Old Toongabbie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Old Toongabbie Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales
North-West T-way Old Windsor Rd at Old Toongabbie
Population	3,276 (2021 census)
Established	1792
Postcode(s)	2146
Elevation	37 m (121 ft)
Location	29 km (18 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Parramatta
Region	Greater Western Sydney
State electorate(s)	Winston Hills
Federal Division(s)	Mitchell Parramatta
Suburbs around Old Toongabbie: Seven Hills Winston Hills Winston Hills Toongabbie Old Toongabbie Constitution Hill Pendle Hill Wentworthville Wentworthville

Old Toongabbie Post Office in 1901.

Old Toongabbie is a suburb located in Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 29 kilometres west of the main city area of Sydney. This suburb is part of the City of Parramatta local government area.

Old Toongabbie is special because it was one of the first places settled by Europeans after the First Fleet arrived. It was chosen for its good location near important waterways.

What's in a Name? The Story of Toongabbie

The name Toongabbie comes from an Aboriginal word. It is believed to mean "place by the water" or "meeting by the water." This name was given in June 1792. Governor Arthur Phillip asked the local Aboriginal people what they called the area.

Toongabbie is the oldest official place-name in Australia that comes from an Aboriginal language. For example, Parramatta, which was settled earlier, was first called Rose Hill. The name "Old Toongabbie" was later used for the original settlement. This helped tell it apart from the area near the Western Railway station, which became known simply as "Toongabbie." Over time, parts of Old Toongabbie became new suburbs like Constitution Hill, Winston Hills, and Pendle Hill.

A Look Back: The History of Old Toongabbie

The original people living on this land were the Tugagal clan. They are part of the wider Dharug peoples.

European Settlement Begins

The First Fleet arrived in Australia in 1788. Soon after, the Parramatta area was settled. It was first called Rose Hill and was used as a government farm. This farm helped grow food for the new colony.

By 1791, there wasn't enough food for everyone. So, a new area was chosen about 2.4 kilometres from Parramatta. This place later became known as Toongabbie. Boats were the fastest way to travel back then. This area was picked because it was where two creeks met: Toongabbie Creek and Quarry Creek. The Aboriginal people were asked about the area, and the name 'Toongabbie' was chosen.

Toongabbie was officially started as a government farm in April 1792. Its main job was to grow food for the growing colony.

Life for Convicts at Toongabbie

The early workers at Toongabbie were often convicts. Their lives were very hard. They worked long hours in the hot sun with simple tools. They often did not have enough food. Their jobs included cutting down trees and digging up stumps. They also cleared land for crops and houses.

These workers used basic spades, hoes, or even their bare hands. They removed plants and grass to prepare the land. Living conditions were tough, with many people sharing small huts. They often lacked blankets, beds, or warm clothes.

After the Government Farm

After eleven years, the government farm was closed. The land was then given to settlers and convicts who had finished their sentences.

In 1860, the railway line was extended to Blacktown. However, it took 20 more years for trains to start stopping at Toongabbie. The first school in Toongabbie opened on May 3, 1886. It closed briefly in 1911 due to low student numbers. But it reopened in February the next year and has been open ever since.

Local people worked hard to get a post office. The first one opened in 1887 in a private house on Old Windsor Road. This continued until the 1960s. The first postmaster, Mr. Birks, earned 25 pounds a year. He brought the mail bag from Seven Hills on horseback every day.

By 1922, more people and businesses were in the area. A second post office opened in Wentworth Avenue. It was called Toongabbie West. In 1960, a new, purpose-built post office opened in Portico Parade. This became the main Toongabbie Post Office. The older one was then renamed Old Toongabbie Post Office.

The area was known as Toongabbie for a long time. But when the Main Western railway line was built, a new railway station was created. The area around the station and shops became known as Toongabbie. The original settlement was then called Old Toongabbie to tell the two places apart.

From the 1990s, a part of this area was unofficially called Constitution Hill. The suburb of Constitution Hill was officially recognized in 2007.

Nature and Geography

Old Toongabbie is bordered on the northeast by Toongabbie Creek. This creek flows into the Parramatta River. Even though many people live in Toongabbie, there have been efforts to clean up the bushland and waterways.

These efforts have helped rare wildlife return to the area. In the 1990s, people even reported seeing platypus back in parts of Toongabbie Creek!

Famous Faces from Old Toongabbie

• Nathan Rees, a former Premier of New South Wales, grew up in Old Toongabbie. He went to Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School.