Silverwater facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Silverwater Sydney, New South Wales
Silverwater Bridge
Population	4,166 (2016 census)
• Density	1,543/km2 (4,000/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2128
Elevation	9 m (30 ft)
Area	2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Location	15 km (9 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Parramatta
State electorate(s)	Auburn
Federal Division(s)	Reid
Suburbs around Silverwater: Rydalmere Ermington Ermington Rosehill Silverwater Newington Clyde Auburn Lidcombe

Silverwater is a suburb located in western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 15 kilometres west of the main city centre of Sydney. You can find Silverwater on the southern bank of the Parramatta River. It is part of the City of Parramatta area.

History of Silverwater

The name Silverwater might come from how the nearby Parramatta River looks. The water could have reflected light like silver. This name was first used in 1883 when the area was divided into smaller pieces of land.

Over time, Silverwater became a place with many factories and businesses. This was because it was easy to get to by road and by water. Some of these old factory areas have now been turned into parks by the river or places for offices. In 1970, the Silverwater Correctional Complex was built. This large complex now takes up a big part of the suburb.

Historic Places in Silverwater

Silverwater has some places that are important for their history. These are called heritage-listed sites.

• Holker Street: The Silverwater Prison Complex Conservation Area is one of these important places.

Businesses and Shops

Silverwater is a busy area for many different businesses. Many companies have both a warehouse and a sales area in one building. Some businesses have been here for over 50 years because it's a great central spot in Sydney.

While Silverwater used to have mostly heavy factories, it has changed. Now, it has more light industries and offices. There are also some homes here and there. You can find small cafes and restaurants around Silverwater. Just south of Silverwater is Red Yard, which has more shops and places to eat.

Getting Around Silverwater

The M4 Western Motorway runs along the southern edge of Silverwater. This big road has ramps to help you get on and off at Silverwater Road. The Silverwater Bridge crosses the Parramatta River. It connects Silverwater to suburbs like Ermington and Rydalmere to the north.

Many buses serve Silverwater. You can catch a bus to places like Parramatta, Strathfield, Auburn, Ryde, and Sydney Olympic Park. There are no train stations directly in Silverwater. However, you can take a short trip to Auburn to catch a train.

Important Places to See

• The Silverwater Correctional Centre is located right on the Parramatta River. Inside this complex, you can find Newington House and other old buildings. The main office building, the chapel, and the old Superintendent's House are all listed as important heritage sites.
• Silverwater is very close to Olympic Park. This is where the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games were held.
• The Chanka memorial is another landmark in the area.

Who Lives in Silverwater?

Let's look at some information about the people who live in Silverwater, based on the 2016 Census.

• In 2016, Silverwater had a population of 4,166 people.
• The average age of people living here was 33 years old.
• More males live in Silverwater (66.2%) than females (33.8%).
• About 8.8% of the people in Silverwater are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
• Many people in Silverwater were born overseas (47.3%). The top countries where people were born include Korea (8.4%), China (3.8%), Vietnam (2.3%), Lebanon (2.2%), and New Zealand (2.0%).
• Only 18.0% of people speak English at home. Other languages spoken often include Korean (10.7%), Arabic (5.1%), Mandarin (2.7%), Cantonese (1.3%), and Urdu (1.3%).
• Most people work full-time (66.2%). About 24.3% work part-time.