Greystanes, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greystanes Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales
Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church
Established	1799
Postcode(s)	2145
Elevation	57 m (187 ft)
Area	9 km2 (3.5 sq mi)
Location	25 km (16 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Cumberland Council
Region	Western Sydney
County	Cumberland
State electorate(s)	Prospect Granville
Federal Division(s)	McMahon
Suburbs around Greystanes: Girraween Pendle Hill South Wentworthville Pemulwuy Greystanes Merrylands West Wetherill Park Smithfield Woodpark

Greystanes is a suburb located in Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 25 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district. Greystanes is part of the Cumberland Council area. It was founded in the late 1790s, making it one of Sydney's oldest suburbs.

History of Greystanes

Frank Cefai laying the first stone at St Simon Stock Catholic Church.

In the early days of British settlement, this area was known as Prospect Hill. It was where the first land grants were given to freed convicts in 1791. From 1800 to 1840, the land of the Darug people was divided into 'Crown Land Grants'. These were given to officials, soldiers, free settlers, and freed convicts for farming. During this time, there were conflicts between the Darug people and the settlers. The Darug people were led by Pemulwuy in many years of fighting.

Greystanes started as a farming area in the 1850s and stayed that way until the 1880s. Large estates were built here as country getaways for wealthy farmers. These included places owned by Charles Whalan and Nelson Lawson. The area then split into Prospect (west of Greystanes Creek) and Greystanes (east of the Creek).

The name 'Grey Stanes' was given by Nelson Lawson. It came from the grey rocks (basalt) found on Prospect Hill. "Grey" describes the colour, and "Stanes" is a Scottish word for stones. The land was first given to William Cummings in 1799. Later, it was bought by William Lawson, a famous explorer of the Blue Mountains, around 1810.

The original residence in Grey Stanes, NSW

In 1836, ‘Greystanes House’ was built by Nelson Simmons Lawson. His father had given him the land on the eastern side of Prospect Hill. In 1942, Greystanes House was taken over by the military for World War 2. The building was pulled down in 1946, but its gates can still be seen on Greystanes Road.

In 1880, the Upper Nepean Scheme began. This project aimed to give Sydney a steady water supply. Huge areas of land were taken for this project, including William Lawson's estate. The many workers building it lived in a 'tent city' near Hyland Road. The Prospect and Potts Hill Reservoirs, Boothtown Aqueduct, and Lower Prospect Canal Reserve were finished in 1888.

Greystanes was officially recognized as a suburb in 1922.

The Greystanes area was used for poultry farming throughout the 1900s. Frank Cefai, a Maltese migrant, was a well-known builder. He constructed many homes and buildings in Greystanes and nearby areas. In 1973, Frank was a major reason for a record number of building approvals in the area.

In the early 1950s, the Maltese community, especially Father Camilleri, raised money. They helped the Wentworthville church buy land from a poultry farmer. This land was on the highest hill in Greystanes. They planned to build a new Catholic church, school, and parish. Frank Cefai started building St Simon Stock Catholic Church. Dams were filled in, and poultry sheds were removed. The first St Simon Stock Catholic Church was where the science block of St Paul's Catholic High School is now. This church also served as classrooms for the St Simon Stock Primary and High School.

The St Simon Stock primary school was finished in 1958, and its all-boys high school in 1962. Frank Cefai also built and helped pay for the Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. He supported the surrounding primary and secondary schools and other church buildings. In 1975, Frank Cefai completed the construction of Our Lady Queen of Peace church.

From 1957 to 1965, Maltese Carmelite Fathers looked after the Parish. The Sisters of Mercy ran Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School. From 1965 to 1988, the Dominican Sisters of Malta ran the primary school. Their Dominican Order symbol is part of the school's logo. The Blessed Imelda Convent at the primary school closed in 1988. It moved to St. Dominic Hostel in Blacktown, Sydney, which Frank Cefai also built. This made Our Lady Queen of Peace a school run entirely by lay staff.

Pan Pacific Scout Jamboree (1952-53)

Between December 29, 1952, and January 9, 1953, over 11,000 scouts gathered in Greystanes. They came for the Pan Pacific Scout Jamboree. Scouts attended from all Australian states and 16 other countries. These included New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea, and Malta. They took part in a full camp program.

