Macarthur | |||||||||||||
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  Macarthur Location in metropolitanSydney | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:34°04′52″S150°34′12″E / 34.081°S 150.570°E /-34.081; 150.570 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | New South Wales | ||||||||||||
| Region | Greater Sydney | ||||||||||||
| City | Sydney | ||||||||||||
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| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 309,792 (2016) | ||||||||||||
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Macarthur is a region in theOuter South-West[1] part of theGreater Sydney area, in the state ofNew South Wales,Australia. The region includes thelocal government areas of theCity of Campbelltown, theCamden Council and theWollondilly Shire. It covers an area of 3,067 square kilometres and has a population of close to 310,000 residents.[2]
The region is bounded at the north byGlenfield; at the south byYanderra; at the east by the town ofAppin; and at the west by the hamletNattai.
Most of the population lives within thesatellite city ofCampbelltown and its surrounding suburbs.
The region is one of the fastest-growing regions in theSydney metropolitan area, with many new modern suburbs sprouting up in recent decades such asGlen Alpine,Macquarie Links,Harrington Park,Blair Athol,Mount Annan,Currans Hill,Englorie Park,Picton,Oran Park,Gregory Hills,Gledswood Hills,Spring Farm andCatherine Field.[3]
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The region is named afterJohn Macarthur andElizabeth Macarthur who were founders and pioneers of the Australian wool industry. Founded on land owned by the Macarthurs and surveyed by Sir Thomas Mitchell, the town ofCamden was named forLord Camden, who, during his brief tenure asSecretary of State for War and the Colonies had secured the initial land grant for John Macarthur who was then in England. The original Macarthur family property covered the three local councils (Camden Council, Campbelltown City Council and Wollondilly Shire) that are within the region.
The region is generally regarded as the area where the city of Sydney meets rural countryside of regionalNew South Wales, and is considered to be part of the south west part of the Greater Sydney area.Campbelltown andCamden were once rural towns which formed the nucleus of new urban communities created following the Three Cities Structure Plan 1973.
The Wollondilly Shire which makes up the largest Southern part of the region is a mostly rural region with small scale industry and commerce. Notably, the Wollondilly supplies much of Sydney Metropolitan and surrounding areas with water fromWarragamba Dam,Cataract Dam inAppin,Cordeaux Dam inWilton andAvon and Nepean Dams even though located in theWingecarribee Shire is accessed via road through Wollondilly'sBargo.
The region has thus far recorded twoearthquakes in history – one occurring in Appin] on 17 March 1999, and one inPicton on 9 March 1973.[4] The Picton one had a damage total of $2.8 million, with some minor damage inBowral andWollongong.[5] The earthquakes had amagnitude scale of 4.8 and 5.6, respectively.
The administrative towns of the Macarthur Region are:
Camden Council announced in May 2012 that it would transfer its administrative headquarters to Oran Park.[6]
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The history of the region begins over 40,000 years ago and is contained in the continuing culture of theTharawal people. The land still contains reminders of their past lives in rock engravings, cave paintings, axe grinding grooves and shell middens. Their culture also remains in the surviving songs, stories and descendants. The lands of the Tharawal language Nation extended from approximatelyBotany Bay toShoalhaven and to the foothills of the mountain ranges. The principal symbol of the Tharawal nation is the lyrebird.
European history began in 1788 shortly after settlement atSydney Cove, when the colony's entire herd of cattle (four cows and two bulls) strayed from their enclosure and were lost. In 1795 a greatly enlarged herd of 61 cattle were discovered on the grassy land between theNepean River andGeorges River. This area was promptly named the "Cowpastures" – and was deemed a restricted area to provide ongoing protection for the herd; this restriction was short-lived as the herd, deemed too aggressive to be tamed, was destroyed. The early settlement of the area was described byLachlan Macquarie in his journals, whose accounts include the description of Elizabeth Macarthur being met in a 'miserable' bark hut, the only accommodation then existing at Camden Park. In 1803, John Macarthur had been granted 5,000 acres (20 km2) at the Cowpastures and began grazing Merino sheep. His sons William and James introducedviticulture and a commercial nursery, and a successful dairy was founded by Emily Stone, James' wife. In 1816, theAppin Massacre occurred in the region.
