Sutherland, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sutherland Sydney, New South Wales
Overlooking Sutherland
Population	10,816 (2016 census)
Established	1906
Postcode(s)	2232
Elevation	113 m (371 ft)
Location	26 km (16 mi) south of Sydney CBD 55 km (34 mi) north of Wollongong
LGA(s)	Sutherland Shire
State electorate(s)	Miranda Heathcote
Federal Division(s)	Hughes
Suburbs around Sutherland: Bonnet Bay Jannali Kareela Woronora Sutherland Kirrawee Woronora Heights Loftus Royal National Park

Sutherland Shire Council building

Sutherland War Memorial

Sutherland Entertainment Centre

Sutherland is a suburb located in the southern part of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 26 kilometres south of Sydney's city centre. Sutherland is also the main office area for the Sutherland Shire, which is like its local government.

The Story of Sutherland: A Look Back

Have you ever wondered where the name Sutherland comes from? There are two main ideas:

• Some people think the name comes from Forby Sutherland. He was a sailor who died on Captain Cook's ship, the Endeavour. A place called Sutherland Point at Kurnell is named after him. But there's no clear link between him and the Sutherland area itself.
• Another idea is that Thomas Mitchell, a surveyor, named the first area south of the Georges River "Parish of Southerland" in 1835. He spelled it with an "o" to mean "South". Later, in government papers, it was spelled "Sutherland," losing its original meaning.

In the 1860s, a man named Thomas Holt bought a huge piece of land, about 53 square kilometres, stretching from Sutherland to Cronulla. The Sutherland area was full of trees back then. Cutting down timber became the first big business. Holt started many projects, like timber cutting, coal mining, sheep farming, and even oyster farming. He built a large house called Sutherland House in 1868. It had forty rooms and was located in Sylvania, by Gwawley Bay. Sadly, the house burned down in 1918. People thought it was set on fire on purpose.

The first road in the area, South Road, was built in 1842. Later, Illawarra Road was made along the high ridges towards the Woronora River. The Princes Highway then became the main road through Sutherland. It connected Sydney to the Illawarra region.

The railway line was built in the 1880s, and then the area really started to grow. Early residents often lived in simple huts or tents in the bush. Once the land was cleared, a town grew up around the railway station. In 1886, there were only four main buildings: the railway station, the station master's house, a railway worker's cottage, and a general store. The post office opened in September 1886, and a school started in 1887.

In 1906, the area was officially named the Shire of Sutherland. The first local council meetings were held in the shire clerk's home. The Council Chambers building was finished in 1915. By the 1920s, steam trams were running between Cronulla and Sutherland.

Woronora Memorial Park: A Special Place

Woronora Memorial Park is a cemetery located west of Sutherland station. In 1897, land was set aside for it. A special train line, about 822 metres long, was built next to the station. It opened in 1900. This line had a platform and a loop for engines. The first funeral happened earlier that year, with the coffin arriving by train from Mortuary station in the city.

However, as cars became more common, people stopped using trains for funerals. The train line closed in 1947. Today, you can't see any parts of the old line or platform. Only the original path where the line ran is still visible.

Sutherland's Shopping and Community Hub

Sutherland is mostly a place where people live. It has a shopping centre located very close to Sutherland station. You can also find some businesses along the Princes Highway.

As the main administrative centre for the Sutherland Shire, Sutherland has important community places. These include an entertainment centre where citizenship ceremonies happen, a community centre, and the local government council offices. The Sutherland Library is also a big central library here. Woronora Cemetery is on the western edge of the suburb.

Stapleton's butchery was a very old business in Sutherland. It opened in 1896 but closed its doors in 2017.

Getting Around: Transport in Sutherland

Sutherland station is an important stop on the Illawarra railway line of the Sydney Trains network. The main train line goes south to Waterfall and Kiama. It goes north to Bondi Junction. There's also a branch line that goes east to Cronulla.

You can find more details about bus services at Sutherland Station.

When the Southern Freeway (also called the F6) was built to connect Sydney to Wollongong, the Princes Highway was moved away from the centre of Sutherland. It now uses Acacia Road. There have been plans for many years to extend the F6. This extension would link Sutherland to the Captain Cook Bridge through Miranda, and then on to the Southern Cross Drive via Brighton-Le-Sands.

Learning in Sutherland: Local Schools

Sutherland has several schools for students of different ages. These include public schools, Catholic schools, and private schools:

• Sutherland Public School
• Sutherland North Public School
• Minerva School
• St Patrick's College
• St Patrick's Primary School

Places of Worship: Churches in Sutherland

There are 8 churches located in Sutherland, offering places of worship for various faiths:

• St Patrick's Catholic Church
• St John the Baptist Anglican Church
• St Andrews Presbyterian Church
• Sutherland Uniting Church
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Sutherland
• Christadelphian Church
• Shirelive Church (Pentecostal)
• Sutherland Presbyterian Reformed Church

Green Spaces: Parks in Sutherland

Sutherland is home to many parks and reserves where you can enjoy nature and outdoor activities. These include: Prince Edward Park, Sutherland Park, Waratah Park, Peace Park, Forby Sutherland Memorial Garden, Sutherland Community Gardens, Clio Street Reserve, Glencoe Street Reserve, Gray Street Reserve, and Leonay Street Reserve.

Prince Edward Park is a large park found between the Woronora River and Sutherland. Along the river, there's a cleared area used for recreation. It has facilities for boating and fishing. This park is also where the Sutherland Region Girl Guides have their canoeing facility. You'll also find the Woronora Scout Group and the Woronora Life Saving Club here. As you go towards Sutherland, the park becomes natural Eucalyptus bushland with walking trails.

Staying Active: Sport and Recreation

The Sutherland Leisure Centre on Rawson Avenue is a great place for sports and fitness. It has a 50-metre heated outdoor pool, an international size water polo pool, and a fun family area. This area includes both a 50-metre and a 25-metre indoor pool, a spa, and a steam room. The pool is also the home of the SLC Aquadot swim club. The gym offers fitness equipment, fitness classes, boxing/fitness circuits, a martial arts room, and a beach volleyball court.

Since 1963, Sutherland Oval has been the home ground for the North Sutherland Rockets. This football club plays in the Sutherland Shire Football Association Competition.

Who Lives in Sutherland? Population Facts

According to the 2016 census, there were 10,816 people living in Sutherland.

• About 1.3% of the population were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Most people, 69.4%, were born in Australia.
• The next most common countries of birth were England (3.4%), China (2.1%), New Zealand (2.1%), and India (1.4%).
• Most people, 75.8%, spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken included Mandarin (2.2%), Russian (1.7%), Cantonese (1.5%), Spanish (1.3%), and Nepali (0.9%).
• For religion, the most common answers were No Religion (28.0%), Catholic (24.8%), and Anglican (17.2%).

Famous Faces: Notable People from Sutherland

Apartments on Auburn Street

Images for kids

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  Overlooking Sutherland

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  Sutherland Shire Council building

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  Sutherland War Memorial

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  Sutherland Entertainment Centre

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  Apartments on Auburn Street

See also

In Spanish: Sutherland (Australia) para niños