Mount Druitt, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Mount Druitt is a suburb
of Sydney
, in the state of New South Wales
, Australia
. Mount Druitt is located 43 kilometres (27 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
, Whalan
, Tregear
, Lethbridge Park and Emerton
.
(1775–1842) was granted 2000 acres (8.1 km²) in the area by Governor Macquarie
. He named his grant, where he died in 1842, Mount Druitt.
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 Hospital
s.
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.
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.
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, council-operated swimming pool and library are all located within walking distance of the railway station.
network. It features a newly upgraded interchange with bus routes operated by the private Busways with routes to all suburbs in the Mount Druitt area, Blacktown
and Glendenning
.
Mount Druitt is close by to the M4 Western Motorway
and Westlink M7
Motorway, providing ready access to all areas of Sydney. The 2001 City of Blacktown Social Plan noted that Mount Druitt residents are significantly more likely than the average Blacktown resident to not have access to a private car.
, adjacent to the local Emerton Shopping Village. It later became known 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.
In 1996, Year 12 students at Mount Druitt High School were deemed by the Daily Telegraph to have failed the HSC. Subsequent to this story being published, The Australian Press Council upheld a number of complaints regarding the article, based on there not being a system of awarding pass and fail marks for students undertaking the HSC, and a class action for defamation was won against the publishers. As a result of this court case the publishers issued a retraction and apology.
jobs. These statements are backed up by the 2006 census
conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
. It states that 46% of Mount Druitt's 13,583 residents were born overseas, more than double the national average, with 10.6% born in the Philippines
, 3.3% from Iraq
and 3.2% from Fiji
. The most common occupation categories were clerical (18%), labourers (16%), machinery operators (15%) and tradespeople (14%). The suburb had a higher than average number of rental properties (38%) although a smaller than average number of these were state housing (5%).
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, in the state of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Mount Druitt is located 43 kilometres (27 mi) west of the Sydney central business district
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown
City of Blacktown
The City of Blacktown is a Local Government Area in the heart of Western Sydney, situated on the Cumberland Plain, approximately 35 km from Sydney CBD. It is bounded by the Local Government Areas of Penrith, Parramatta, Fairfield, Holroyd, Hawkesbury and The Hills Shire. It occupies an area...
, and is part of the Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney is a term used to describe the western region of the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. The University of Western Sydney defines Greater Western Sydney as comprising 14 local government areas...
region.
There are numerous encompassing, smaller suburbs nearby including Bidwill
Bidwill, New South Wales
Bidwill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bidwill is located 48 kilometres 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....
, Blackett
Blackett, New South Wales
Blackett is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blackett is located 48 kilometres 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....
, Whalan
Whalan, New South Wales
Whalan is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Whalan is located 44 kilometres 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....
, Tregear
Tregear, New South Wales
Tregear is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Tregear is located 46 kilometres 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....
, Lethbridge Park and Emerton
Emerton, New South Wales
Emerton is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Emerton is located 46 kilometres 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....
.
History
Major George DruittGeorge Druitt
Major George Druitt was a soldier and Australian pioneer. Mount Druitt was named after him.Druitt became a professional soldier in 1794. As a member of 48th Regiment he sailed to Australia in 1817 on the Matilda, with 440 officers and men...
(1775–1842) was granted 2000 acres (8.1 km²) in the area by Governor Macquarie
Lachlan Macquarie
Major-General Lachlan Macquarie CB , was a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the last autocratic Governor of New South Wales, Australia from 1810 to 1821 and had a leading role in the social, economic and architectural development of the colony...
. He named his grant, where he died in 1842, Mount Druitt.
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
Premiers of New South Wales
The Premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature...
, Joseph Cahill
Joseph Cahill
John Joseph Cahill was Premier of New South Wales in Australia from 1952 to 1959. He is best remembered as the Premier who approved construction on the Sydney Opera House, and for his work increasing the authority of local government in the state.-Early years:Joe Cahill, as he was popularly known,...
. 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
Westfield
-Places:Australia:*Westfield, Western AustraliaCanada:*Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick*Westfield, Nova ScotiaEngland*Westfield, East Sussex*Westfield, North Yorkshire*Westfield, Somerset*Westfield, Woking, SurreyNew Zealand:*Westfield, New Zealand...
