North St Marys, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North St Marys Sydney, New South Wales
Chifley College Dunheved Campus, North St Marys
Population	3,921 (2016 census)
• Density	1,240.8/km2 (3,214/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2760
Elevation	35 m (115 ft)
Area	3.16 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Location	47 km (29 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Penrith City Council
State electorate(s)	Londonderry
Federal Division(s)	Lindsay
Suburbs around North St Marys: Ropes Crossing Tregear Whalan St Marys North St Marys Mount Druitt St Marys St Marys Oxley Park

North St Marys is a suburb found in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is about 47 kilometres west of the main Sydney central business district. This area is part of the City of Penrith local government area. North St Marys is like an extension of the nearby suburb called St Marys.

History of North St Marys

Aboriginal Culture in the Area

Before Europeans arrived, the land that is now North St Marys was home to the Gomerrigal-Tongarra people. They spoke the Darug language. These people lived by hunting animals and gathering plants. They followed traditional laws that came from the Dreamtime. Their homes were simple huts made of bark, called 'gunyahs'. They hunted animals like kangaroos and emus for food. They also gathered yams, berries, and other native plants. Not much more is known about their customs. There are no known rock carvings or paintings in this specific area. By 1816, their numbers had gone down due to illnesses and conflicts with the British settlers.

European Settlement Begins

The first piece of land in this area was given out in 1820. It went to Phillip Parker King, who was the son of Governor Phillip Gidley King. He named his land Triangle Farm. However, he did not do much with the land. It stayed mostly empty until the 1940s. At that time, the Australian government bought the land. They used it to build homes for workers at the St Marys munitions factory.

Population and People

Who Lives in North St Marys?

The 2016 Australian census counted the people living in North St Marys. It found that there were 3,921 people in the suburb.

• About 8.6% of the people were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
• Most people, 69.3%, were born in Australia.
• The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand (3.7%) and the Philippines (2.7%).
• About 73.3% of people spoke only English at home.
• When asked about their religion, the most common answers were Catholic (28.8%), No Religion (24.0%), and Anglican (17.4%).

How North St Marys is Governed

North St Marys has different levels of government that help run the area.

Local Government

At the local level, North St Marys is part of the east ward of the Penrith City Council. This council is made up of elected representatives. These representatives include Prue Car, Greg Davies, Maurice Girotto, Jackie Greenow, and Tricia Hitchen. They help make decisions for the local community.

State Government

At the state level, North St Marys is part of the Electoral district of Londonderry. This area is represented by Prue Car. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party. She works in the New South Wales Parliament.

Federal Government

For the national government, North St Marys is part of the Division of Lindsay. This area is represented by Melissa McIntosh. She is from the Liberal Party of Australia. She works in the Australian Parliament in Canberra.