Prospect, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Prospect is a suburb
of Sydney
, in the state of New South Wales
, Australia
. Prospect is located 32 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.
-from the top of which people could get a prospect of (see a great distance) the surrounding country-side. Initially a settlement for emancipated convicts, it later became a village (whose Post Office and church still stand in isolation between the Great Western Highway
and the M4 Western Motorway
). Prospect village became the basis for the much larger parish of Prospect, encompassing most or all of the present City of Blacktown
. The present Prospect suburb is just one of many suburbs of Blacktown.
Shortly after 1808, William Lawson was appointed aide-de-camp to George Johnston
, was granted 500 acres (2 km²) at Prospect and built a large house there, which he named Veteran Hall. He died on the property on 16 June 1850 and it was eventually acquired by the Metropolitan Water Board
. In the 1880s most of the property was submerged in what is now Prospect reservoir
.
The Emu and Prospect Gravel and Road Metal Company Limited opened a private railway line from Toongabbie to Prospect Quarry on 7 April 1902. Following the inability of the Government railway to supply rail wagons, trains stopped running on the line in 1945, however the rails remained in situ until the early 1960s.
and the M4 Motorway
, providing road access to the western sections of the city and eastward to the Sydney CBD.
Prospect Highway
links Prospect to central Blacktown
.
Blacktown railway station provides access to the Cityrail
and Countrylink
networks, especially Cityrail's Western railway line
. Several bus companies offer connecting services between Prospect and Blacktown, via Blacktown Road
.
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...
. Prospect is located 32 kilometres 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.
History
The suburb of Prospect takes its name from the prominent nearby landmark of Prospect HillProspect Hill (New South Wales)
Prospect Hill is a small hill about 30 kilometres west of central Sydney. It is stands up higher than the ridges of the Cumberland Plain around it and with steeper slopes, but not much higher and not much steeper...
-from the top of which people could get a prospect of (see a great distance) the surrounding country-side. Initially a settlement for emancipated convicts, it later became a village (whose Post Office and church still stand in isolation between the Great Western Highway
Great Western Highway
The Great Western Highway is a highway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs 210 km from Sydney to Bathurst.Starting as Broadway at the intersection of City Road near the fringe of the Sydney CBD, and becoming Parramatta Road to Parramatta itself, the Great Western Highway heads due west from...
and the M4 Western Motorway
M4 Western Motorway
The M4 Western Motorway,, is a motorway in central Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
). Prospect village became the basis for the much larger parish of Prospect, encompassing most or all of the present 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...
. The present Prospect suburb is just one of many suburbs of Blacktown.
Shortly after 1808, William Lawson was appointed aide-de-camp to George Johnston
George Johnston (New South Wales)
Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston was briefly Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales, Australia after leading the rebellion later known as the Rum Rebellion....
, was granted 500 acres (2 km²) at Prospect and built a large house there, which he named Veteran Hall. He died on the property on 16 June 1850 and it was eventually acquired by the Metropolitan Water Board
Sydney Water
Sydney Water is a New South Wales government owned corporation that provides drinking water, wastewater and some stormwater services to Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains, in Australia...
. In the 1880s most of the property was submerged in what is now Prospect reservoir
Prospect reservoir
Prospect Reservoir is a water storage reservoir located at the headwaters of Prospect Creek in the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Prospect, in New South Wales, Australia. The dam wall is known as Prospect Dam.-History of the site:...
.
The Emu and Prospect Gravel and Road Metal Company Limited opened a private railway line from Toongabbie to Prospect Quarry on 7 April 1902. Following the inability of the Government railway to supply rail wagons, trains stopped running on the line in 1945, however the rails remained in situ until the early 1960s.
Landmarks
- Prospect HillProspect Hill (New South Wales)Prospect Hill is a small hill about 30 kilometres west of central Sydney. It is stands up higher than the ridges of the Cumberland Plain around it and with steeper slopes, but not much higher and not much steeper...
, though no longer in Prospect, is visible from many locations in the suburb. It is a noticeable landmark of historical importance in the early settlement history of New South Wales and the suburb takes its name from the hill. The hill is composed entirely of dolerite intruded into the Sydney BasinSydney BasinThe Sydney Basin is a sedimentary basin on the east coast of New South Wales, Australia consisting of Permian and Triassic sedimentary rocks...
rocks during the JurassicJurassicThe Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
period. - Prospect reservoirProspect reservoirProspect Reservoir is a water storage reservoir located at the headwaters of Prospect Creek in the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Prospect, in New South Wales, Australia. The dam wall is known as Prospect Dam.-History of the site:...
is a water storage reservoir located at the headwaters of Prospect CreekProspect Creek (New South Wales)Prospect Creek is a small creek in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It flows from the Prospect reservoir for about 17 km until joining the Georges River at Georges Hall into the Dhurawal bay, in the Chipping Norton Lake system.As the reservoir forms a part of the...
. - St Bartholomew's Church of England is a brick church with a cemetery that contains the tomb of Lieutenant William Lawson and the graves of a number of pioneering families. It is listed on the Register of the National EstateRegister of the National EstateThe Register of the National Estate is a listing of natural and cultural heritage places in Australia. The listing was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission. The register is now maintained by the Australian Heritage Council...
.
Transport
Prospect is adjacent to the Great Western HighwayGreat Western Highway
The Great Western Highway is a highway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs 210 km from Sydney to Bathurst.Starting as Broadway at the intersection of City Road near the fringe of the Sydney CBD, and becoming Parramatta Road to Parramatta itself, the Great Western Highway heads due west from...
and the M4 Motorway
M4 Western Motorway
The M4 Western Motorway,, is a motorway in central Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, providing road access to the western sections of the city and eastward to the Sydney CBD.
Prospect Highway
Prospect Highway, Sydney
The Prospect Highway is now a secondary link road in the Sydney, Australia road network. It provides a free alternative link from the M4 Western to the M2 Hills Motorways, the Westlink M7 being a toll road....
links Prospect to central 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...
.
Blacktown railway station provides access to the Cityrail
CityRail
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...
and Countrylink
CountryLink
CountryLink is the operator of passenger rail services in country New South Wales, Australia and into Queensland and Victoria. It is an operating brand of the Rail Corporation New South Wales, a government-owned entity...
networks, especially Cityrail's Western railway line
Western railway line, Sydney
The Western Line is part of the CityRail metropolitan rail network in Sydney, and is the suburban section of the Main West line which connects Sydney with the west of New South Wales. It connects the Sydney CBD to the employment centre of Parramatta and the outer western suburbs, terminating at Emu...
. Several bus companies offer connecting services between Prospect and Blacktown, via Blacktown Road
Blacktown Road, Sydney
Blacktown Road is a secondary road which links the City of Blacktown to the M4 motorway in Sydney, Australia adjacent to the Great Western Highway....
.
Notable residents
Notable people who have resided in the suburb include:- Natasha Crofts - Australian Mother of the YearAustralian Mother of The Year AwardBarnardos Australia’s Mother of the Year Awards is an award which aims to recognise mothers and the important role that they play in our society; highlighting key themes such as nurturing and caring...
in 2007
External links
- The Prospect Heritage Trust Inc - local historical society web site