. 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
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. 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
Blacktown Hospital
Blacktown Hospital is an acute care hospital in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia. Together with Mount Druitt Hospital and associated community health centres, it forms Blacktown-Mt Druitt Health, which is a unit within the Sydney West Area Health Service .Blacktown hospital has approximately...
or Nepean Hospital
Nepean Hospital
Nepean Hospital is a 420-bed teaching hospital in Kingswood. Nepean Hospital is located at the base of the Blue Mountains in Penrith NSW, Australia. With the gorgeous Nepean river flowing through Penrith, is one of the fastest growing areas in Sydney...
s.
In April 2006, the Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
'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
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
in custody.
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.
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 WestfieldWestfield
-Places:Australia:*Westfield, Western AustraliaCanada:*Grand Bay-Westfield, New Brunswick*Westfield, Nova ScotiaEngland*Westfield, East Sussex*Westfield, North Yorkshire*Westfield, Somerset*Westfield, Woking, SurreyNew Zealand:*Westfield, New Zealand...
corporation took over the shopping centre
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
, which is now known as Westfield Mount Druitt
Westfield Mount Druitt
Westfield Mount Druitt, owned and managed by The Westfield Group, is a shopping centre in Sydney's western suburb of Mount Druitt, New South Wales, Australia....
, 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, council-operated swimming pool and library are all located within walking distance of the railway station.
Transport
Mount Druitt railway station is located on the Western Line of the CityRailCityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
network. It features a newly upgraded interchange with bus routes operated by the private Busways with routes to all suburbs in the Mount Druitt area, Blacktown
Blacktown, New South Wales
Blacktown is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blacktown is located 34 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of City of Blacktown.Blacktown is the largest...
and Glendenning
Glendenning, New South Wales
Glendenning is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Glendenning is located 44 kilometres 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.-History:Glendenning was...
.
Mount Druitt is close by to the M4 Western Motorway
M4 Western Motorway
The M4 Western Motorway,, is a motorway in central Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and Westlink M7
Westlink M7
Westlink M7 - formerly Western Sydney Orbital - is one of Sydney, Australia's urban motorways and a part of Metroad 7 and the Sydney Orbital Network. It connects three Metroads: M5 at Prestons, M4 at Eastern Creek and M2 at Baulkham Hills...
Motorway, providing ready access to all areas of Sydney. The 2001 City of Blacktown Social Plan noted that Mount Druitt residents are significantly more likely than the average Blacktown resident to not have access to a private car.
Education
Mount Druitt High school was established in the 1960s. Interestingly, this school is now actually located within the suburb of DharrukDharruk, New South Wales
Dharruk is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Dharruk is located 46 kilometres 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....
, adjacent to the local Emerton Shopping Village. It later became known as Chifley College Mount Druitt Campus, educating Years 7-10. Chifley College Senior Campus
Chifley College Senior Campus
Chifley College Senior Campus is located in Mount Druitt, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the five schools within Chifley College and is locally known as Chifley Senior.-Notable Alumni=...
educates the senior classes (Years 11-12), and is within walking distance from Mount Druitt Station.
In 1996, Year 12 students at Mount Druitt High School were deemed by the Daily Telegraph to have failed the HSC. Subsequent to this story being published, The Australian Press Council upheld a number of complaints regarding the article, based on there not being a system of awarding pass and fail marks for students undertaking the HSC, and a class action for defamation was won against the publishers. As a result of this court case the publishers issued a retraction and apology.
Demographics
The 2001 City of Blacktown Social Plan identified that a high portion of Mount Druitt residents are migrants from non-English speaking nations, and that they tend to work in Blue collarBlue collar
Blue collar can refer to:*Blue-collar worker, a traditional designation of the working class*Blue-collar crime, the types of crimes typically associated with the working class*A census designation...
jobs. These statements are backed up by the 2006 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's national statistical agency. It was created as the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics on 8 December 1905, when the Census and Statistics Act 1905 was given Royal assent. It had its beginnings in section 51 of the Constitution of Australia...
. It states that 46% of Mount Druitt's 13,583 residents were born overseas, more than double the national average, with 10.6% born in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, 3.3% from Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and 3.2% from Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. The most common occupation categories were clerical (18%), labourers (16%), machinery operators (15%) and tradespeople (14%). The suburb had a higher than average number of rental properties (38%) although a smaller than average number of these were state housing (5%).
See also
- Mount Druitt HospitalMount Druitt HospitalMount Druitt Hospital is a 200 bed hospital in Sydney suburb of Mount Druitt, New South Wales, Australia. It was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in October 1982, and was designed by Lawrence Nield in 1980....
- Mount Druitt Waterworks
- The Lives of Mount Druitt YouthThe Lives of Mount Druitt Youth- External links :*...