (the state capital), its neighbouring local government areas and surrounding regions. I ...
area, in the state of
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. The region includes the
local government areas
A local government area (LGA) is an administrative division of a country that a local government is responsible for. The size of an LGA varies by country but it is generally a subdivision of a state, province, division, or territory.
The ph ...
of the
City of Campbelltown, the
Camden Council and the
Wollondilly Shire
Wollondilly Shire is a Peri-urbanisation, periurban Local government in Australia, local government area that is located on the far southwest fringe of the Sydney, Greater Sydney area in New South Wales, Australia. The local government area is pa ...
. It covers an area of 3,067 square kilometres and has a population of close to 310,000 residents.
The region is bounded at the north by
Glenfield; at the south by
Yanderra; at the east by the town of
Appin; and at the west by the hamlet
Nattai.
Most of the population lives within the
satellite city
A satellite city or satellite town is a smaller municipality or settlement that is part of (or on the edge of) a larger metropolitan area and serves as a regional population and employment center. It differs from mere suburbs, Subdivision (la ...
of
Campbelltown and its surrounding suburbs.
The region is one of the fastest-growing regions in the
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
metropolitan area, with many new modern suburbs sprouting up in recent decades such as
Glen Alpine,
Macquarie Links,
Harrington Park,
Blair Athol,
Mount Annan,
Currans Hill,
Englorie Park,
Picton,
Oran Park,
Gregory Hills,
Gledswood Hills,
Spring Farm and
Catherine Field.
Etymology
The region is named after
John Macarthur and
Elizabeth Macarthur who were founders and pioneers of the Australian wool industry. Founded on land owned by the Macarthurs and surveyed by Sir Thomas Mitchell, the town of
Camden was named for
Lord Camden, who, during his brief tenure as
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies had secured the initial land grant for John Macarthur who was then in England. The original Macarthur family property covered the three local councils (Camden Council, Campbelltown City Council and Wollondilly Shire) that are within the region.
Geography
The region is generally regarded as the area where the city of Sydney meets rural countryside of regional
New South Wales
New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...
, and is considered to be part of the south west part of the Greater Sydney area.
Campbelltown and
Camden were once rural towns which formed the nucleus of new urban communities created following the Three Cities Structure Plan 1973.
The Wollondilly Shire which makes up the largest Southern part of the region is a mostly rural region with small scale industry and commerce. Notably, the Wollondilly supplies much of Sydney Metropolitan and surrounding areas with water from
Warragamba Dam,
Cataract Dam in
Appin,
Cordeaux Dam in
Wilton and
Avon and Nepean Dams even though located in the
Wingecarribee Shire
Wingecarribee Shire is the Local government in Australia, local government area of the Southern Highlands (New South Wales), Southern Highlands in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Wingecarribee Shire is around southwest of Sydney a ...
is accessed via road through Wollondilly's
Bargo.
The region has thus far recorded two
earthquake
An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they ...
s in history – one occurring in Appin] on 17 March 1999, and one in
Picton on 9 March 1973. The Picton one had a damage total of $2.8 million, with some minor damage in
Bowral and
Wollongong
Wollongong ( ; Dharawal: ''Woolyungah'') is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The name is believed to originate from the Dharawal language, meaning either 'five islands/clouds', 'ground near water' or 'sound ...
.
The earthquakes had a
magnitude scale of 4.8 and 5.6, respectively.
Councils
The administrative towns of the Macarthur Region are:
*
Campbelltown where the seat of chambers of the
Campbelltown City Council is based.
*
Oran Park where the seat of chambers of the
Camden Council is based.
Camden Council announced in May 2012 that it would transfer its administrative headquarters to Oran Park.
History
The history of the region begins over 40,000 years ago and is contained in the continuing culture of the
Tharawal people. The land still contains reminders of their past lives in rock engravings, cave paintings, axe grinding grooves and shell middens. Their culture also remains in the surviving songs, stories and descendants. The lands of the Tharawal language Nation extended from approximately
Botany Bay
Botany Bay (Dharawal language, Dharawal: ''Kamay'') is an open oceanic embayment, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, south of the Sydney central business district. Its source is the confluence of the Georges River at Taren Point a ...
to
Shoalhaven and to the foothills of the mountain ranges. The principal symbol of the Tharawal nation is the lyrebird.
