Minto Heights, New South Wales facts for kids

Minto Heights is a small suburb located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 50 kilometres (31 miles) south-west of the main city centre of Sydney. This area is part of the City of Campbelltown and belongs to the wider Macarthur region.

A Look Back: Minto Heights History

Who Lived Here First?

The original people who lived in this area were the Tharawal people. They have a long history and connection to this land.

From Farms to Homes: How the Land Changed

Minto Heights used to be mostly farmland. You can still see hints of this past because many blocks of land are quite large, around 5 acres (2 hectares). Over time, bigger homes have been built, showing that the area is changing from farms to more residential living.

In the late 1800s, people started clearing the natural bushland. They planted orchards and set up small farms.

How Minto Heights Got Its Name

During the 1970s, the nearby area of Campbelltown grew very quickly. However, Minto Heights did not become heavily built up. This was because the local council decided to make it a "Scenic Protection Area." This meant that land blocks had to be at least 5 acres (2 hectares) in size, helping to keep the area's natural beauty.

Before 1976, this area was known as East Minto. It was named after the Earl of Minto, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound. He was an important leader in India from 1807 to 1814.

In 1973, the Campbelltown Council suggested changing the name to Warby. But the people living there did not like this idea and wanted to keep the name East Minto. However, the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales had a rule against adding words like "East" to suburb names.

Many other names were suggested and rejected, including Eastminto, Myrtlefield, Hansen, and Kyngmount. Finally, in 1976, everyone agreed on the name Minto Heights.