The region is steeped in history with statesmen, adventurers, larrikins and villains all having an association with the Macarthur region which makes it a tourist destination.
Major attractions of Camden are:
Mount Annan Botanic Gardens is a 416-acre (1.68 km2)botanic garden opened in 1988. It is currently the largest botanic gardens in Australia and is administered by theRoyal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. It is home to a large collection of native plants, and includes facilities such as picnic areas (withbarbecues), walking trails and a restaurant.
Camden Park Estate was the country property of Australian Wool PioneersJohn Macarthur and his wifeElizabeth Macarthur, and became the principal residence of their family after John's death. Centrepiece of the original 2023.5 hectares (5000 acres) granted to Macarthur by the Governor of New South Wales, at the request of Lord Camden, is Camden Park House, designed byJohn Verge in the neo-Palladian style favoured by the colony's wealthy pastoral 'exclusives', and built between 1832 and 1834; Macarthur himself did not live to see the house completed. Currently, the house remains on 388.5 hectares (960 acres) of the original estate. Macarthur's descendants still reside on the house and property.
Adjacent to Camden Park, though once within its extent, is Belgenny Farm, which is popularly called the "Birthplace of Australia's Agriculture". Designed by architect Henry Kitchen, Belgenny Cottage was built c1821 and was mentioned in Kitchen's submission toCommissioner John Thomas Bigge's enquiry into the state of the colony under GovernorLachlan Macquarie. This original 'cottage ornée', which was demolished in the early 1900s and replaced with the current weatherboard structure, was used by the family when visiting the property until the construction of Camden Park House on an adjacent hilltop. John Macarthur himself died in the cottage in 1834, and was buried in the family cemetery immediately to the south. Currently, the farm is home to descendants of sheep that were brought by the Macarthurs and has a functioning vineyard that produces wine as well as orchards. A 2010 archaeological survey and dig to the north of Belgenny may have determined the location of the original 'miserable hut'.
Camden Valley Golf Resort, opened in 1964 by architectProsper Ellis, is a popular 27 hole golf course.[7] Facilities include a clubhouse and brasserie.
Major attractions of Campbelltown are:
Macarthur Square is the biggest shopping centre in the Macarthur region and caters for the entire region. It contains over 300 shops and includes thedepartment storesBig W,Target andDavid Jones. Macarthur Square is located in the suburb ofCampbelltown, New South Wales, which is about 1 km south of Campbelltown's CBD. It is located adjacent toMacarthur railway station andUniversity of Western Sydney, Macarthur.[8]
Campbelltown City Arts Centre is one of the largest art galleries and exhibitions centres in the Macarthur Region. It is home to Campbelltown Bicentennial Art Gallery, which contains both permanentcontemporary art collections and temporary exhibitions. The centre also does art workshops and performing arts.[9]
The centre is well known for promotingmulticultural-themed art andIndigenous Australian art.[10]
The Japanese Tea Garden is also found within the arts centre. It was a gift from theJapanese city ofKoshigaya, the sister city of Campbelltown.
The Campbelltown Sports Stadium caters for 21,000 and has grandstand seating for 9,000. It is one of the home stadiums for theWests TigersNRL Team. Moreover, the team's leagues club is located adjacent to the stadium as well as an athletics centre and large tennis court complex. Campbelltown Sports Stadium is also the home of the region's newA-League clubMacarthur FC.
Campbelltown Catholic Club is the largestclub in the Macarthur Region. The club notably owns and has shares in The Cube (Campbelltown Convention Centre), Aquafit Gym and the Rydges Hotel located adjacent to the club.[11]
TheCampbelltown Rotary Observatory is located at theUniversity of Western Sydney (Campbelltown Campus) andMacarthur Astronomical Society holds public lectures at theMacarthur Astronomy Forum and public observing nights at selected locations.