European history began in 1788 shortly after settlement at
Sydney Cove
Sydney Cove (Eora language, Eora: ) is a bay on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, one of several harbours in Port Jackson, on the coast of Sydney, New South Wales. Sydney Cove is a focal point for community celebrations, due to its central ...
, when the colony's entire herd of cattle (four cows and two bulls) strayed from their enclosure and were lost. In 1795 a greatly enlarged herd of 61 cattle were discovered on the grassy land between the
Nepean River and
Georges River
The Georges River, also known as Tucoerah River, is an intermediate tide-dominated Ria, drowned valley estuary, that is located in Sydney, Australia. The Georges River is located south and south-west from the Sydney central business district, w ...
. This area was promptly named the "Cowpastures" – and was deemed a restricted area to provide ongoing protection for the herd; this restriction was short-lived as the herd, deemed too aggressive to be tamed, was destroyed. The early settlement of the area was described by
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-general (United Kingdom), Major General Lachlan Macquarie, Companion of the Order of the Bath, CB (; ; 31 January 1762 – 1 July 1824) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Scotland. Macquarie served as the fifth Gove ...
in his journals, whose accounts include the description of Elizabeth Macarthur being met in a 'miserable' bark hut, the only accommodation then existing at Camden Park. In 1803, John Macarthur had been granted 5,000 acres (20 km
2) at the Cowpastures and began grazing Merino sheep. His sons William and James introduced
viticulture
Viticulture (, "vine-growing"), viniculture (, "wine-growing"), or winegrowing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. It is a branch of the science of horticulture. While the native territory of ''Vitis vinifera'', the common grape vine ...
and a commercial nursery, and a successful dairy was founded by Emily Stone, James' wife. In 1816, the
Appin Massacre occurred in the region.
The region is steeped in history with statesmen, adventurers, larrikins and villains all having an association with the Macarthur region which makes it a tourist destination.
Local attractions
Major attractions of Camden are:
*Australian Botanic Garden,
Mount Annan
Mount Annan Botanic Gardens is a
botanic garden
A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...
opened in 1988. It is currently the largest botanic gardens in Australia and is administered by the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. It is home to a large collection of native plants, and includes facilities such as picnic areas (with
barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque (often shortened to BBQ worldwide; barbie or barby in Australia and New Zealand) is a term used with significant regional and national variations to describe various cooking methods that employ live fire and smoke to coo ...
s), walking trails and a restaurant.
*Camden Park Estate,
Camden
Camden Park Estate was the country property of Australian Wool Pioneers
John Macarthur and his wife
Elizabeth Macarthur, and became the principal residence of their family after John's death. Centrepiece of the original 2023.5 hectares (5000 acres) granted to Macarthur by the Governor of New South Wales, at the request of Lord Camden, is Camden Park House, designed by
John Verge in the neo-
Palladian style favoured by the colony's wealthy pastoral 'exclusives', and built between 1832 and 1834; Macarthur himself did not live to see the house completed. Currently, the house remains on 388.5 hectares (960 acres) of the original estate. Macarthur's descendants still reside on the house and property.
Adjacent to Camden Park, though once within its extent, is Belgenny Farm, which is popularly called the "Birthplace of Australia's Agriculture". Designed by architect Henry Kitchen, Belgenny Cottage was built c1821 and was mentioned in Kitchen's submission to
Commissioner John Thomas Bigge's enquiry into the state of the colony under Governor
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-general (United Kingdom), Major General Lachlan Macquarie, Companion of the Order of the Bath, CB (; ; 31 January 1762 – 1 July 1824) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Scotland. Macquarie served as the fifth Gove ...
. This original '
cottage ornée', which was demolished in the early 1900s and replaced with the current weatherboard structure, was used by the family when visiting the property until the construction of Camden Park House on an adjacent hilltop. John Macarthur himself died in the cottage in 1834, and was buried in the family cemetery immediately to the south. Currently, the farm is home to descendants of sheep that were brought by the Macarthurs and has a functioning vineyard that produces wine as well as orchards. A 2010 archaeological survey and dig to the north of Belgenny may have determined the location of the original 'miserable hut'.
