Epping, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Epping Sydney, New South Wales
Beecroft Road, Epping
Population	29,551 (2021 census)
• Density	4,320/km2 (11,200/sq mi)
Established	1899
Postcode(s)	2121
Elevation	98 m (322 ft)
Area	6.84 km2 (2.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
• Summer (DST)	AEDT (UTC+11)
Location	18 km (11 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Parramatta
Region	Northern Sydney
State electorate(s)	Epping Ryde
Federal Division(s)	Bennelong (Berowra at next election)
Suburbs around Epping: Beecroft Cheltenham North Epping Carlingford Epping Marsfield Eastwood Eastwood Marsfield

Epping is a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 18 kilometers (11 miles) north-west of the Sydney city center. Epping is part of the City of Parramatta local government area. It's also considered part of the Northern Sydney region.

North Epping is a separate suburb just north of Epping. It's managed by a different council, Hornsby Shire.

Epping's Past: A Look at History

The Wallumettagal Aboriginal people lived in this area long ago. Their land was between the Lane Cove River and Parramatta River. In 1792, Governor Arthur Phillip started giving out land. He called this area the Field of Mars Reserve, named after the Roman god of war. This area included what we now know as Epping, Ryde, and Marsfield.

Epping railway station first opened in 1886. It was called "Field of Mars" at first. Soon after, in 1887, it was renamed "Carlingford". The Post Office opened in 1889, originally named "East Carlingford".

Sonter family packing fruit in Epping, 1911

In 1899, the suburb got its current name, Epping. A local landowner, William Midson, suggested it. He named it after a town near Epping Forest in Essex, England, where his father was born. Both the post office and the railway station then changed their names to Epping. The Field of Mars land was divided into farms and orchards. After World War II, it slowly became a residential area.

After the war, more people moved to Sydney's outer suburbs. The railway line extension to Epping in the 1950s helped connect the suburb to the city. This encouraged more people to live there. Epping grew into a diverse suburban community. Many professionals found the area attractive. This was because of its good public transport, nearby job centers, and schools.

The Seven Network, a big TV company, had its main offices and studios in Epping. They moved out in 2009. Now, residential apartments stand on that site.

Before 2016, Epping was split between three different councils. These were Hornsby Shire, City of Ryde, and City of Parramatta. In 2016, a review suggested that all of Epping should join the City of Parramatta. This change happened on May 12, 2016.

On May 26, 2019, a new metro station opened in Epping. It's part of the North West Rail Link.

Shopping and Businesses

Epping Club

The area around Epping Railway Station is for businesses. You can find newsagencies, pharmacies, and Asian grocery stores there. There are also many restaurants. West of the station, you'll find a Coles supermarket. There's also an RSL Club and a pub called the Epping Hotel.

Epping's Future: Urban Renewal

The NSW government has big plans for Epping's town center. It's part of their "Urban Renewal Area" program. This plan will change zoning rules for 54 hectares (about 133 acres). It allows for buildings from 8 to 22 stories tall. Some later ideas even suggest buildings up to 36 stories. These buildings will have both shops and homes. About 3,750 new homes are planned within 800 meters (about half a mile) of the railway station.

These changes were approved in March 2014. Some residents have worried about things like traffic, parking, and school access.

One of the first big projects was "Oxford Central". This development has 251 or 252 apartments. It also includes car parking and shops. It was finished in late 2019.

Getting Around: Transport

Epping railway station

Epping railway station is a busy place. It's a junction for several train lines. These include the Northern Line and the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. It also connects to the rapid transit Sydney Metro Northwest. The metro line opened on May 26, 2019.

Bus services in Epping are run by Busways and CDC NSW. The M2 Hills Motorway runs along Epping's northern edge. This motorway helps people get to the Sydney city center. Epping Road is another important road. It goes east from the railway station to the Pacific Highway.

Community Fun: Facilities

Epping Community Centre, once known as the School of Arts

Epping has many places for the community to use. Here are some of them:

• Epping Aquatic and Leisure Centre: This center has a heated outdoor 50-meter pool. There's also a warmer "learn to swim" pool and a toddlers' play pool. It has a gym and a coffee shop too.
• Epping Branch Library: Located at 1 Chambers Court, this library is part of the City of Parramatta Library system. It's free to join and offers many services.
• West Epping Community Centre: This center is on Dent and Downing Streets. It's next to West Epping Park. It can hold up to 100 people. A preschool is also attached to it.
• Epping Community Centre: Found at 9 Oxford Street, this center is near the railway station. It can hold up to 300 people. It used to be called the Epping School of Arts. It has a large hall with a stage and meeting rooms.
• Epping Leisure and Learning Centre: This center is downstairs from the Epping Branch Library. It can hold 100 people.
• Epping Creative Centre: Located at 26 Stanley Road, this center focuses on creative and educational activities. It opened in 1989.
• Epping YMCA: At 15 Ward Street, the YMCA offers activities for all ages. It was updated in 2012. It has a health club, fitness studios, an indoor stadium, and tennis courts.

Some schools and churches also have halls and rooms. These can be used by the community too.

Parks, Playgrounds, and Sports Fields

Rockleigh Park, Epping

Places of Worship: Churches

St Alban's, Epping, in 1899

• Chester Street Uniting Church
• Chinese Lutheran Church
• Epping Baptist Church
• Epping Church of Christ
• Epping Gospel Chapel
• Epping Presbyterian Church
• Epping Seventh-day Adventist Church
• Life Way Church (a Lutheran Church)
• North Side Chinese Alliance Church
• Northern Districts Chinese Christian Church
• Our Lady Help of Christians (Roman Catholic) Church
• Presbyterian Reformed Church Epping
• St. Alban's (Anglican), St. Aidan's – West Epping (Anglican)

St Alban's Anglican Church

• West Epping Uniting Church

Learning in Epping: Education

Epping and nearby areas have several schools:

• Arden Anglican School
• Epping Boys High School (located in Marsfield)
• Epping Heights Public School
• Epping North Public School
• Epping Public School
• Epping West Public School
• Ngarala Public School
• Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Primary School

The American International School of Sydney used to be here, but it closed in 2009.

Who Lives in Epping: Demographics

The 2021 census found that Epping had 29,551 people. About 48.5% were male and 51.5% were female.

Different Backgrounds

• About 36.7% of people were born in Australia.
• Many others came from China (19.7%), India (9.5%), South Korea (7.4%), Hong Kong (5.4%), and Malaysia (1.7%).
• English was spoken at home by 30.9% of people.
• Other common languages were Mandarin (23.1%), Cantonese (12.1%), and Korean (9.3%).

Age Groups

• The average age in Epping was 36 years old. The national average is 38.
• Children under 15 made up 19.0% of the population.
• People aged 65 and over made up 13.6% of the population.

Money Matters

• The average weekly household income was $2,243. This is higher than the national average of $1,746.

Homes in Epping

• Most homes (78.1%) were family households.
• About 42.6% of homes were stand-alone houses. This is less than in 2016.
• Flats, units, or apartments made up 47.4% of homes. This is more than in 2016.
• The average household had 2.8 people.

Beliefs

• In the 2021 census, the most common answer for religion was "No Religion" (40.9%).
• Other religions included Catholic (12.2%), Hinduism (9.8%), and Anglican (6.0%).
• Over 20 years (2001-2021), the number of people with no religion grew a lot.

Jobs

• A study in 2024 showed that Epping had more accountants, tax inspectors, and religious ministers than any other Sydney suburb.