Culture and Community

The Sydney Sun newspaper once called the Greystanes area “Little Malta.” This was because many Maltese migrants settled there from the 1910s onwards. They often started poultry farms or market gardens. By 1932, Maltese market gardeners supplied 30% of the produce sold at Sydney's fruit and vegetable markets. Gozo Road in Greystanes is named after Gozo, the second largest island in Malta.

Companies like Baiada Chickens, Cordina Farms, and Pace Farm Eggs were started by local Maltese community members.

Former Maltese corner shop in front of OLQP Catholic Church, corner of Ettalong Rd & Old Prospect Rd

The Maltese Club, once owned by the Catholic Church, was located where the Genista Aged Care Facility is now. The old corner shop across from the Catholic church was one of many Maltese stores. It sold traditional Maltese foods like pastizzi, kinnie, and ravioli. There was also The Maltese Herald newspaper, started in 1961. The Maltese Herald ran for 52 years, with its last issue in 2013.

Greystanes still has a large Maltese Australian community. The Maltese people brought a strong tradition of Christmas lights and nativity scenes to Greystanes. These displays are still put up every December throughout the suburb.

Our Lady of Victories on display for the Maltese Festa, in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Greystanes

In 1965, a special statue of Our Lady of Victories (il-Bambina) arrived in Greystanes. This was a joyful event for Maltese people from all over Sydney. She is a patron saint of Malta. This statue is central to the Greystanes Catholic Community and Our Lady Queen of Peace church. She is also the main feature of the annual Maltese Festa procession. The statue was handcrafted in Bolzano, Italy, as a copy of il-Bambina from Gozo. The Greystanes Maltese Community paid for it. Il-Vitorja or Victory Day is a public holiday in Malta. It celebrates the end of the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 and the end of World War II. It also happens at the same time as the celebration of the birth of the Virgin Mary (il-Bambina). This gives the statue its traditional name (Our Lady Queen of Victories) and the festival its name (Festa tal-Vitorja).

The first procession honouring Our Lady in the parish was in 1962. It was called Our Lady of Lourdes. However, since the statue arrived, the Maltese community has celebrated an annual Festa (il-Vitorja & il-Bambina) every October since 1965. This happens in and around the Catholic Church, just like in traditional Maltese villages.

Our Lady Queen of Peace church and parish was originally meant to be named after Our Lady of Victories. However, the church leaders decided against using "Victories" in the name. So, the church and parish became known as Our Lady Queen of Peace when Frank Cefai finished building it in 1975. The statue of Our Lady of Victories is displayed inside Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. It is carried by hand during the annual procession of the OLQP Maltese Festa. The Maltese Concert Band of NSW also joins the procession and performs during the celebrations.

Joe Spiteri has been a leader in the Maltese community in Greystanes. He has been the longest-serving member and president of the Greystanes Maltese festa for over 50 years, joining in 1966.

A horror drama series called Greystanes, made for TikTok, was released in 2024. It is a Maltese-Australian story. The series adapts Malta's Ħaddiela stories. It was supported by Screen Australia, NZ On Air, and TikTok. The Greystanes series was directed by Ryan Cauchi, a filmmaker nominated for AACTA Awards. It was co-written by Matt Ferro, who worked on The Matrix and Happy Feet.

Historic Places

Greystanes has several places listed for their historical importance:

• Boothtown Aqueduct, bridge, and Lower Prospect Canal Reserve.
• A former farm, post office, and inn at Gipps Road and Hyland Road Regional Parklands. This was built before 1897. It is the only farm group left in the area. It shows how the dairying industry used to be in Greystanes. It was also important as a post office and inn for the local community.
• A late Victorian suburban cottage at 15 Bayfield Road. It has only small changes to its outside.
• Ringrose Primary School.
• Grey Box Reserve, a nature reserve.
• Prospect Hill.
• The original gates to Greystanes House, on Greystanes Road.
• Remnant Tree Stands at Damien Avenue (Gallard Reserve Woodland). This is a small group of plants and shrubs. Most are Forest Red Gum and Grey Box trees. It has been saved from development. It is important for local wildlife and to protect a rare group of plants. Less than 6% of these woodlands remain in Sydney's western suburbs. The Gallard Reserve Woodland is a reminder of the area's original landscape.

