Camden Sydney, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
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Population | 3,230 (2016 census) [1] | ||||||||||||||
Established | 1840 | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 2570 | ||||||||||||||
Elevation | 77 m (253 ft) | ||||||||||||||
Location | 65 km (40 mi) south-west of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||||
LGA(s) | Camden Council | ||||||||||||||
Region | Macarthur | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Camden | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Hume | ||||||||||||||
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Camden is a historic town and suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, located 65 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district. Camden was the administrative centre for the local government area of Camden Council until July/August 2016 [2] and is a part of the Macarthur region.
The area now known as Camden was originally at the northern edge of land belonging to the Gandangara people of the Southern Highlands, who called it Benkennie, meaning 'dry land'. North of the Nepean River were the Muringong, the southernmost of the Darug people, while to the east were the Tharawal people. They lived in extended family groups of 20–40 members, hunting kangaroos, possums and eels and gathering yams and other seasonal fruit and vegetables from the local area. They were described as 'short, stocky, strong and superbly built' and generally considered peaceful. However, as British settlers encroached on their land and reduced their food sources, they turned to armed resistance which ended in 1816 after many of their number were massacred. [3]
Explorers first visited the area in 1795 and named it 'Cowpastures' after a herd of cattle that had disappeared was discovered there. In February 1805, Governor King instructed (apparently reluctantly) a surveyor to measure 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) for John Macarthur at Cowpastures, where Macarthur had been promised land by the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Lord Camden. Macarthur named his property Camden Park in honour of his sponsor. [4]
As Macarthur's wool industry thrived, local citizens began pushing for the establishment of a town in the area to support the industry. Surveyor-General Major Thomas Mitchell suggested Macarthur surrender 320 acres (130 ha) of his land for the purpose to which he refused. Following his death in 1834, his children decided to subdivide the land and the first lots in the new town of Camden went on sale in 1840. Camden Post Office opened on 1 May 1841, the day after the nearby Elderslie office (open from 1839) closed. [5] By 1883, the population had grown to over 300 and a movement began to establish a local council which held its first meeting in 1889.
Commonwealth Heritage List places:
NSW State Heritage Register listed places:
Between 1882 and 1963, Camden station connected Camden to Campbelltown and Sydney by the Camden railway line. Camden is served by Camden Airport, which is mostly used by trainee pilots for flying schools, the Australian Air League, and other forms of general aviation.
Camden has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa).
Climate data for Camden Airport | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 46.4 (115.5) | 45.6 (114.1) | 41.0 (105.8) | 38.5 (101.3) | 29.5 (85.1) | 24.9 (76.8) | 27.0 (80.6) | 30.2 (86.4) | 36.5 (97.7) | 40.5 (104.9) | 42.6 (108.7) | 43.1 (109.6) | 46.4 (115.5) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.7 (85.5) | 28.7 (83.7) | 26.8 (80.2) | 23.9 (75.0) | 20.7 (69.3) | 17.7 (63.9) | 17.4 (63.3) | 19.1 (66.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.3 (79.3) | 28.6 (83.5) | 23.8 (74.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.3 (73.9) | 22.7 (72.9) | 20.8 (69.4) | 17.5 (63.5) | 13.8 (56.8) | 11.1 (52.0) | 10.1 (50.2) | 11.5 (52.7) | 14.4 (57.9) | 17.2 (63.0) | 19.6 (67.3) | 21.9 (71.4) | 17.0 (62.6) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.9 (62.4) | 16.8 (62.2) | 14.9 (58.8) | 11.1 (52.0) | 7.0 (44.6) | 4.6 (40.3) | 2.9 (37.2) | 3.9 (39.0) | 6.8 (44.2) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.0 (55.4) | 15.3 (59.5) | 10.3 (50.5) |
Record low °C (°F) | 7.9 (46.2) | 7.2 (45.0) | 5.9 (42.6) | −0.7 (30.7) | −2.2 (28.0) | −5.4 (22.3) | −6.0 (21.2) | −4.0 (24.8) | −1.8 (28.8) | 1.3 (34.3) | 3.8 (38.8) | 5.7 (42.3) | −6.0 (21.2) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 79.8 (3.14) | 97.3 (3.83) | 89.6 (3.53) | 67.1 (2.64) | 53.0 (2.09) | 66.6 (2.62) | 35.5 (1.40) | 40.7 (1.60) | 38.3 (1.51) | 60.7 (2.39) | 75.1 (2.96) | 56.4 (2.22) | 788.0 (31.02) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 10.3 | 11.0 | 10.6 | 9.4 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 9.6 | 10.3 | 9.2 | 111.5 |
Average afternoon relative humidity (%) | 49 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 53 | 50 | 43 | 44 | 47 | 50 | 46 | 49 |
Source: [12] |
Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has four public high schools, Mount Annan High School, Camden High School, Elderslie High School and Elizabeth Macarthur High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.
