Guildford, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guildford Sydney, New South Wales
St Marys Anglican Church
Population	24,091 (2021 census)
Established	1817
Postcode(s)	2161
Elevation	29 m (95 ft)
Location	27 km (17 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Cumberland City Council
State electorate(s)	Auburn Fairfield Granville
Federal Division(s)	Blaxland McMahon Parramatta
Suburbs around Guildford: Woodpark Merrylands West Merrylands Guildford West Guildford South Granville Yennora Old Guildford Chester Hill

Guildford is a busy suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located about 27 kilometres west of the main city centre, known as the Sydney CBD. Guildford is part of the Western Sydney area and is managed by the Cumberland City Council.

Discovering Guildford's Past

Guildford got its name in 1837. It was named after the Earl of Guildford, a noble person from England.

Who Lived Here First?

Before European settlers arrived, the Dharug people were the original owners of this land. They lived in small groups across the area now known as the Cumberland Plain. The Bidjigal clan, a group within the Dharug people, lived around the area where Guildford is today.

How European Settlers Arrived

In 1817, a man named Lieutenant Samuel North was given a large piece of land here. It was about 640 acres (or 2.6 square kilometres). He named his property Guildford because he had connections to the Earl of Guildford.

A small village started to grow around Woodville Road. By 1870, a school had opened, and a church was built in the 1880s. When the railway station opened in 1876, a new town grew up around it. The older village then became known as Old Guildford.

Guildford's Diverse Community

Guildford is known for being a very multicultural place. Many people from different countries and backgrounds live here. A large number of people who speak Arabic, especially from Lebanon, moved to Guildford starting in the 1970s. This was after the civil war in Lebanon. Since then, more people from many other countries have made Guildford their home, creating a friendly and diverse community.

Important Historic Places

Guildford has some special historic buildings and structures that are protected.

Linnwood House: A Grand Old Home

One of these places is Linnwood, a historic house at 11–35 Byron Road. It is listed as a very important building in New South Wales. Linnwood Hall was once the home of George McCredie. He was a successful businessman and a Member of Parliament. He was also the Mayor of Prospect and Sherwood from 1892 to 1895.

Sydney's Oldest Water Pipeline

You can also see parts of Sydney's oldest above-ground water supply pipeline in Guildford. This heritage-listed pipeline, called the Guildford West pipehead and water supply canal, starts in Guildford West and goes all the way to Potts Hill Reservoir near Bankstown. It passes under streets and over the railway line. The pipeline has three large pipes, each 1.8 metres wide, built in 1888, 1901, and 1925.

Getting Around Guildford

Guildford Railway Station

Guildford is part of the Cumberland Council area. It has many schools, parks, sports fields, and swimming pools. There are also local shops and a train station with parking. You can find several churches and Turkish mosques here.

The suburb is well-connected by bus routes to nearby places like Bass Hill, Yagoona, Bankstown, Parramatta, and Liverpool. Guildford also has important business and industrial areas.

Train Travel in Guildford

The Guildford railway station is on the Old Main South line. The main shopping area of Guildford is located around the railway station.

Shopping and Businesses

Guildford has major industrial and commercial areas. These are found along Guildford Road, Ferndell Street (towards Chester Hill), and Cann Street. Many buildings on the main streets were built in the 1930s and have an art deco style. Guildford Road is decorated with beautiful crepe myrtle trees. Interestingly, the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Australia opened in Guildford!

Fun Parks and Green Spaces

Guildford has several great parks for everyone to enjoy.

McCredie Park

This large park is bordered by Guildford Road, Tamplin Road, Fowler Road, and Dennistoun Road. It includes the local Swimming Centre and sports fields. The park is named after George McCredie, who owned this land.

The Swim Centre has an indoor heated pool that's open all year, plus outdoor pools, a skateboard track, and plenty of parking. The sports fields are used by the Guildford Leagues Club.

Guildford Park

Located near Railway Terrace, Bursill Street, and Marian Street, this park has the local Bowling Club and sports grounds. There's also a hall you can rent. Local football, cricket, and soccer teams play on the main oval here.

Campbell Hill Pioneer Reserve

You can enter this park from Campbell Hill Road, or on foot from Dudley Road. It's a big area of 19 hectares (about 47 acres) with BBQ areas, toilets, a small wetland, a half basketball court, and sculptures. The park also has some natural bush areas.

This park is named after John Thomas Campbell, who received this land in 1823. He was an important person in early Sydney, serving as Secretary to Governor Macquarie and as a founder of the Bank of New South Wales.

Woodville Public Golf Course

The entrance to this 18-hole golf course is off Rawson Road. It was also part of John Thomas Campbell's original land grant.

Who Lives in Guildford?

According to the 2021 census, 24,091 people live in Guildford.

• Where people were born: 45.3% of residents were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include Lebanon (10.3%), Afghanistan (4.6%), China (3.2%), Pakistan (2.7%), and Iraq (2.2%).
• Ancestry: The most common ancestries are Lebanese (24.2%), Australian (12.8%), English (9.2%), Chinese (6.6%), and Afghan (3.7%).
• Religion: Many different religions are practiced. The most common are Islam (39.1%) and Catholic (21.4%).
• Languages spoken at home: While 25.5% of people speak only English at home, many other languages are spoken. These include Arabic (30.2%), Mandarin (3.2%), Hazaraghi (3.2%), Urdu (2.6%), and Dari (2.6%).

Famous People from Guildford

Some well-known people have connections to Guildford:

• Samuela Fainu, a rugby league player, was born in Guildford.
• Haumole Olakau'atu, another rugby league player, was also born here.
• Rock star Rick Springfield lived in Guildford.