Well-known People

Some people who live or have lived in Greystanes include:

• Jai Arrow, rugby league player
• Frances Bondad, professional golfer
• Nicholas Brown, actor
• Mark Carroll, rugby league player
• Jason Cayless, rugby league player
• Nathan Cayless, rugby league player
• Frank Cefai, real estate developer
• Lawrence Dimech OAM MOM, journalist
• Fred Downes, politician
• Laura Dundovic, model and actress
• Mitchell Emery, water polo player
• Amanda Farrugia, Australian rules footballer
• Tim Faulkner, TV personality and conservationist
• Brad Fittler, rugby league player
• Paul Gallen, rugby league player and boxer
• Phil Gould, rugby league player, coach, and TV presenter
• Paul Gow, professional golfer (grew up and played in Greystanes)
• Brett Kenny, rugby league player
• Nelson Lawson, politician
• Warren Potent, sport shooter
• Ray Price OAM, rugby union and rugby league player
• Michael Regan, politician
• Jason Saab, rugby league player
• Dani Stevens, discus thrower
• Carissa Walford, TV presenter

Places of Worship

Greystanes has several Christian churches:

• Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church
• Greystanes Uniting Church
• Holroyd New Life Church
• Methodist Church of Fiji

Shopping and Entertainment

Greystanes Shopping Centre opened in 1970. The Greystanes Inn, known as the GI by locals, also opened then.

The Greystanes Inn is famous for its Christmas Eve and Anzac Day celebrations.

Greystanes Shopping Centre is a single-level shopping centre. It has a Woolworths supermarket and many other shops and services. The shopping centre was updated in 2014.

Schools in Greystanes

Greystanes has several schools. The Department of Education schools are:

• Greystanes Public School (also known as The Harper Street School, opened in 1902)
• Ringrose Primary School (1962)
• Greystanes High School (1963)
• Holroyd High School (1968) – This school has a special English Centre for migrants and refugees.
• Beresford Road Primary School (1969)
• Widemere Public School (1975)

The private Catholic schools are:

• Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School (1958)
• St Pauls Catholic College (1962) (originally St. Simon Stock High School).

Parks and Fun Activities

Boothtown Aqueduct off Macquarie Rd

Greystanes has many parks, sports fields, and sporting places. It also has the famous Cumberland golf course, which started in 1938.

The south side of Greystanes has the Lower Prospect Canal Reserve. Locals simply call it "the Canal." This reserve connects to Grey Box Reserve. Many small neighbourhood parks are found around the suburb.

One important park is Canal Road Park. It is 70 metres above sea level and offers great views of southwest Sydney. It was once a water canal that carried water from the Prospect Reservoir. Now, it is a path for cycling and walking. However, people still call it "the Canal." The Canal features the well-known Boothtown Aqueduct on Macquarie Road, Greystanes.

The southwest of Greystanes has the Gipps Road Sporting Complex and the Rosford Street Reserve. These have many fields for sports like football and cricket. Around the fields are large open spaces for other activities. Rosford Street Reserve also has a small BMX track. The Holroyd Rifle Range and Pigeon Club is on Hyland Road. Near it are the Hyland Road Youth Centre and Men's Shed.

People and Population

According to the 2021 census, Greystanes had 23,511 residents.

• About 49.4% were male and 50.6% were female.
• The average age was 39 years. Children aged 0–14 made up 21% of the population. People aged 65 and over made up 18.9%.
• 62.9% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included Lebanon (4.5%), India (2.9%), and Malta (2.5%).
• The most common backgrounds were Australian (21%), English (16.4%), and Lebanese (15.5%).
• 55.4% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages included Arabic (13%) and Maltese (2.3%).
• The most common religions were Catholic (44.7%), No Religion (13%), and Islam (8.3%).

Getting Around Greystanes

Greystanes is mainly reached by road. Several major roads meet at the Greystanes M4 Junction. These include the Cumberland Highway, the Great Western Highway, and the M4 Western Motorway. The fastest way from the Sydney CBD is using the M4 Western Motorway, exiting at the Cumberland Highway.

Greystanes has Transit Systems Sydney bus services. These buses connect to Parramatta railway station and Blacktown railway station on the T1 North Shore & Western Line. They also link to Merrylands railway station and Liverpool railway station on the T2 Inner West & Leppington Line of the Sydney Trains network.