Campbelltown | |||||||||||||
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 Queen Street in Campbelltownc. 2005 | |||||||||||||
  Campbelltown Location in metropolitanSydney | |||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Campbelltown | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:34°4′S150°49′E / 34.067°S 150.817°E /-34.067; 150.817 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | New South Wales | ||||||||||||
| Region | Greater Western Sydney Macarthur | ||||||||||||
| City | Sydney | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location |
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| Established | 1820 | ||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Elevation | 76 m (249 ft) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 16,577 (SAL2021)[2] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 2560 | ||||||||||||
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Campbelltown is a city located on the outskirts of the metropolitan area ofSydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located inGreater Western Sydney 53 kilometres (33 mi) south-west of theSydney central business district by road. Campbelltown is the administrative seat of thelocal government area of theCity of Campbelltown. It is also acknowledged on the register of theGeographical Names Board of New South Wales as one of only fourcities within the Sydney metropolitan area.[3]
Campbelltown gets its name fromElizabeth Campbell,[4] the wife of formerGovernor of New South WalesLachlan Macquarie. Originally called Campbell-Town, the name was later simplified to the current Campbelltown.[5]
The area that later became Campbelltown was inhabited prior toEuropean settlement by theDharug people. Not long after the arrival of theFirst Fleet in Sydney in 1788, a small herd of six cattle escaped and weren't seen again by the British settlers for seven years. They were spotted, however, by theDharug people. In arock art site called Bull Cave near Campbelltown, they drew a number of cattle with pronounced horns. The Dharug cowpasture tribes cabrogal Muringong described the cattle to British explorers and in 1795 the British found a herd of around 60 cattle grazing in the area now known asCamden.[6][7]
The colonial administration was keen for the herd to establish itself so forbade killing of the cattle or settlement in the area. ButJohn Macarthur, who wanted to establish sheep in the colony, took a liking to the prime grazing land. He convinced the British government to overrule the local administration and grant him 5,000 acres (20 km2) just south of theNepean River in 1805. Four years later a number of other grants were made to farmers between Camden andLiverpool.[8]
The Dharug people initially worked with the local farmers but a drought in 1814 led to large numbers of neighbouringGandangara people moving into the area in search of food. Tensions developed between the British and the Gandangara leading to skirmishes and a number of deaths on each side. Governor Macquarie felt a permanent settlement would lead to order in the area and so Campbell-Town was born in 1820.[9]
Development of the town was slow particularly after the departure of Macquarie, and it wasn't until 1831 that residents took possession of town land. However, it was during this period that Campbelltown's most famous incident occurred. In 1826, local farmer Frederick Fisher disappeared. According to folklore, his ghost appeared sitting on a fence rail over a creek just south of the town and pointed to a site where his body was later found to be buried. In memory of the incident, theFisher's Ghost festival is held each November in Campbelltown.[10]
Campbelltown's population increased steadily in the decades following. The southern rail line was extended to Campbelltown in 1858, leading to further development, and in 1882, Campbelltown Council was established allowing municipal works to occur in earnest. Campbelltown became the first country town in New South Wales to have piped water in 1888 and in the period between the World Wars, a local power station was built to supply electricity to residents.[5]
Campbelltown was designated in the early 1960s as a satellite city by the New South Wales Planning Authority, and a regional capital for the south west of Sydney. There was extensive building and population growth in the intervening time and the government set aside land surrounding the township for public and private housing and industry.[11]
In June 2023, the suburb boundary withBradbury was amended, with Campbelltown gaining some area from Bradbury. The new boundary followed the alignments of Jacka Street, Tubb Street and Cartwright Crescent.[12][13] This boundary would later become the boundary withAirds, when that area of Bradbury became part of Airds in November 2024.[14][15]
Campbelltown has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification:Cfa) with mild to cool winters and warm to hot summers.
