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Penshurst, New South Wales facts for kids

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Penshurst
Sydney, New South Wales
Penshurst Church 1.JPG
St Johns Anglican Church, King Georges Road
Population 12,786 (2016 census)
Established 1884
Postcode(s) 2222
Location 17 km (11 mi) south of Sydney CBD
LGA(s) Georges River Council
State electorate(s)
  • Oatley
  • Kogarah
Federal Division(s)
Suburbs around Penshurst:
Mortdale Beverly Hills Beverly Hills
Mortdale Penshurst Hurstville
Oatley Hurstville Grove Hurstville
Penshurst Shops
Penshurst Street
Penshurst Church 2
West Maling, King Georges Road, one of the earliest examples of the Queen Anne style in Australia
Penshurst Aquatic
Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre, King Georges Road

Penshurst is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penshurst is located 17 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area.

Penshurst features low to medium-density housing. It has a predominantly older population however it is increasingly being populated by a new generation of migrant families who are attracted by its proximity to Hurstville.

History

Penshurst was named after Penshurst, Kent, England. Originally part of the land grant to Robert Townson (1763–1827), the land was acquired in 1830 by John Connell, who left it to his grandsons J.C. and E.P. Laycock. Connell's Bush was subdivided by the Laycocks and the western part sold to Thomas Sutcliffe Mort.

The early work in the area was timber-cutting and small farming. The railway station opened 17 May 1890. A large portion of Penshurst located south of the railway line is referred to as the MacRae's Estate, as it was once owned by the MacRae family. This particular area is now between Laycock Road and Grove Avenue, and Hillcrest and Railway Parade. The original homestead is still present on Laycock Road, along with a caretakers house for the stables. McRaes Reserve used to have a river running through it and the path of that river is now replaced with an underground rainwater system.

Transport

Penshurst railway station is on the Illawarra Line of the Sydney Trains network. It is approximately 27 minutes from Sydney Central via train. The main roads through Penshurst are King Georges Road and Forest Road. Punchbowl Bus Company also operates bus services 941 and 943 in Penshurst.

Places of worship

  • St Declan's Roman Catholic Church
  • St John Anglican Church
  • St Andrew Presbyterian
  • Penshurst Uniting Church
  • Penshurst Mosque (Bosnian Australian Islamic Society)
  • Penshurst Jehovahs Witnesses Temple
  • Penshurst Assemblies of God Church
  • Revival Life Centre
  • Penshurst General Church of New Jerusalem

Sport and recreation

Penshurst local attractions include an Aquatic Centre, a park and tennis courts. Penshurst RSL Junior Rugby League Club, part of the St. George District Junior Rugby League competition, is a rugby league club that operates from HV Evatt Park in nearby Lugarno, New South Wales.

Penshurst has a local cricket club and play in the St George District Cricket Association and have been established for over 50 years.

They are based at Olds Park which also includes their soccer club.

Penshurst Park and Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre are located on King Georges Road.

Parks:

Population

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, there were 11,692 residents in Penshurst. 18% of the population is of Chinese ancestry, with the next largest ancestry groups being Australian (15.3%), English (14.3%) and Irish (6.2%). 47.0% stated they were born overseas with the top countries of birth being China 11.9%, Nepal 2.7%, Hong Kong 2.5% and India 2.2%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 48.1% of residents and the most common other languages spoken were Cantonese 9.8%, Mandarin 9.0% and Greek 4.3%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Catholic 26.8%, no religion 20.2%, Anglican 11.2% and Orthodox 8.5%.

Notable residents

  • Jessica Abbott (b. 1985)—Australian swimmer and medalist at 2002 Commonwealth Games
  • Ruby Olive Boye-Jones (1891–1990)—coastwatcher
  • Jack Brabham
  • Sue Denison - received the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to nursing as a nurse practitioner, and services to the Nundle district
  • Arthur McGuinness (1878–1970)—schoolteacher and union leader
  • Jock Marshall (1911–1967)—professor of zoology
  • Ken Rosewall
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