Mount Druitt facts for kids

Mt Druitt Court House, North Parade

Mount Druitt is a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 33 kilometers (20 miles) west of the main city center. It's part of the City of Blacktown area and the larger Greater Western Sydney region.

Many smaller suburbs surround Mount Druitt. These include Bidwill, Blackett, Dharruk, Emerton, Hebersham, Lethbridge Park, Minchinbury, Shalvey, Tregear, Whalan, and Willmot.

History of Mount Druitt

How Mount Druitt Got Its Name

Mount Druitt is named after Major George Druitt (1773–1842). He was given a large piece of land, about 2,000 acres (8 square kilometers), by Governor Macquarie. Major Druitt named his land Mount Druitt, and he passed away there in 1842.

Early Railway Services

Train services started in Mount Druitt on August 19, 1881. The railway station also worked as the local post office from 1885 to 1918. It had two platforms and a crossing for cars and people. There was also a small area for goods, which helped a local mill.

A special lodge for the railway gatekeeper was built around 1867. This building was later changed into the station master's house. Eventually, it was sold and became a business.

Modernizing the Trains

Electric train services began in Mount Druitt in 1955. The Premier of New South Wales at the time, Joseph Cahill, was there for the opening.

In 1975, the railway station moved about 500 meters (1,640 feet) east. This move was to serve a new shopping center, which locals called "The Great Western." This shopping center is now owned by Westfield. The old railway station was quickly taken down. The level crossing stayed until a new road bridge, Carlisle Avenue, was built over the railway line. A footbridge was also built for people walking.

Mount Druitt Hospital Opens

Queen Elizabeth II opened Mount Druitt Hospital in 1982. This hospital has 200 beds. The local community worked hard to raise money and push for the hospital. They felt it was difficult to get medical care at Blacktown or Nepean Hospitals.

The Manse: A Historic Home

A famous old house in Mount Druitt is called The Manse. It's a Georgian-style cottage located on The Avenue. It was likely built by John Harris in the mid-1880s. The land it sits on was originally part of Major Druitt's property. Later, it was sold to Robert Kennedy. When Kennedy passed away, he left it to the Presbyterian Church, and it was used as a home for ministers (a manse).

The City of Blacktown Council bought The Manse in 2000 and fixed it up. Today, it is the home of the Mt Druitt Historical Society and is open for people to visit. It is recognized as a historic site by both local and state governments.

Heritage Sites in Mount Druitt

Mount Druitt has several places listed for their historical importance:

• Neoblie on Great Western Highway
• The Manse at 23 The Avenue

Shopping and Community Life

Westfield Mount Druitt

Mount Druitt used to have a small shopping area called Mount Druitt Village. In 1975, a much larger shopping center opened. It was known as "The Great Western." This happened when the railway station also moved closer to it. A big area for buses and trains was built there too.

The Westfield company now owns this shopping center, which is called Westfield Mount Druitt. It's located where Carlisle Avenue and Luxford Road meet. This shopping center has over 200 stores. You can find everything from big department stores to smaller specialty shops.

Other Local Services

Shopsmart is another shopping center in the area. Mount Druitt also has a hospital, coffee shops, and small bars. A swimming pool and library run by the council are also nearby. All these services are easy to reach from the railway station.

Community Growth

The City of Blacktown Council has plans to improve the area. Many public housing properties have been sold to developers. This is helping to bring new life to Mount Druitt with new buildings that combine homes and businesses. The area is becoming very popular with people from Chinese, Thai, and Filipino backgrounds. They like the affordable homes, good schools, parks, and easy transport.

Getting Around Mount Druitt

Train Services

Mount Druitt railway station is on the Main Western railway line. There's an express train that takes about 20 minutes to get to Parramatta. It takes about 38 minutes to reach Sydney.

Bus Connections

The station is a hub for bus routes run by Busways. These buses connect Mount Druitt to all its surrounding suburbs. You can also take a bus to Blacktown and Glendenning. The first electric train came to Mount Druitt on October 8, 1955.

Future Transport Plans

The local council is looking into building a new light rail system. This light rail would connect Mount Druitt to other suburbs in the Blacktown Shire.

Schools and Learning

High Schools

Mount Druitt High School started in the 1960s. It is now located in the suburb of Dharruk. This school is next to the Emerton Shopping Village. It has been renamed Chifley College Mount Druitt Campus and teaches students from years 7 to 10.

Chifley College Senior Campus teaches older students (years 11 and 12). This campus is within walking distance of Mount Druitt Station.

Primary Schools

Colyton Public School was founded in 1861 and is located in Mount Druitt.

New School Developments

Some private schools, like the Church of England Grammar school, have bought parklands in the area. There are plans to build a large private school for 2,000 students. This new school would be next to Wilmot. This project is happening with the help of the State Government.

Who Lives in Mount Druitt?

According to the 2021 census, there were 16,986 people living in Mount Druitt.

• About 50.3% of residents were female, and 49.7% were male.
• Many people have diverse backgrounds. The most common ancestries include Australian (13.1%), Filipino (12.6%), English (11.1%), Pakistani (7.5%), and Indian (7.3%).
• About 40.6% of people were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces include the Philippines (9.5%), Pakistan (6.5%), Iraq (5.1%), India (4.7%), and Fiji (2.5%).
• While 32.8% of people spoke only English at home, many others spoke different languages. Some of these include Urdu (9.4%), Arabic (7.2%), Tagalog (6.1%), Bengali (3.5%), and Chaldean Neo-Aramaic (3.1%).
• The most common religions were Catholic (27.4%), Islam (23.8%), and Hinduism (5.9%). About 11.7% reported no religion.
• People in Mount Druitt work in many different jobs. Common jobs include Machinery Operators and Drivers (17.0%), Professionals (16.6%), and Clerical and Administrative Workers (13.6%).

Famous People from Mount Druitt

Mount Druitt has been home to several notable people:

• George Donikian, a journalist and newscaster.
• Calum Hood, a musician and bassist for the band 5 Seconds of Summer.
• Josh Lalor, a cricketer.
• Beki Lee, an Olympic athlete who grew up in Mount Druitt.
• Spencer Leniu, a professional NRL player.
• Jarome Luai, a professional NRL player.
• Anthony Roberts, a politician who grew up in the area.
• Brian To'o, a professional NRL player.
• Onefour, an Australian Drill and Rap music group.
• Tai Tuivasa, a UFC heavyweight fighter.