| Climate data for Campbelltown Swimming Centre, New South Wales, Australia (1962-1984 normals and extremes) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 45.8 (114.4) | 43.0 (109.4) | 40.8 (105.4) | 33.9 (93.0) | 28.3 (82.9) | 25.6 (78.1) | 24.1 (75.4) | 29.0 (84.2) | 35.9 (96.6) | 36.8 (98.2) | 42.2 (108.0) | 41.0 (105.8) | 45.8 (114.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.4 (83.1) | 26.8 (80.2) | 24.1 (75.4) | 20.4 (68.7) | 17.6 (63.7) | 17.1 (62.8) | 18.7 (65.7) | 21.4 (70.5) | 23.5 (74.3) | 25.8 (78.4) | 27.9 (82.2) | 23.3 (74.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.5 (72.5) | 22.7 (72.9) | 20.9 (69.6) | 17.7 (63.9) | 14.0 (57.2) | 11.4 (52.5) | 10.2 (50.4) | 11.6 (52.9) | 14.2 (57.6) | 17.0 (62.6) | 19.2 (66.6) | 21.5 (70.7) | 16.9 (62.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 16.7 (62.1) | 16.9 (62.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 11.2 (52.2) | 7.6 (45.7) | 5.2 (41.4) | 3.2 (37.8) | 4.5 (40.1) | 7.0 (44.6) | 10.4 (50.7) | 12.6 (54.7) | 15.1 (59.2) | 10.5 (50.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) | 6.1 (43.0) | 3.9 (39.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | −0.6 (30.9) | −2.0 (28.4) | −5.6 (21.9) | −2.5 (27.5) | −0.6 (30.9) | 1.1 (34.0) | 2.9 (37.2) | 6.5 (43.7) | −5.6 (21.9) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 90.6 (3.57) | 78.6 (3.09) | 100.7 (3.96) | 62.6 (2.46) | 60.2 (2.37) | 81.6 (3.21) | 33.7 (1.33) | 50.4 (1.98) | 40.7 (1.60) | 74.3 (2.93) | 84.3 (3.32) | 70.5 (2.78) | 828.2 (32.6) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) | 8.3 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 5.9 | 8.4 | 7.3 | 6.4 | 79.9 |
| Source:[16] | |||||||||||||
The old town centre, as laid down by Lachlan Macquarie, is still the main commercial area and includes the Queen Street shopping strip, Campbelltown Mall,Campbelltown railway station and bus interchange, the council chambers and a number of historic buildings. The main residential area is to the south and east of the town centre. On the northwestern side of the railway line is an industrial area.
To the southwest is a second commercial area based aroundMacarthur railway station which includes theUniversity of Western Sydney andMacarthur Square, a large shopping mall. It features an outdoor entertainment and restaurant precinct known as "Kellicar Lane" which opened after an expansion in November 2005. It features afood court that has large glass windows that look over Kellicar Lane, Campbelltown and the surrounding countryside.
Glenalvin_Lithgow_Street_Campbell.jpg)
Richmond_Villa_Campbelltown.jpg)
Campbelltown has a number of heritage-listed sites on theNew South Wales State Heritage Register, including:
The following additional buildings in central Campbelltown are listed on the (now defunct)Register of the National Estate.[24]
Campbelltown lies on the main road and rail links from Sydney to the south-west. TheHume Motorway links Campbelltown north toLiverpool,Sydney Airport andSydney CBD and south toMelbourne. TheB69 connectsWollongong CBD andAppin.
Campbelltown railway station andMacarthur railway station are on theMain Southern line. Campbelltown is also the northern terminus of mostSouthern Highlands Line intercity services.Campbelltown railway station was opened on 4 May 1858 with electrified services commencing on 5 May 1968.
Campbelltown is also well serviced by buses. Transit Systems provides a number of services from Campbelltown station to virtually all the surrounding suburbs of Campbelltown as well as toCamden, and as far north asLiverpool via Glenfield. Picton Buslines provides a service from Campbelltown toPicton viaCamden.[25][26][27] There is also a bus service that connectsWollongong to Campbelltown.[28]
Campbelltown Hospital is part of the South Western Sydney Local Health District and is located on the southern edge of the suburb nearAmbarvale. Campbelltown Private Hospital is located nearby and with the Centric building[29] constitute a close-knit, combined public-private-consulting rooms complex within a convenient radius at Park Central.
