Greendale, New South Wales facts for kids

Greendale is a suburb of Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is a small community with a rich past.

Greendale's Past: A Look Back

Greendale was first home to the Mulgoa tribe, part of the Darug people. They lived on this land for many years.

Early European Settlement

In 1800, a British explorer named George Caley visited the area. He was a botanist, someone who studies plants.

In 1811, the government gave out pieces of land. One piece went to Mary Birch, who named her property Greendale. This is how the suburb got its name. Another piece of land was given to Ellis Bent. He was an important judge in the colony. A fun place called Bents Basin, by the Nepean River, is named after him.

Farming and Decline

For many years, farmers in Greendale grew mostly wheat. But in 1861, a plant disease called wheat rust spread. It ruined all the wheat crops.

Farmers tried to grow other things, but it didn't work well. Slowly, many families moved away to find new farming land. The small town that had grown up in Greendale began to disappear.

By 1929, the local bakery, post office, school, and churches had all closed down. Then, in 1939, a big bushfire swept through. It destroyed almost all the buildings that were left.

Today, Greendale has a few hundred people living there. But it does not have a town centre like most suburbs.