*Camden Valley Golf Resort,
Catherine Field
Camden Valley Golf Resort, opened in 1964 by architect
Prosper Ellis, is a popular 27 hole golf course. Facilities include a clubhouse and brasserie.
Campbelltown City
Major attractions of Campbelltown are:
*
Macarthur Square,
Campbelltown
Macarthur Square is the biggest shopping centre in the Macarthur region and caters for the entire region. It contains over 300 shops and includes the
department store
A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store under one roof, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store mad ...
s
Big W,
Target and
David Jones. Macarthur Square is located in the suburb of
Ambarvale, which is about 1 km south of
Campbelltown's CBD. It is located adjacent to
Macarthur railway station and
University of Western Sydney, Macarthur.
* Eschol Park House,
Eschol Park
* Campbelltown City Arts Centre,
Campbelltown
Campbelltown City Arts Centre is one of the largest art galleries and exhibitions centres in the Macarthur Region. It is home to Campbelltown Bicentennial Art Gallery, which contains both permanent
contemporary art
Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...
collections and temporary exhibitions. The centre also does art workshops and performing arts.
The centre is well known for promoting
multicultural
Multiculturalism is the coexistence of multiple cultures. The word is used in sociology, in political philosophy, and colloquially. In sociology and everyday usage, it is usually a synonym for ''ethnic'' or cultural pluralism in which various e ...
-themed art and
Indigenous Australian art.
The Japanese Tea Garden is also found within the arts centre. It was a gift from the
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
ese city of
Koshigaya, the sister city of Campbelltown.
* Campbelltown Sports Stadium,
Leumeah
The Campbelltown Sports Stadium caters for 21,000 and has grandstand seating for 9,000. It is one of the home stadiums for the
Wests Tigers NRL Team. Moreover, the team's leagues club is located adjacent to the stadium as well as an athletics centre and large tennis court complex. Campbelltown Sports Stadium is also the home of the region's new
A-League club
Macarthur FC.
* Campbelltown Catholic Club,
Campbelltown
Campbelltown Catholic Club is the largest
club in the Macarthur Region. The club notably owns and has shares in The Cube (Campbelltown Convention Centre), Aquafit Gym and the Rydges Hotel located adjacent to the club.
Organisations and media
* Macarthur Tourism – The official tourism organisation of the Macarthur Region. It looks after the tourism of three 3 councils of the Region;
Wollondilly,
Camden and
Campbelltown.
* Macarthur Credit Union – The official local
credit union
A credit union is a member-owned nonprofit organization, nonprofit cooperative financial institution. They may offer financial services equivalent to those of commercial banks, such as share accounts (savings accounts), share draft accounts (che ...
bank that caters exclusively for the residents of the
Wollondilly,
Camden and
Campbelltown.
* Macarthur Chronicle – A
News Corp Australia
News Corp Australia is an Australian media conglomerate and wholly owned subsidiary of News Corp.
The group's interests span newspaper and magazine publishing, Internet, market research, DVD and film distribution, and film and television prod ...
owned organisation that manage the three local edition newspapers to the specific LGAs that make up the region: ''Macarthur Chronicle Wollondilly'', ''Macarthur Chronicle Campbelltown'' and ''Macarthur Chronicle Camden''. The organisation is based in
Campbelltown.
*
C91.3 – A commercial radio station broadcasting on 91.3 FM.
*
Vintage FM – A commercial radio station broadcasting on 88.7 FM.
*
2MCR – A community radio station broadcasting on 100.3 FM.
Astronomy
The
Campbelltown Rotary Observatory is located at the
University of Western Sydney (Campbelltown Campus) and
Macarthur Astronomical Society holds public lectures at the
Macarthur Astronomy Forum and public observing nights at selected locations.
References
Sources
* The State Planning Authority of NSW, 1973, The New Cities of Campbelltown, Camden and Appin: Structure Plan.
External links
Macarthur Tourism official websitePicton Chamber of Commerce
{{Sydney Campbelltown suburbs
Regions of Sydney
South Western Sydney