The Camden Show is an annual event which combines amusement park attractions with the elements of a state fair. Camden is served by three local radio stations, 2MCR, Vintage FM and C91.3FM. Local newspapers are the Camden Advertiser, [13] the District Reporter and the Macarthur Chronicle.
According to the 2016 census, there were 3,230 residents in Camden. In Camden, 80.0% of people were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England 4.5%, New Zealand 1.6%, Scotland 0.9%, Ireland 0.8% and Germany 0.6%. 87.8% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Spanish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Croatian 0.5%, Mandarin 0.4% and Italian 0.4%. The most common responses for religion in Camden were Catholic 30.7%, Anglican 26.4% and No Religion 19.9%. [1]
Camden lies within the local government area of Camden Council. The council consists of nine councillors; three for each of the three wards; North Ward (Bringelly, Rossmore, Leppington, Cobbitty, Oran Park, Catherine Field, Harrington Park, Kirkham), Central Ward (Mount Annan, Currans Hill, Smeaton Grange, Narellan Vale) and South Ward (Ellis Lane, Narellan, Grasmere, Camden, Elderslie, Spring Farm, Bickley Vale, Cawdor, Camden South). Lara Symkowiak was elected mayor in 2012.
The southern part of the Camden LGA including Camden town centre is contained within the federal electorate of Hume while the northern end of the LGA (north of Narellan Road) is within the federal electorate of Macarthur. The state seat of Camden covers all of the Camden LGA, and parts of the City of Campbelltown and the City of Liverpool.
The state member for Camden is Peter Sidgreaves, first elected in 2019. The federal member for Macarthur is Mike Freelander, first elected in 2016 and the federal member for Hume is Angus Taylor, first elected in 2013. Both Angus Taylor and Peter Sidgreaves are members of the Liberal Party of Australia while Mike Freelander is a member of the Australian Labor Party.
On 27 May 2008 Camden Council rejected plans from the Quranic Society to build a 1,200-student Islamic school in the nearby suburb of Cawdor on planning grounds. The site was 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) south of the centre of Camden adjacent to the Camden General Cemetery and 800 metres (2,600 ft) north of the then recently relocated Camden High School. The issue received national [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] and international media coverage. [20] [21] [22] The proposal was opposed from within the local community, many expressing fear and hatred about the presence of Muslims in an area where relatively few Muslims live. [23] [24] There were angry comments by a number of residents in Camden that were viewed as racist and Islamophobic. [25] The Christian Democratic Party (CDP) opposed the proposal. Speaking at a public meeting in December 2007, CDP leader Fred Nile (present alongside Robert Balzola) said he opposed the school "because Islam opposed Christianity". A spokesman for the Quranic Society said it was "absurd" to claim that Muslims are anti-Christian. [26]
In making its decision several council members, including Mayor Chris Patterson, said the school was inappropriate for the semi-rural area of Camden and likely to cause parking, traffic and other problems. [27] [28] Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd indicated before the council decision that he wouldn't support the school on planning grounds. [29] The Quranic Society said it will appeal the council's decision in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales.
In September 2008, a proposal to build a private Catholic school received media attention for not provoking the same sort of outcry as the previous proposal. Some residents who were not supportive of the Islamic school now welcomed the Catholic school proposal.
On 2 June 2009, The Land and Environment Court passed down the decision to reject the appeal by the Quranic Society, with the court stating that the "development application was not suitable for the rural nature of the land." [30]
However, on 17 May 2021, it was announced that A-League team Macarthur FC had acquired 17 hectares (42 acres) of the planning grounds to construct a football precinct to house the team's future W-League squad, as well as the National Premier Leagues NSW squads. [31]
Campbelltown is a suburb located on the outskirts of the metropolitan area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney 53 kilometres (33 mi) south-west of the Sydney central business district by road. Campbelltown is the administrative seat of the local government area of the City of Campbelltown. It is also acknowledged on the register of the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales as one of only four cities within the Sydney metropolitan area.
Bella Vista is located 33 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of The Hills Shire. It is a suburb in the Hills District of Greater Western Sydney and is in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bella Vista's Norwest Business Park is home to several Fortune 500 companies, a number of shopping centres, high-rise buildings, and industrial and recreational spaces.
