Panania, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
City of Bankstown
The City of Bankstown is a city and Local Government Area in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, centred on the suburb of Bankstown....
, is located 23 kilometres inner south-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 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...
, and is a part of the South-western Sydney
South-western Sydney
South-western Sydney is a general term which is used to describe the metropolitan area in south-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Greater Western Sydney area....
region. The postcode is 2213, which it shares with adjacent suburbs East Hills
East Hills, New South Wales
East Hills, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 26 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is a part of the South-western Sydney region....
and Picnic Point
Picnic Point, New South Wales
Picnic Point, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 23 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is a part of South-western Sydney region...
.
Panania is bounded on the north by the M5 South Western Motorway
M5 South Western Motorway
The M5 South Western Motorway is a privately operated tolled motorway in south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It forms part of Sydney Metroad 5 and the Sydney Orbital Network...
and the suburb of Milperra
Milperra, New South Wales
Milperra, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 24 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is a part of the South-western Sydney region.-History:...
. Picnic Point
Picnic Point, New South Wales
Picnic Point, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 23 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is a part of South-western Sydney region...
, to the south, features parklands along the Georges River
Georges River
The Georges River is a waterway in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It rises to the south-west of Sydney near the coal mining town of Appin, and then flows north past Campbelltown, roughly parallel to the Main South Railway...
. East Hills
East Hills, New South Wales
East Hills, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 26 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is a part of the South-western Sydney region....
is the suburb to the west and Revesby
Revesby, New South Wales
Revesby, a suburb of local government area City of Bankstown, is located 22 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and is a part of the South-western Sydney region....
is located to the east.
History
The name Panania was on the original list of stations proposed for the Tempe-East Hills railway line in 1929. Prior to this, Panania was part of what was generally known as the East Hills district. Panania is an Aboriginal word meaning sun rising in the east and shining on the hills. An alternative theory is that the name may be a derivation of "PannoniaPannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
", which was an ancient province of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
southeast of the Danube River. During the construction of the railway line the name Nioka was used for the station which is an Aboriginal word meaning the green hill. Other names suggested for suburb were Linden Park and Elmswood.
The arrival of the railway in 1931 stimulated the development of the East Hills district. Prior to this, the district was rural. There was a soldiers' settlement at Milperra which consisted mostly of poultry and horticultural enterprises. The only public transportation was bus service to Bankstown railway station on the Bankstown line from various locations throughout the district, which posed a great inconvenience to people who needed to visit the Sydney CBD for work.
Development began apace after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women sponsored the mass production of housing at Panania beginning from 1946 with the construction of 34 houses.
St Christopher's Catholic Church on Tower Street was originally the Panania Star cinema. Panania North Public School, a short two block walk on the northern side of the railway line, became a demonstration school in the late 1970s so that trainee teachers from newly established, Milperra College of Advanced Education, could observe teachers at work.
Commercial area
Panania has a shopping area adjacent to Panania railway station. It runs along Weston Street, Anderson Avenue and Tower Street. Anderson Avenue features several local government facilities including a senior citizens centre and a public library. Panania Hotel is located on the northern side of Panania railway station.The active Business Chamber is a significant strength of Panania (excerpt "Panania Issues Paper - Town Centre Improvement Program", Bankstown Council December 2010
Transport
Panania railway station is on the East Hills 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. Parts of Panania are serviced by buses operated by Veolia Transport NSW
Veolia Transport NSW
Veolia Transport NSW is a division of the global Veolia company that operates the Metro Light Rail, the Metro Monorail and commuter bus services in the southern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-Metro Transport:...
, generally following the routes established by McVicar's Bus Services.
The East Hills railway line, which originally terminated one stop away at East Hills divided the suburb into two distinct precincts. During the 1980s, the railway line was extended with a rail bridge over the Georges River
Georges River
The Georges River is a waterway in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It rises to the south-west of Sydney near the coal mining town of Appin, and then flows north past Campbelltown, roughly parallel to the Main South Railway...
, to Campbelltown
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
. This had the effect of raising Panania's suburban status as it was no longer second last on the line, but comfortably midway.
