Banksia, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Banksia Sydney, New South Wales
Princes Highway at Banksia
Population	3,388 (2016 census)
Established	1906
Postcode(s)	2216
Location	12 km (7 mi) south of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Bayside Council
State electorate(s)	Rockdale
Federal Division(s)	Barton
Suburbs around Banksia: Bardwell Valley Arncliffe Arncliffe Bexley Banksia Kyeemagh Rockdale Rockdale Brighton-Le-Sands

Banksia is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Banksia is located 12 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Bayside Council and is part of the St George area.

History

Banksia is named for Joseph Banks, a botanist on the Voyage of Discovery of James Cook which visited the nearby Botany Bay in 1770.

The suburb was part of land owned by Simeon Pearce (1821–86) and his brother James Pearce in the 1850s, which extended from Rockdale to Brighton-Le-Sands. Until the late nineteenth century, the area was heavily timbered but residential development began in the 1880s. One of the leading developers was Frederick Jamison Gibbes, a Member of Parliament, after whom Gibbes Street in the suburb is named. The area developed more rapidly after the railway station opened on 21 October 1906. Many names for the suburb were suggested but the final choice came from Charles Stead, father of novelist Christina Stead. The post office opened in August 1924.

Landmarks

• Gardiner Park
• Banksia Baptist Church
• Banksia Hotel
• National Film and Sound Archive
• Rocksia Hotel
• St Savvas Of Kalymnos Orthodox Church (formerly Banksia Free Church)

Transport

Banksia railway station on the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line of the Sydney Trains network. Banksia is also serviced by Transit Systems route 420 that runs between Burwood and Eastgardens via Sydney Airport.

Population

According to the 2011 census of Population, there were 3,231 residents in Banksia. 50.7% of residents were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were Macedonia 7.5%, China 3.4% and Lebanon 2.9%. 40.2% of residents spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Macedonian 13.0%, Arabic 7.4% and Greek 5.5%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Catholic 25.5%, Eastern Orthodox 21.3%, No Religion 11.6%, Islam 9.7% and Anglican 8.2%.

Houses

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  Bestic Street

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  Kimpton Street

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  Gibbes Street

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  sandstone cottage in Godfrey Street

Images for kids

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  St Savvas of Kalymnos Orthodox Church Banksia (Formerly the Historical Banksia Free Church)

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  Shops on Railway Street