Leumeah, New South Wales Facts for Kids

Leumeah (pronounced LOO-mee-ah) is a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located about 52 kilometers southwest of the Sydney central business district. Leumeah is part of the City of Campbelltown area. It sits just north of the suburb of Campbelltown and is part of the wider Macarthur region.

Discovering Leumeah's Past
Places of Historical Importance
Shopping and Local Services
Getting Around Leumeah
Schools in the Area
Who Lives in Leumeah?
Sports and Recreation

Discovering Leumeah's Past

The name Leumeah has a special meaning. It comes from the Tharawal language and means "Here I rest." This name honors both the original Tharawal people and an early settler named John Warby.

The Tharawal People: Original Inhabitants

Clans of the Tharawal people originally lived in this area. They roamed across a large region, from Botany Bay to the Shoalhaven River. They also traveled inland towards Campbelltown. The Tharawal people lived a nomadic lifestyle, meaning they moved from place to place. They were hunter-gatherers, finding their food from nature. This included local foods, often called bush tucker, like kangaroo, fish, yams, and berries. They were skilled at making tools from stones, bones, and shells. These tools helped them build shelters from bark, create canoes, and make clothing from possum skins.

John Warby: An Early Settler's Story

John Warby was an explorer who arrived in Sydney in 1792. In 1802, he was given an important job. He had to protect the cattle that roamed freely in an area known as the Cowpastures. This area was southwest of Sydney. John Warby became friends with the Tharawal people and learned some of their language. In 1816, he received a large piece of land, about 260 acres (1.05 square kilometers), in what is now Leumeah. He built his house, a barn, and stables there. The barn still stands today and is part of the Colonial Motor Inn.

How Leumeah Grew Over Time

In 1887, a railway station was built in the area. It was first called Holly Lea, named after a local politician's property. However, local people wanted the name changed. Soon after, it was renamed Leumeah. In 1926, a lot of land was made available for building homes. But the Great Depression slowed down growth until after World War II. More homes were built throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1969, the area was officially named the suburb of Leumeah. The first post office in the area opened in 1960. It was first called Campbelltown North but changed to Leumeah in 1961.

Naming the Streets of Leumeah

Many streets in Leumeah are named after famous dams and lakes in New South Wales. Other streets are named after explorers and early farmers. This continues the theme from the suburb's own naming. Even Campbelltown Stadium, which is home to Macarthur FC, was originally called Orana Park. "Orana" is an Aboriginal word meaning "welcome."

Places of Historical Importance

Leumeah has some sites that are listed for their historical importance. These are places that tell us about the past.

Holly Lea Road: Holly Lea and Plough Inn

Shopping and Local Services

Leumeah Shopping Centre is a convenient place for residents. It has an IGA supermarket and an Australia Post office. Many other local shops are also located here. The shopping center is within walking distance of Leumeah Train Station, which is on O'Sullivan Road. Wests Leagues Club is a popular spot on Old Leumeah Road. You can also find local shops on Parkhill Crescent.

Getting Around Leumeah

Leumeah railway station is an important transport hub. It is located on the Main Southern railway line, making it easy to travel by train.

Leumeah railway station platform 1 entrance area.
Bus stop on the eastern side of the railway station
Pembroke Road, Leumeah's main road leading north to Minto and south to Campbelltown
Leumeah Roundabout on Old Leumeah Road outside the railway station
Pembroke Road as viewed from eastern section of Rose Payten Drive

Schools in the Area

Leumeah has schools for local students.

Leumeah Public School
Leumeah High School

Who Lives in Leumeah?

In 2006, a study showed that Leumeah had 8,661 people living there. The population of Leumeah is quite similar to the average Australian population. This means it's like a small example of Australia as a whole. For example, the average age and income were similar to national figures. The suburb had more people who identified as religious. This included more Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Muslims compared to the national average. There were fewer people who said they had no religion. Many people in Leumeah came from different backgrounds. Some spoke languages other than English at home. These included Arabic, Filipino, Hindi, Samoan, and Spanish. Most families were couples with children. There was also a slightly higher number of single-parent families.

Sports and Recreation

Campbelltown Stadium is a major sports venue in Leumeah. It was once known as Orana Park and before that, Alfred Duguid Oval. Today, it is the home ground for Macarthur Football Club.

Entrance to Campbelltown Stadium
Wests Club, Mosaic Apartments in the background
Wests Club Entrance
Wests Club at night
Wests Club Electronic Notice Board

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Leumeah, New South Wales facts for kids

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