Castlereagh, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Castlereagh Sydney, New South Wales
Hadley Park, c. 1810
Castlereagh Location in New South Wales
Population	1,171 (2016 census)
Established	1810
Postcode(s)	2749
Elevation	31 m (102 ft)
Location	67 km (42 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Penrith
State electorate(s)	Londonderry Penrith
Federal Division(s)	Lindsay
Suburbs around Castlereagh: Yarramundi Agnes Banks Londonderry Yellow Rock Castlereagh Cranebrook Emu Heights Penrith Penrith

Castlereagh is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Castlereagh is 67 kilometres (42 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Penrith and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.

History

The suburb is one of the most historic sites in Australia's history, being one of the five Macquarie towns officially proclaimed on 6 December 1810. Governor Lachlan Macquarie recorded the following in his journal "the Township for the Evan or Nepean District I have named Castlereagh in honor (sic) of Lord Viscount Castlereagh", Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1805–1806. He, in turn, was named after Castlereagh in Northern Ireland. The official Government and General Order issued from Government House, Sydney was dated 15 December 1810.

The earliest known European development was the building of Hadley Park, between what is now Castlereagh Road and the Nepean River. Charles Hadley was given a grant in 1803, and his house, Hadley Park, was built c.1806. It still stands, largely intact. It has been said that it is difficult to overestimate the significance of this building. It was one of the earliest buildings in the colony and is "probably unique in its condition and setting". It is heritage-listed.

Circa 1822, Nepean Park, also situated on Castlereagh Road, was built by convict labour for John Single. A notable two-storey farmhouse in the Georgian style, it was acquired by the Dixon family in 1934. It is heritage-listed at state and federal level.

Castlereagh Post Office opened on 1 April 1857 and closed in 1967.

After two hundred years, the rich river flats still provide for a thriving agricultural industry along the Nepean River. Many of Penrith district's pioneering families had originated from Castlereagh. The suburb's historical importance is reflected in its many surviving farmhouses, outbuildings, churches and cemeteries.

Demographics

According to the 2016 census, there were 1,171 residents in Castlereagh. 78.8% of people were born in Australia and 82.6% of people only spoke English at home. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 39.4%, Anglican 21.3% and No Religion 13.7%.

Transport

Castlereagh Road is one of the important transport links in Sydney connecting the Hawkesbury and Penrith regions.