Campbelltown Hospital is a major metropolitan hospital. Its emergency department is one of the busiest in Sydney, equipped with 32 beds and will expand further with the redevelopment of the hospital.[30] The hospital has a wide range of surgical specialties, including general surgery (and its subspecialties ofBreast & Endocrine surgery and Colorectal Surgery), orthopaedic surgery, ENT surgery, ophthalmology (i.e., eye surgery), etc. Breast cancers, thyroid and parathyroid diseases, as well as colonic and rectal cancers are particularly well served by the hospital, with its surgeons managing high volumes of these diseases at both Campbelltown public and private hospitals.[31] The Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre is a dedicated facility providing radiotherapy, chemotherapy and multidisciplinary cancer care to the local residents[32]
Bed capacity is currently at 340 during peak times, with a planned addition of 90 beds with the current redevelopment (stage 1), bringing it up to 430 beds by the end of 2015. The new hospital block with an additional 90 beds is nearing completion with planning of the next major stage of redevelopment already underway (stage 2). It has a well-equipped intensive care (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU) with the ability to support ventilated and critically ill patients. The hospital is well supported by a radiology department with services including ultrasounds, CT scans as well as a state-of-the-art MRI scanner[33]
TheWestern Sydney University (old name University of Western Sydney) has a Campbelltown Campus, located on Narellan Road. It was established from 1983 as the second campus of theMacarthur Institute of Higher Education, which merged into WSU in 1989. ATAFE NSW campus operates just opposite the Campbelltown campus of WSU.
There are a number of local schools, including:
In the surrounding suburbs are a number of other schools associated with Campbelltown such asBroughton Anglican College,Mount Carmel High School (Varroville),Thomas Reddall High School (Ambarvale), Ambarvale High School (Rosemeadow), Menangle Park, andSt Gregory's College, Campbelltown which is located in its own suburb,Gregory Hills.
The residential area has a combination ofpublic and privately owned housing. Public housing estates are scattered across the region and the neighbouring areas.
According to the2021 census, there were 16,577 people in the suburb of Campbelltown,[34] and 176,519 residents in the Campbelltown Local Government Area.[35]
In the suburb of Campbelltown,
TheCampbelltown Arts Centre, situated just south of the main town centre features a 180-seat performance space, exhibition galleries and workspaces. Outside is a sculpture garden and a Japanese Gardens and Teahouse that was a gift from Campbelltown's sister cityKoshigaya in Japan.[37]
TheFisher's Ghost Festival is an annual festival held in recognition of Frederick Fisher, an emancipated convict who owned farming land in Campbelltown. Legend has it that Fisher appeared to local man John Farley as a ghost after being murdered by George Worrall, his friend and neighbour, over a land dispute. An annual parade through Campbelltown's main street, Queen Street, is held each November, and a carnival including fairground rides and other entertainment is held at Bradbury Oval, a local sports ground. Over a period of two weeks many activities take place, including the Fisher's Ghost Fun Run, the Fisher's Ghost Art Award and the Street Party which was formerly known as the Mardi Gras.[38]
Campbelltown is home to two local radio stations,2MCR andC91.3FM. The two local newspapers are theCampbelltown-Macarthur Advertiser and theMacarthur Chronicle.[39]
Campbelltown is well known for its strong sporting culture. This includes Rugby League, Cricket, Athletics, Soccer and Australian Rules Football. Campbelltown has produced many professional athletes who have represented Australia at Olympic level.
Its leading sporting team is theWests Tigers who play in theNational Rugby League competition. The Wests Tigers are a merger of two foundation clubs of the oldNew South Wales Rugby League premiership, theWestern Suburbs Magpies and theBalmain Tigers. As such, they play some of their home games atCampbelltown Stadium in neighbouringLeumeah and others atLeichhardt Oval in Sydney'sInner West. The Magpies still exist as a stand-alone team in the lower-tier competition, theNew South Wales Cup, and play home games at Campbelltown Stadium.
Macarthur FC played their first season in theA-League Men in late2020, after they were awarded a license under the name "Macarthur South-West Sydney" in December 2018 as part of the league's expansion.[40] The club will play their home games at Campbelltown Stadium.
Another tenant of Campbelltown Stadium is theMacarthur Rams soccer team which plays in theNew South Wales Premier League competition.[41] Campbelltown is represented in theSydney Grade Cricket competition by theCampbelltown-Camden Ghosts who play their home games inRaby[42] and in theSydney AFL's Premier Division, by theCampbelltown Blues who play their home games inMacquarie Fields.[43] The Campbelltown District Netball Association, based inMinto, plays in the third division of the Netball NSW State League.[44][45]
Campbelltown Billabong Parklands, a large 4 hectare recreation area with outdoor swimming pools and parkland, opened in 2024 at Apex Park.[46]
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence.
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