Dundas Valley, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dundas Valley Sydney, New South Wales
St Bernadettes Catholic Church
Population	5,412 (2016 census)
Elevation	45 m (148 ft)
Location	21 km (13 mi) NW of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Parramatta
State electorate(s)	Epping
Federal Division(s)	Parramatta
Suburbs around Dundas Valley: Carlingford Carlingford Epping Telopea Dundas Valley Eastwood Dundas Dundas Ermington

Dundas Valley is a suburb located in Sydney, Australia. It's about 21 kilometres north-west of Sydney's city centre. This area is part of the City of Parramatta local government area. It is also considered part of both Northern Sydney and Greater Western Sydney.

The area gets its name from the Ponds Creek, which flows through it. Many parks are found along this creek. The land around the creek has both steep and gentle hills. You can explore the Ponds Walk, a 6.6-kilometre path. It follows the Ponds and Subiaco Creeks, passing through many local parks.

History of Dundas Valley

Early Days and Land Grants

Long ago, the area around Dundas Valley was called "The Ponds." This name is still used for the Ponds Creek today. In 1791, some of the very first land grants in Sydney were given here. These grants went to 14 former convicts and their families. Their land was along the Ponds and Subiaco Creeks.

The City of Parramatta has put up signs in the suburb. These signs tell the story of the first land grants. One early grant was 30 acres given to John Love in 1794. He was a member of the NSW Corps.

William Cox and Gregory Blaxland

In the early 1800s, many early settlers sold their land. Lieutenant William Cox of the NSW Corps bought much of it. His land stretched from Brush Farm into Dundas Valley. He used it to graze sheep and cattle. He also grew corn and wheat there.

Gregory Blaxland bought Brush Farm in 1806. Lieutenant William Cox used to call the south-eastern part of the area "Dundas Heights." He would look over his land from this high point.

How Dundas Valley Got Its Name

The name Dundas was first used in this area in 1799. It might have come from a parish in England with the same name. Another idea is that it was named after Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville.

Developing the Suburb

Dundas Valley grew a lot in the 1950s and 1960s. Many public homes were built during this time. Dundas Valley was officially named a suburb on October 19, 2007.

The Old Quarry

In 1832, Thomas Mitchell opened a quarry. This quarry is now the site of a park named after him. The quarry produced "blue metal," a type of rock used for building roads. It was used well into the 1900s.

Convicts worked at the quarry. They carried the "blue metal" to Ermington Wharf. From there, it was taken by ferry to Sydney. The quarry showed a large volcanic rock formation. This rock was between 200 and 250 million years old. Because of its special geology, famous scientists visited the area. These included Charles Darwin and Douglas Mawson.

Street Names

Many streets in Dundas Valley are named after ships. These include ships from the First Fleet (like Sirius and Supply). Some are also named after ships from the Second Fleet (like Neptune). Other streets are named after early settlers, such as Dorahy and Yates.

Who Lives in Dundas Valley?

At the 2016 census, there were 5,412 people living in Dundas Valley. About half of the people (49.9%) were born in Australia. Many people also came from China (13.0%), South Korea (6.9%), and Hong Kong (2.7%).

In Dundas Valley, 46.4% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Mandarin (12.5%), Korean (9.0%), and Cantonese (8.4%). When it came to religion, many people said they had no religion (29.2%). Others were Catholic (24.5%) or Anglican (9.2%).

Schools in the Area

Dundas Valley has several schools for students:

• Telopea Public School
• Yates Avenue Public School
• St Bernadettes Primary School (Catholic)

Shopping and Local Businesses

The small strip of shops on Yates Avenue, beside Curtis Oval.

Dundas Valley has a small group of shops. They are located on Yates Avenue, next to Curtis Oval. This shopping area is currently being redeveloped. New apartments and shops will be built there.

Churches in Dundas Valley

You can find several churches in the suburb:

• Salvation Army Hall, Sophie St Dundas Valley
• St Bernadettes Catholic Church
• Dundas Valley Uniting Church
• Faith Baptist Church
• The Dundas Telopea Anglican Church (meets in Telopea and Dundas)
• Telopea Church of Christ Shortland Street

Parks and Green Spaces

Dundas Park playground, BBQ and ovals in the background

Dundas Valley has some great parks. Sir Thomas Mitchell Reserve and Curtis Oval are popular spots. Local clubs play football (soccer), rugby union, and cricket here. Both parks also have updated playgrounds for kids.

Dundas Park is a large park, covering 6.5 hectares. It has two playgrounds, picnic areas, and BBQ facilities. There is also a Boy Scout and Girl Guides Hall. Curtis Oval has a special track for bikes and walking.

Sir Thomas Mitchell Reserve covers 3.9 hectares. This park is built on the site of an old quarry. There are also smaller parks in the suburb. Lachlan Macquarie Park, for example, has a netball court.

Sports and Fun Activities

The Philip Ruddock water park is a fun place for children in the summer. There are also clubs for sports and recreation:

• Dundas Rugby Union Club
• The Viking Club on Quarry Road (run by Parramatta Leagues Club)
• The Dundas United Recreation Club, based at Curtis Oval. This club has teams for cricket, football (soccer), and netball. They have players from age 6 up to adults.