Bidwill, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bidwill Sydney, New South Wales
Bidwill Community Garden, Chestnut Crescent
Population	4,280 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	2770
Elevation	52 m (171 ft)
Location	48 km (30 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Blacktown
State electorate(s)	Mount Druitt
Federal Division(s)	Chifley
Suburbs around Bidwill: Marsden Park Marsden Park Marsden Park Shalvey Bidwill Hassall Grove Dharruk Hebersham Oakhurst

Bidwill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bidwill is located 48 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.

History

Bidwill takes its name from John Carne Bidwill (1815-1853) appointed as botanist in charge at the Botanic Gardens in 1847. Prior to settlement and colonisation of Australia, Bidwill and the surrounding area was inhabited by the Darug tribe.

Bidwill was dominated by the development of public housing in the 1960s and 1970s. In recent times, Bidwill has been associated with social and economic problems. These have resulted in an increase of crime and such trouble as riots.

Transport

On the day of the 2016 Census, the methods of travel to work for employed people were car (either as driver or as passenger) 74.5% and public transport 12.4%. Public transport through this area is provided by Busways.

By road Bidwill is adjacent to the Westlink M7 motorway which can provide very easy access to the Great Western Highway and the M4 Motorway, providing road access to the western sections of the city and eastward to the Sydney CBD. This suburb is linked by several private bus companies to the train stations located at Mount Druitt and St Marys.

Cycleways running through Bidwill run from Poppondetta Park to Mt Druitt and the M7 cycleway, which in turn connects to the cycleways on the M4 and M2 motorways.

Population

According to the 2011 census of Population, there were 4,588 residents in Bidwill. 72.7% of people were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were New Zealand 4.1%, Samoa 2.7%, England 1.8%, Philippines 1.1% and Fiji 0.8%. 72.3% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Samoan 6.2%, Arabic 2.4%, Tongan 1.6%, Maori (Cook Island) 1.3% and Spanish 1.3%. The most common responses for religion in Bidwill were Catholic 28.7%, Anglican 20.8%, No Religion 16.7%, Uniting Church 3.5% and Islam 2.9%.

Education

Bidwill Primary School and the Bidwill campus of Chifley College share a campus with a pre-school. Combined, these separate organisations provide care and education from pre-school (3 years) to Year 12 (17–18 years).

Upon completing year 10 at the Bidwill campus, students continuing public education can either move on to Chifley College Senior Campus located in Mount Druitt, or continue their final years at Bidwill Campus.

In 2016 in Bidwill 38.4% of people were attending an educational institution. Of these, 27.7% were in primary school, 20.6% in secondary school and 9.4% in a tertiary or technical institution.