Lakemba, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lakemba New South Wales
Lakemba Hotel
Population	17,023 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	2195
Elevation	38 m (125 ft)
Location	12 km (7 mi) WSW of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Canterbury-Bankstown
State electorate(s)	Canterbury
Federal Division(s)	Watson
Suburbs around Lakemba: Mount Lewis Greenacre South Strathfield Punchbowl Lakemba Belfield Wiley Park Roselands Belmore

Lakemba is a suburb in Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 12 kilometres southwest of the Sydney central business district (CBD). Lakemba is part of the City of Canterbury-Bankstown local government area.

Exploring Lakemba's Landscape

Lakemba is located in the Cooks River watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river or body of water. The Cooks River is tidal near Lakemba.

Riverside Trails and Natural Beauty

You can find a bike and walking trail along the Cooks River. This trail goes east from nearby Belfield. It follows the river all the way to Botany Bay, where the river meets the ocean. If you go the other way, the trail heads north. It leads to Olympic Park and Homebush Bay on the Parramatta River.

Canterbury Road's High Ridge Location

Canterbury Road is a main road that runs through Lakemba. It sits on a high ridge. This ridge marks the boundary between the Cooks River watershed and the Wolli Creek watershed to the south. The road is also close to the shopping area on Haldon Street.

Lakemba's Past: A Journey Through Time

Lakemba has an interesting history. When European settlers first arrived, the area was known as Potato Hill. This was because farmers grew many potatoes there.

Early Land Grants and Naming the Area

Around 1810, the government started giving out land grants. Samuel Hockley received 50 acres. He named his farm Essex Hill Farm, after his home county in England. For a long time, the suburb was called Belmore South. This name changed to Lakemba in 1910.

How Lakemba Got Its Name

Benjamin Taylor owned a large property in the 1880s. He named his property "Lakeba." This name came from Lakeba Island in Fiji. His second wife's grandparents were missionaries there. One of Lakemba's streets, Oneata Street, is also named after a small Fijian island. Benjamin Taylor was a scientist, town clerk, and even the Mayor of Canterbury Council.

Railway and Community Growth

The railway line reached the nearby suburb of Belmore in 1895. It was extended to Lakemba in 1909. The train station was built on Benjamin Taylor's land. It was named after his "Lakemba Cottage." The first school opened in 1869 as Belmore School. It later became Lakemba Public School in 1969. The post office opened on July 1, 1920.

Who Lives in Lakemba: A Diverse Community

Lakemba Street, looking towards the Sydney CBD

In the 2021 Census, there were 96,008 people living in Lakemba. Lakemba has always been home to many different people.

A Mix of Cultures and Backgrounds

In the 1800s, most non-Aboriginal residents were from Britain and Ireland. By the mid-1900s, many Greek and Italian families moved to Lakemba. Local shops and clubs showed this with Mediterranean food stores.

New Arrivals and Changing Demographics

From the 1970s, many migrants from Lebanon came to Lakemba. By the 1990s, it was seen as a centre for Lebanese Australian life. The Lakemba Mosque was built. Special shops and restaurants opened, serving Arab and Muslim cultures. This made many people think Lakemba was mostly Arab and Muslim.

However, the 2021 census shows a very diverse community. Only 6.4% of residents identified as Lebanese by ancestry. The largest group by ancestry was Bangladeshi.

Languages Spoken at Home

In 2021, 43.5% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included Lebanon (8.7%), Bangladesh (5.3%), China (4.5%), Vietnam (3.7%), and India (3.2%). The most common ancestries were Lebanese (19.5%), Australian (11.3%), Chinese (9.6%), English (7.7%), and Bangladeshi (5.2%).

Only 23.9% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Arabic (24.7%), Bengali (6.7%), Urdu (5.7%), Vietnamese (4.5%), and Cantonese (3.9%).

Religious Diversity in Lakemba

In 2021, the most common religions were Islam (41.6%), Catholic (17.9%), and Eastern Orthodox (6.1%). Many people also reported no religion (11.1%).

Getting Around Lakemba: Transport Options

Lakemba has good transport links, especially with its railway station.

Lakemba Railway Station and Sydney Trains

Lakemba railway station is on the Bankstown Line of the Sydney Trains network. The train line opened in 1895. It became electric in 1926.

Future of Travel: Sydney Metro City & Southwest

A new train line, the Sydney Metro City & Southwest, is being built. It should be finished by 2025. This new line will make train travel much faster. During busy times, trains will run every 4 minutes. Travel time from Lakemba to Central Station will drop from 28 minutes to 22 minutes. For more details on bus services, you can check the Lakemba station page.

Living in Lakemba: Residential and Commercial Life

Lakemba is often mentioned in the news for being an affordable place to live in Sydney. It is quite close to the city centre.

Affordable Homes and Future Growth

Over the past 10 years (from 2020), Lakemba has been one of the best-performing suburbs for property growth. More growth is expected with the new Sydney Metro City & Southwest. This will make travel times shorter. It will also bring new homes and businesses to the area. Lakemba is also known as one of the few places in Sydney where buying a home can be cheaper than renting.

Shopping and Dining in Lakemba

Lakemba has many shops, especially on and around Haldon Street. You can find a wide variety of international and local foods there. There are also shops along Canterbury Road. The Lakemba Palms shopping centre was once located at Haldon Street and Lakemba Street. Sadly, a fire destroyed it in 2007.

Lakemba Ramadan Markets: A Foodie Hotspot

The Lakemba Ramadan Markets on Haldon Street are a very popular nightly food market. They happen during the month of Ramadan.

Delicious Food and Popular Dishes

Visitors often say the Camel burger is a must-try dish at the Ramadan night market. People from all over Australia visit Lakemba for these special market nights. The markets are so popular that they attract thousands of people every week.

Places of Worship in Lakemba

Lakemba Uniting Church, formerly Lakemba Methodist Church

Lakemba has many places of worship for its diverse population. These include:

• St Therese Catholic Church
• Lakemba Uniting Church
• Lakemba Presbyterian Church

There are also several Mosques, such as:

• Darul Ulum Sydney
• Lakemba Mosque
• Ernest Street Masjid
• Lakemba Musalla
• Ahl Al Sunna Wal Jamaah Association Musallah

Historic St. Andrew's Anglican Church

The St. Andrew's Anglican Church is at the corner of Quigg and Lakemba Street. It was built in 1923. It is a brick building with beautiful stained glass windows. The original church building was made of wood. It was later extended to become the parish hall.

Schools in Lakemba

Lakemba has several schools, including both public and private options:

• Lakemba Public School
• Hampden Park Public School
• Canterbury Vale School
• St Therese Primary School
• Holy Spirit College
• Rissalah College
• AlFaisal College
• AlHikma College

Lakemba Fire Station: Protecting the Community

Lakemba Fire Station

The Lakemba Fire Station was built in 1921. It was constructed by the Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales. At first, it had both full-time firefighters and volunteers. The station cost $13,950.00 to build. You can find it at 208 Haldon Street.