Demographics
Panania had a population of 10,984 people at the 2006 census, or 6.4% of the total population of the City of Bankstown. 48.4% of the population is male; 51.6% is female. 68.7% of the population are over the age of 18. 91.7% of the population are Australian citizens but only 73.8% were born in Australia. 1.1% of the population are indigenous Australians.Religious affiliation
Most of the population (76.7%) call themselves Christians. Islam (3.9%) and Buddhism (2.7%) are the next most popular religions. 9.3% of the population claimed no religion.Churches
Panania features notable buildings such as Holy Trinity Anglican Church and St Christopher's Catholic Church. St Christopher's is housed in the building formerly known as the Panania Star Cinema. The Panania Star Cinema was built in 1952 in the Art DecoArt Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style, and was the twin of the Padstow Star Cinema in nearby Padstow. The building retains a number of original features, including a decorative ceiling. After a grant from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.Erected in 1842 and directly responsible to the Holy See, the Archdiocese is responsible for the suffragan dioceses of Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Bay, Lismore,...
and many donations from parishioners, the building underwent renovations costing $165,000 which were completed early in 2006.
The Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
also has a Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
in Panania. The old building was recently refurbished.
Schools
Panania Public School , Panania North Public School, Tower Street Public School, St Christopher's Catholic School.Houses
Panania is mostly a residential suburb, which was developed after World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and originally contained many modest freestanding bungalows built from asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
cement sheeting (commonly known as fibro
Fibro
Fibro, the shortened form of "Fibrous Cement" - or "Fibrous Asbestos Cement", FAC, is a building material made of compressed fibres cemented into rigid sheets....
). Today, most of these houses have been rebuilt as larger residences or two-storey duplex houses.
Sport
- Panania-East Hills RSL Youth Soccer Club based at Kelso Reserve.
- Revesby Workers Football Club based at Marco Reserve.
- St Christopher's Soccer Club based at Marco Reserve.
- St Christophers Junior Rugby League Club plays in the Canterbury-Bankstown District Junior Rugby League and has produced such players as Brent SherwinBrent SherwinBrent Sherwin is an Australian professional rugby league player. Sherwin currently plays in the Illawarra Carlton League which is an indirect feeder league to the St George Illawarra Dragons. His position of choice is at half-back...
, Graeme HughesGraeme HughesGraeme Christopher Hughes is an Australian sportsman turned broadcaster, born in Stanmore, Sydney. He is the last man to have played both rugby league and cricket for New South Wales....
, Corey HughesCorey HughesCorey Hughes is an Australian rugby league player for the Cronulla Sharks club in the National Rugby League competition. He previously played eleven seasons for the Bulldogs...
, Jarrad HickeyJarrad HickeyJarrad Hickey is a rugby league player for Harlequins RL in the European Super League.Previously with Canterbury Bulldogs he played several games for the club in 2006 off the bench. He is eligible for Ireland. Hickey has been given the nickname OAF, Hickman and Luva by Bulldogs supporters.He used...
and Mark RiddellMark RiddellMark Robert Riddell is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s...
.
Notable residents
The following are or have been residents of Panania:- Steve WaughSteve WaughStephen Rodger "Steve" Waugh, AO is a former Australian cricketer and fraternal twin of cricketer Mark Waugh. A right-handed batsman, he was also a successful medium-pace bowler...
and Mark WaughMark WaughMark Edward Waugh AM is a former Australian cricketer, who represented Australia in Test matches from early 1991 to late 2002, and made his One-Day International debut in 1988. Waugh is regarded as one of the most elegant and gifted stroke makers to ever play the game. His nickname is "Junior" as...
, former Australian cricketers, attended Panania Public School and East Hills Boys Technology High SchoolEast Hills Boys Technology High SchoolEast Hills Boys High School is a boys only public secondary school run by the New South Wales Department of Education, located in Panania, New South Wales, a suburb in south-western Sydney....
. - Actor Bryan BrownBryan BrownBryan Neathway Brown, AM is an Australian actor.-Early life:Brown was born in Sydney, the son of John Brown and Molly Brown, a house cleaner who worked as a pianist in the early days of the Langshaw School of Ballet. He grew up in the south-western Sydney suburb of Bankstown and began working at...
was raised in Panania. - AndrewAndrew TierneyAndrew James Tierney is a member of Human Nature.Andrew and brother Mike are the main songwriters of the group, co-writing the singles, Got It Goin' On, Telling Everybody, Don't Say Goodbye, Whisper Your Name, Be There With You, When We Were Young , Always Be With You and Don't Come Back...
and Michael Tierney from Human NatureHuman Nature (band)Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was... - Paul Makin of Willesee at 7 fame and currently Today Tonight Adelaide was raised in Panania and attended the Panania North Public School