Holsworthy, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Holsworthy Sydney, New South Wales
Holsworthy High School
Population	5,476 (2016 census)
Established	1835
Postcode(s)	2173
Elevation	19 m (62 ft)
Location	31 km (19 mi) SW of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Liverpool
State electorate(s)	Campbelltown Heathcote Holsworthy
Federal Division(s)	Hughes Macarthur
Suburbs around Holsworthy: Moorebank Wattle Grove Hammondville Glenfield Holsworthy Chipping Norton Macquarie Fields Wedderburn Liverpool

Holsworthy is a suburb located in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is about 31 kilometres southwest of the main Sydney city centre. Holsworthy is part of the City of Liverpool local government area.

This area is well-known for a large Australian Army base called Holsworthy Barracks. Soldiers often carry out training exercises there. The base is next to Heathcote Road, which connects to other suburbs like Bankstown and Liverpool. Signs around the base warn people not to trespass because live training with lasers and gunfire happens there.

The main living areas in Holsworthy are north of the railway station. A part of the suburb is called Anzac Village, which also extends into the nearby suburb of Wattle Grove. A new housing area called 'Mornington' has recently been built, along with a shopping centre for residents.

Holsworthy's Past: A Look at Its History

The name Holsworthy comes from a town in Devon, England. This is where Governor Lachlan Macquarie married his wife, Elizabeth Campbell, in 1807. The suburb's name used to be spelled 'Holdsworthy' until after World War II, when the 'd' was removed.

First People and Early Settlers

Before European settlers arrived, the land around Holsworthy was home to the Tharawal people. They had lived there for thousands of years. When the First Fleet arrived in Sydney, the Tharawal people were gradually pushed away from their traditional lands.

In 1795, explorers George Bass and Matthew Flinders explored the Georges River, which runs near Holsworthy. By 1798, the first land grants were given out for farming in the area. The soil was good, and farmers soon grew crops like corn, wheat, and vegetables.

However, there were conflicts between the Tharawal people and the new settlers. In 1801, Governor King ordered soldiers to keep Aboriginal people away from settler properties. By 1815, Governor Macquarie declared a state of open warfare against Aboriginal groups in the Georges River area. He also made it illegal for Aboriginal people to carry weapons within a mile of any British settlement. Eventually, the British took control of the land.

From Settlement to Army Base

A small settlement called Eckersley was started in 1835 on what is now military land. By the 1880s, several vineyards were growing grapes in the area.

In 1913, the army bought the land. During World War I, a large internment camp was set up at Holsworthy. This camp held civilians of German or Austro-Hungarian background who were living in Australia. After World War II, the modern residential part of Holsworthy grew to the north, while the army barracks remained to the south.

Many of the streets in Holsworthy have names with a military theme, like Tarakan, Bardia, Anzac, Light Horse, and Trooper Row. In Anzac Village, streets are named after famous Australian Generals such as Birdwood, Monash, Bridges, and Blamey.

Ancient Sites in the Bushland

The bushland around Holsworthy still has many important sites from the Tharawal people. Some people even call it "Sydney's Kakadu" because of its rich history. There are more than 500 significant Tharawal sites, including old campsites, places where tools were made, and rock art. The rock art often shows engravings of hands, boomerangs, animals, birds, and fish.

Holsworthy's Weather: What to Expect

Holsworthy has a humid subtropical climate, which is common for most of Sydney. This means it has warm summers and cool to mild winters. Rain falls throughout the year.

During summer, thunderstorms are common and bring most of the rain. Winters are usually cool and sunny. Sometimes, strong weather systems called "east coast lows" can bring a lot of rain. It has never snowed in Holsworthy, but frost is quite common in winter mornings. Because Holsworthy is further inland than coastal areas, it gets less rain, sometimes up to 500 mm (20 inches) less than places just 25 km (15 miles) away.

Who Lives in Holsworthy? Population Facts

According to the 2016 census, Holsworthy had a population of 5,476 people. A large number of families with children live here (76.2%). The average age of Holsworthy residents was 30, which is eight years younger than the national average.

It's not surprising that working in defence was the main job for 16.8% of the people living in Holsworthy. Families in Holsworthy also earned more money on average ($2,179 per week) compared to the national average ($1,734).

Most people (60.4%) in Holsworthy were born in Australia. Other common countries of birth included India (7.3%), the Philippines (3.0%), and Indonesia (2.5%). About 59.1% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Hindi (3.0%), Mandarin (2.9%), and Indonesian (2.9%). The most common religions were Catholic (23.4%), No Religion (22.4%), and Anglican (12.6%).

Getting Around: Transport in Holsworthy

• Holsworthy railway station is on the East Hills railway line. The station opened in 1987 when the East Hills Line was extended to Glenfield and Campbelltown.

Holsworthy in Pop Culture

• The movie The Black Balloon, which starred actors like Toni Collette and Gemma Ward, was filmed in Holsworthy.

Places of Worship: Churches in Holsworthy

• A group from Lifegate Community Church (Holsworthy & Wattle Grove) meets every week at the Wattle Grove Primary Public School Hall. You can find its location on Google Maps.
• St Christophers Catholic Church at Holsworthy also serves the Holsworthy and Wattle Grove areas.