Northmead, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Northmead Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales
TheJunction, Windsor Road c. 2007
Population	11,215 (2016 census)
• Density	2,608/km2 (6,750/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2152
Elevation	30 m (98 ft)
Area	4.3 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Location	26 km (16 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Parramatta
State electorate(s)	Winston Hills Epping
Federal Division(s)	Mitchell Parramatta
Suburbs around Northmead: Winston Hills Baulkam Hills North Rocks Old Toongabbie Northmead North Parramatta Wentworthville Westmead Parramatta

Northmead shopping centre around 2007

Northmead is a lively suburb in Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 26 kilometres west of the main city area of Sydney. This suburb is part of the City of Parramatta local government area.

Northmead has hills and different types of homes, like houses, townhouses, and apartments. You'll also find some light industrial businesses here. It's special because it's near where Darling Mills Creek and Toongabbie Creek meet, forming the start of the Parramatta River.

A Look at Northmead's Past

The original owners of the land where Northmead now stands were the Dharug peoples. They lived here for thousands of years before European settlement.

When the British started a colony in Parramatta, this area became part of the large land around the Governor's House. This land was called the "domain." Today, what's left of this domain, including Government House, is now Parramatta Park.

How Northmead Got Its Name

The name Northmead comes from its location. It was the "north mead," or northern meadow, of the Governor's domain. A "mead" is an old word for a meadow or a field. Before it was divided into smaller plots, this area was full of orchards (fruit farms) and poultry farms. The suburb is also bordered by two creeks, Darling Mills Creek and Toongabbie Creek.

Growing into a Suburb

Between 1859 and 1889, the land was divided into smaller pieces for people to buy. The northern and western parts of the Governor's domain were separated and named Northmead and Westmead. Many new settlers started orchards here. Some well-known families in the Parramatta area, like the Oakes, Payten, and Fullagar families, were among these early settlers.

Historic Places to See

Northmead has a few places that are important to its history. These are called heritage-listed sites:

• 64 Windsor Road: This is a sandstone house built around 1850. It was first used as the manager's home for a grain mill.
• 226 (rear) Windsor Road: Here you can find the Northmead European rock carvings. These are interesting markings on rocks.

Shopping and Services

Northmead has several areas where you can find shops and services.

Northmead Shopping Centre

Located at 2 Campbell Street, on the corner of Windsor Road, this centre has an IGA supermarket. It also has many smaller shops, like a Thai restaurant, a medical centre, a florist, a deli, a butcher, a bakery, a chemist, a news agency, a real estate office, a fruit and vegetable shop, and an Italian restaurant.

The Junction Shops

You'll find these shops on the corner of Windsor Road and Briens Road. This area has stores for home furnishings, hardware, and car accessories like Supercheap Auto and Repco. There are also office supplies at Officeworks, a pet shop, and Winning Appliances for home goods. If you're hungry, you can grab a bite at Subway, Hungry Jack's, or XS Espresso.

Kleins Street and Briens Road Shops

At the corner of Kleins Street and Briens Road, there's a bottle shop, a bakery, Domino's Pizza, a dental clinic, and a small convenience store.

Local Businesses and Industry

The southern part of Northmead, between Old Windsor Road and Toongabbie Creek, is home to many light industries. You'll find big companies like Coca-Cola Amatil here. There's also a NSW Health Ambulance Superstation on Briens Road, which is a large base for ambulances. A CDC NSW bus depot is also nearby on Boundary Road.

Schools in Northmead

Northmead has several schools for students of different ages:

• Northmead Public School - located on Moxhams Road.
• Northmead High School - located on Campbell Street.
• The Hills School - located on William Street.

Getting Around Northmead

Public transport in Northmead mainly uses buses. The North-West T-way is a special bus route that connects the Hills area with Parramatta and runs through Northmead.

CDC NSW operates the bus services in Northmead. Because there's a CDC NSW depot in the suburb, bus services are very active. This is important because the Hills District is one of the fastest-growing areas in Australia.

The main roads in Northmead are Windsor Road and the Cumberland Highway.

A Look Back at Transport

Northmead once had its own train line called the Rogans Hill railway line. However, fewer people were using it because motor buses became more popular and faster. So, in 1929, it was decided to close the line. It officially stopped running on January 31, 1932.

Today, there isn't a train line directly in Northmead. The closest train lines are the Main Western Railway Line, which runs through nearby Westmead and Parramatta.

Northmead's Population

In 2016, a census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that Northmead had 11,215 people living there. This was a big jump from 2006, when the population was 6,969. This growth happened as more apartments were built in the suburb.

Most people (61.1%) living in Northmead were born in Australia. Other common birthplaces included India (4.7%), China (3.4%), England (2.1%), Iran (2.1%), and the Philippines (1.9%). About 63.1% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Mandarin (3.4%), Arabic (2.8%), Cantonese (2.5%), Persian (2.2%), and Korean (2.1%).

When it came to religion, the most common responses were Catholic (27.5%), No Religion (20.6%), and Anglican (13.6%).

Famous People from Northmead

Some well-known people have connections to Northmead:

• Scott Lloyd: A former Lord Mayor and Parramatta City Councillor, Scott Lloyd grew up in Northmead. He attended Northmead primary school from 1983 to 1989.
• Richie Benaud (1930–2015): A famous Australian cricketer and sports commentator.
• Allan Cunningham (1791–1839): An explorer and botanist who studied plants.
• Harry Hopman (1906–1985): A well-known tennis player.
• David Lennox (1788–1873): A colonial bridge builder who designed important bridges.
• John Lewin (1770–1819): The first professional artist in New South Wales.
• Rev. Samuel Marsden (1765–1838): An early clergyman in the colony.
• Mary Cover Hassall (1799–1825): A Methodist missionary.
• Dowell Philip O'Reilly (1865–1923): A poet and politician.
• Greg Page (born 1972): An Australian musician, best known as the original yellow Wiggle.

Images for kids

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  TheJunction, Windsor Road around 2007