Schofields, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Schofields Sydney, New South Wales
Schofields village shops c. 2011
Schofields Location in New South Wales
Population	15,213 (2021 census)
• Density	1,490.0/km2 (3,859/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2762
Elevation	29 m (95 ft)
Area	10.21 km2 (3.9 sq mi)
Location	45 km (28 mi) north-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Blacktown
State electorate(s)	Riverstone
Federal Division(s)	Greenway Chifley
Suburbs around Schofields: Angus Richards Riverstone Tallawong Marsden Park Schofields The Ponds Rouse Hill Colebee Nirimba Fields Quakers Hill

Schofields is a suburb in New South Wales, Australia. It is located near the big city of Sydney. Schofields is about 45 kilometers north-west of Sydney's city center. It is part of the City of Blacktown area. This suburb is also part of a fast-growing region in Greater Western Sydney.

About Schofields

People and Population

In 2016, about 4,983 people lived in Schofields. This number has grown a lot! In 2001, there were only about 3,012 residents. This means the population grew by 65.4% in 15 years.

Schofields is growing quickly with many new homes being built. More than 2,950 new houses are planned for the area.

Languages and Backgrounds

Many people in Schofields are Catholic (about 30.8%). The next biggest group (17.7%) doesn't follow any religion. Most people speak English. However, Hindi is also spoken by many (3.7%).

People in Schofields come from different backgrounds. Many identify as Australian (21.3%) or English (20.4%). A good number also have Indian heritage (8.4%).

History of Schofields

How Schofields Got Its Name

Wyndham College in Nirimba, Schofields.

Schofields is named after John Schofield (1803–1884). He came to Australia from England in 1821 when he was 17. He worked on a farm in Baulkham Hills. In 1828, he was allowed to live freely in the Parramatta area.

In 1829, John married Bridget Harley. They rented a farm called Gillingham Farm. John and Bridget had eight children.

John Schofield's Adventures

In 1841, John bought some land. But times were tough, and he went bankrupt in 1843. A few years later, he bought 600 acres of land in the area we now call Schofields.

In 1849, John and two of his sons went to California to look for gold. He returned in 1850 with some gold. Their ship crashed, but they were rescued after ten days at sea. The gold helped John pay off most of his debts.

Sadly, Bridget Schofield died in 1851. Later, more gold was found in New South Wales. This helped John pay off his farm and enjoy his love for horse racing.

The Railway and the Name Change

The railway line opened in 1864. It went right through John Schofield's land. In 1872, a small stopping place was made on his land. It was just a platform made from railway sleepers. People called it "Schofield's Siding." Over time, the name changed to "Schofields."

Later in life, John Schofield opened a sawmill near the railway line. He used trees from his land to provide timber for building houses. John Schofield passed away in 1884.

Recent Changes to the Suburb

In November 2020, the boundaries of Schofields changed. This created two new suburbs: Nirimba Fields and Tallawong.

Fun and Services in Schofields

Parks and Clubs

Schofields Park is on Station Street. It's where the Riverstone Schofields Junior Soccer Football Club plays. The Schofields Cricket Club also calls this park home.

There is also a Community Hall in the village. People can rent it for parties. A local church group uses it for services on Sunday mornings.

Local Services

Schofields has a NSW Rural Fire Service brigade. They are called the Schofields Bush Fire Brigade. They help with house fires, car accidents, bush fires, and other emergencies.

A Woolworths Supermarket opened near the new Schofields railway station. The Schofields Village Shopping Centre was finished in mid-2021. It has a Coles Supermarket and other shops.

The area was once home to the Schofields Aerodrome and HMAS Nirimba. These are now part of the suburb of Nirimba Fields.

Getting Around Schofields

Trains and Buses

Schofields railway station is on the Richmond train line. This makes it easy to travel by train.

Roads

The Westlink M7 and M2 Hills Motorway are major roads nearby. They make it easy to drive to Schofields from the south and east.

Busways also provides bus services in and out of the suburb.

Places to Worship

Schofields has several places of worship:

• Lankarama Buddhist Vihara (a Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple) is on Oak Street.
• Hope Church Sydney (a Romanian Pentecostal Church) is on Carnarvon Road.
• SMVS Swaminarayan Mandir Sydney (a Hindu Temple) is on Grange Ave.
• Schofields Church (Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement) is also on Grange Ave.