John Verge (1782–1861) was an English architect, builder, pioneer settler in the Colony of New South Wales, who migrated to Australia and pursued his career there. Verge was one of the earliest and the most important architect of the Greek Revival in Australia. He also brought more comprehensive range of Regency style than any contemporary architects. His design indicates the increasing of sophistication compared to previous architect's design.
Camden Park is just outside the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. It was named after John Macarthur's estate Camden Park. While most of the suburb is farmland in Wollondilly Shire, the northern part of Camden Park has recently undergone suburban development as an extension of the suburb of Camden South. Camden South is in the Camden Council area and is part of Greater Sydney. The new development is named Bridgewater Estate and features a comprehensive Development Control Plan to guide the style outcomes of the locality.
Camden Council is a local government area in the Macarthur region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The area is located south west of the Sydney central business district and comprises 201 square kilometres (78 sq mi) with an estimated population at the 2021 census of 119,325. The mayor of Camden is Cr. Ashleigh Cagney, a member of the Labor Party.
The City of Campbelltown is a local government area in the Macarthur region of south-western Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. The area is located about 55 kilometres (34 mi) south west of the Sydney central business district and comprises 312 square kilometres (120 sq mi).
Narellan Vale is a suburb of Sydney, in the Australian state of New South Wales. Narellan Vale is located 60 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Camden Council and is part of the Macarthur region.
Narellan is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. Narellan is located 60 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Camden Council and is part of the Macarthur region.
Ingleburn is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia 45 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of City of Campbelltown. It is part of the Macarthur region. Ingleburn is located approximately halfway between the two commercial centres of Liverpool and Campbelltown.
Camden South is a suburb of the Macarthur Region of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia in Camden Council. It is to the immediate south of Camden, New South Wales and shares the same postcode 2570.
Catherine Field is a suburb of Sydney and part of the Macarthur Region in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Catherine Field is 43 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Camden Council.
Cobbitty is a semi-rural town of the Macarthur Region near the town of Camden, southwest of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The area is mostly farmland with a population of around 2000.
Gilead is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Gilead is located 58 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region.
Oran Park is a suburb of south-west Sydney, within the Macarthur Region, in the state of New South Wales, Australia in Camden Council. The suburb is often used as an example of urban sprawl.
Macarthur is a region in the south-west part of the Greater Sydney area, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The region includes the local government areas of the City of Campbelltown, Camden Council, and Wollondilly Shire. It covers an area of 3,067 square kilometres and has a population of close to 310,000 residents. The region geographically forms the foothills between the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands regions.
Menangle is a village in the Macarthur region of New South Wales, Australia.
Wollondilly Shire is a periurban local government area, located on the south west fringe of the Greater Sydney area in New South Wales, Australia, parts of which fall into the Macarthur, Blue Mountains and Central Tablelands regions in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wollondilly is seen as the transition between Regional NSW and the Greater Sydney Region, and is variously categorised as part of both. Wollondilly Shire was created by proclamation in the NSW Government Gazette on 7 March 1906, following the passing of the Local Government (Shires) Act 1905, and amalgamated with the Municipality of Picton on 1 May 1940.
Christopher Stewart Patterson, an Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Camden for the Liberal Party from 2011 to 2019.
Macquarie Grove is a heritage-listed former airport administration offices and private residence and now private residence located at Aerodrome Road, Cobbitty, in the south-western Sydney suburb of Camden in the Camden Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1812 to 1850. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
St Johns Anglican Church Precinct, also known as St John's Camden, is a heritage-listed Anglican church and associated precinct at 6-22 Menangle Road, Camden, Camden Council, New South Wales, Australia. The precinct comprises the church, rectory, cemetery, two church halls and grounds that provide a rural landscaped environment to the group. The dominant feature of the precinct is the historic St John's the Evangelist Anglican Church. Its architects are unknown, and could be the cumulative work of Mortimer Lewis, John Cunningham and Edmund Blacket. It was built from 1840 to 1849 with Richard Basden responsible for the nave and John Le Fevre adding the spire. 1874 saw the addition of the chancel and vestry, their builder is unknown and the design is likely the work of Sir George Gilbert Scott and Blacket. A feature of the church is an organ manufactured by J. Bates & Son, London. The Anglican Church Property Trust of the Diocese of Sydney holds the property in trust, under the Anglican Church of Australia Trust Property Act 1917 (NSW). The precinct was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 24 August 2018.
34°03′16″S150°41′45″E / 34.05444°S 150.69583°E
Heritage