Minto, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MintoSydney, New South Wales |
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Minto railway station
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| Population | 13,940 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1882 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2566 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 70 m (230 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 50 km (31 mi) SW of Sydney | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Campbelltown | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Macquarie Fields | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Werriwa | ||||||||||||||
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Minto is a suburb located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 50 kilometres south-west of the main city centre of Sydney. Minto is part of the City of Campbelltown area and is found in the Macarthur region.
Contents
Minto's Story: A Look at Its History
Minto got its name from the Earl of Minto, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound. He was a very important leader in India from 1807 to 1814, known as the Viceroy. The name "Minto" was first used for a much larger area, stretching from near Appin to what is now Denham Court.
Before European settlers arrived, the land where Minto now stands was home to the Indigenous Tharawal people. In 1811, Governor Lachlan Macquarie gave 800 acres (about 3.2 square kilometres) of land in this area to William Redfern. He was the first surgeon in the new colony. Redfern named his property Campbellfield, after Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth, whose maiden name was Campbell. He used the land to grow grapes (a vineyard) and raise sheep.
Around 1810, a doctor named Robert Towson built a house called Varroville. Later, famous explorers like Charles Sturt owned it. In the 1820s, another historic house called Epping Forest was built. These old buildings, along with Robin Hood Farm, are now protected because they are important parts of history.
In 1874, a train station was built and also called Campbellfield. But this caused confusion with the nearby town of Campbelltown. So, in 1882, the station was renamed Minto. After this, more people started moving to the area. By the 1950s, Minto was a small village with about 500 people.
In 1969, a large piece of land in Minto was sold to the Housing Commission (now Housing NSW). This was done to build affordable homes for people. Soon after, a big area for businesses and factories was also created. This helped Minto grow from a small village into the Sydney suburb it is today.
Historic Places in Minto
Minto has some special places that are protected because of their history:
- Lot 315 Ben Lomond Road: Stone Cottage, Minto
Getting Around: Transport in Minto
Minto railway station is on the main train line that connects to other parts of Sydney. Minto also has a small inland port. This is like a mini-port away from the coast, where goods are loaded and unloaded from trains. It helps move containers by rail to and from Port Botany, a big port near the ocean.
Learning in Minto: Schools
Minto has several schools for different ages:
- Two high schools: Sarah Redfern High and Alfaisal College.
- Five primary schools: Campbellfield Public, Minto Public, Sarah Redfern Public, The Grange Public, and Alfaisal College.
- A special school: Passfield Park, which helps students with disabilities from pre-school all the way through high school.
Many famous Rugby League players went to Sarah Redfern High School, which is known for its strong rugby league program. Some of these players include Michael Lett, Gray Vaine, Justin Brooker, John Skandalis, Ken McGuinness, Kevin McGuinness, Israel Folau, Mickey, Lopini and Lelea Paea, Tim Lafai, and Byron Fruean.
Homes in Minto
Recently, some older public housing in Minto was taken down to make way for a new housing area called One Minto. The idea behind this was to create a better mix of homes in the suburb. The new plan includes many private homes and fewer public housing homes, which are now spread out more evenly across Minto. This helps to create a more balanced community.
Overall, about 15 percent of the homes in Minto are public housing. In the new One Minto area, about 30 percent of the homes are public housing, with the rest being privately owned.
People of Minto
Who Lives in Minto? (Demographics)
According to the 2021 census, there were 13,940 people living in Minto.
- About 3.1% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Almost half (49.0%) of the people were born in Australia. Many others came from countries like Bangladesh (8.8%), India (5.4%), Nepal (4.7%), the Philippines (3.4%), and New Zealand (3.1%).
- English was spoken at home by 41.7% of people. Other languages commonly spoken included Bengali (12.6%), Nepali (5.7%), Hindi (3.7%), Arabic (3.4%), and Urdu (3.0%).
- The most common religions were Islam (22.3%), Catholic (16.1%), and No Religion (15.7%).
- The average weekly income for households in Minto was $1,646.
Famous People from Minto
- Several well-known Rugby league players grew up in Minto and played football together. These include Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne, and Krisnan Inu. Mickey Paea and Tim Lafai are also known for helping out the local Minto Cobras team.
- Cherie Burton, who used to be a member of the Parliament of New South Wales and a Housing Minister, also grew up in Minto.
Fun and Games: Sport and Recreation
The Minto Indoor Sports Centre is a popular place for sports. It's where local basketball and netball teams play. The Macarthur Heat basketball team uses this centre as their home court. The Campbelltown District Netball Association also plays here.
Minto has its own rugby league team called the Minto Cobras. They play at Townson Oval. The Cobras have helped many players become professional NRL stars, including Israel Folau, Michael Lett, Gray Vaine, Justin Brooker, John Skandalis, Ken McGuinness, Kevin McGuinness, Jarryd Hayne, Mickey Lopini, Lalea Paea, Krisnan Inu, and Tim Lafai. Mickey Paea, who plays for the Bulldogs, often visits the Minto Cobras to help out, which the club is very proud of.
