Werrington, New South Wales

Werrington Sydney, New South Wales
Werrington Lakes
Coordinates	33°45′34″S 150°44′49″E / 33.75943°S 150.74708°E / -33.75943; 150.74708Coordinates: 33°45′34″S 150°44′49″E / 33.75943°S 150.74708°E / -33.75943; 150.74708
Population	3,849 (2011 census)[1]
• Density	864.9/km2 (2,240.2/sq mi)
Established	1806
Postcode(s)	2747
Area	4.45 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Location	48.5 km (30 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Penrith City Council
State electorate(s)	Londonderry Penrith
Federal Division(s)	Lindsay
Suburbs around Werrington: Cambridge Park Werrington County St Marys Kingswood Werrington St Marys Kingswood Claremont Meadows St Marys

Werrington is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is 48.5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Penrith and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.

History

Aboriginal culture

Prior to European settlement, what is now Werrington was home to the Gomerrigal-Tongarra people who spoke the Darug language. They lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle governed by traditional laws, which had their origins in the Dreamtime. Their homes were bark huts called 'gunyahs'. They hunted kangaroos and emus for meat, and gathered yams, berries and other native plants.

European settlement

The first land grant in the area was made in 1806 to Mary King, youngest daughter of the Governor Phillip Gidley King. Mary did not take possession of the property until 1827, after her marriage to Robert Copeland Lethbridge.^[2] They built a house, which they named Werrington, and farmed the surrounding estate until 1865, when Robert Lethbridge died. The Lethbridge family name still survives in Lethbridge Street and Lethbridge Avenue.

Werrington, which still stands in Rugby Street, was leased to New South Wales premier Henry Parkes between 1860 and 1872. It is heritage-listed.^[3] Henry Parkes arranged for the construction of a private railway platform nearby. In 1878, it was opened to the public as Parkes Platform but was renamed Werrington in 1893.^[4] The railway station provided the nucleus around which the town grew.The Werrington estate was sold and subdivided from the 1880s.^[5] Werrington Post Office opened on 1 October 1891.^[6]

Demographics

As per the 2011 Census, The most common ancestries in Werrington were Australian 26.8%, English 23.9%, Irish 5.9%, Scottish 4.3% and Filipino 3.1%. 67.6% of people were born in Australia with a weekly median household income of $1,078. The most common countries of birth were England 3.3%, Philippines 2.8%, New Zealand 2.5%, India 2.4% and Nepal 1.3%.The most common occupations included Clerical and Administrative Workers 19.6%, Technicians and Trades Workers 14.5%, Professionals 13.7%, Machinery Operators And Drivers 13.0%, and Labourers 10.9%.^[7]

Commercial area

Werrington is served by the shopping precinct at Werrington County along Dunheved Road and retail shops near the railway station namely Foursquare Werrington^[8] which includes a Pharmacy.^[9] Colonial Hotel located in Victoria street has a Bistro, Sports Bar and a VIP Lounge.^[10] Werrington Park Corporate Centre, a new Business Park is based adjacent to the University of Western Sydney, Werrington South campus.^[11]

Schools

Werrington has a primary school based in Armstein Crescent, Werrington.^[12] The nearest High School is Cambridge Park High School in the nearby suburb of Cambridge Park. Wollemi College an independent boys' school is situated at Gipps Street.^[13] Kurrambee school catering to students with special needs is located on Werrington Road.^[14]

Tertiary Education

The University of Western Sydney Penrith has two campuses each in Werrington South and Werrington North.^[15] The University campus is easily accessible from Werrington railway station.

Sporting Facilities

Werrington is home to the below Sports amenities

• Colonial Golf Course
• Kingsway Playing Fields - Archery
• Parkes Avenue Tennis Club
• Parkes Avenue Sports Complex
• Rance Oval
• Penrith Sports Stadium

Hospital

The nearest Hospital is Nepean Hospital in Penrith which provides multi-speciality Medical services. Werrington also has a Medical centre located at Victoria Street.^[16]

Transport

Werrington railway station is on the North Shore, Northern & Western Line of the Sydney Trains network. The station underwent a major upgrade in 2007, providing better access for the disabled with a new lift and establishing a paved carpark on the southern side of the station.Busways operates routes 782 and 785 to Penrith from Werrington Station.^[17] Werrington is served by the Great Western Highway and the M4 Western Motorway (Mamre Road exit). Werrington Arterial Road - Stage 1 is currently under construction ( Scheduled to complete end of 2016 ) and is set to connect the Great Western Highway and the M4 Western Motorway providing direct access to the M4 Western Motorway with entry and exit ramps at Claremont Meadows near Werrington. On completion, it will result in improved travel times for residents travelling to the Sydney CBD.^[18]

Governance

At a local government level, Werrington is part of the north ward of Penrith City Council, represented by Ross Fowler (Mayor of Penrith).At the state level, it is part of the Electoral district of Londonderry, represented by Labor Party member Prue Car.Federally, it is part of the Division of Lindsay, represented by Labor Party member Emma Husar.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Werrington, New South Wales.