The Ponds, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Ponds Sydney, New South Wales
The Float c. 2011
Population	16,315 (2021 census)
Established	2007
Postcode(s)	2769
Elevation	57 m (187 ft)
Location	38 km (24 mi) NW of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Blacktown
State electorate(s)	Riverstone
Federal Division(s)	Greenway
Suburbs around The Ponds: Schofields Rouse Hill Kellyville Quakers Hill The Ponds Kellyville Ridge Quakers Hill Parklea Stanhope Gardens

The Ponds is a modern suburb located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Sydney's main city center. This area is part of the City of Blacktown. In 2021, about 16,315 people called The Ponds home.

The Ponds: A Brief History

The name "The Ponds" was chosen to reflect the natural features of the area. It comes from a nearby stream called "Second Ponds Creek." The suburb was officially recognized as its own place in January 2007. Before that, it was part of the suburbs of Kellyville and Kellyville Ridge.

Who Lives in The Ponds?

In 2021, the census showed that 16,315 people lived in The Ponds.

• About 45% of residents were born in Australia.
• Other common birthplaces include India (22.6%), the Philippines (3.5%), and China (2.6%).
• Around 41% of people speak only English at home.
• Other languages spoken include Hindi, Punjabi, and Gujarati.
• The most common religions are Hinduism, Catholicism, and Islam. Many people also reported having no religion.

In 2011, The Ponds was ranked as one of Sydney's most "advantaged" suburbs. This ranking looked at things like income, internet access, and education levels. The Ponds also has a very high percentage of married people compared to other suburbs in Australia.

Homes and Development

The Ponds is located in a growing area of Sydney. It was designed to be a new community with homes and shops. The first plots of land for building homes were made available in March 2007.

In 2012, the development of The Ponds won two awards. These awards were for its residential homes and for being a sustainable (environmentally friendly) development.

Schools in The Ponds

The Ponds has several schools for students of different ages:

• John Palmer Public School: This primary school opened in 2008.
• Riverbank Public School: This primary school opened in 2015.
• The Ponds High School: This high school also opened in 2015.

The Ponds School: Supporting Special Needs

The Ponds School opened in 2015 and is a special needs school. It's the first of its kind in this part of Sydney. This school has special features like:

• Playground equipment designed for all abilities.
• Modern technology to help students learn.
• A hydrotherapy pool with special lifts.

The school follows the same learning plan as other schools in New South Wales. Activities are changed to fit the needs of all students.

Healthcare Near The Ponds

There are several hospitals close to The Ponds, including:

• Norwest Private Hospital
• Westmead Hospital
• The Children's Hospital at Westmead
• Westmead Private Hospital
• Mount Druitt Hospital
• Blacktown Hospital

In the future, a new hospital will be built in Rouse Hill, which is very close by.

Places of Worship

Many churches are located near The Ponds, such as:

• Stanhope Anglican Church
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Every Nation Christian Church
• Blessed John XXIII Catholic Church
• Our Lady of the Rosary
• Rouse Hill Anglican Church
• The Salvation Army – Rouse Hill Region
• Hillsong Church
• NewHope Baptist Church
• Life Anglican Church Quakers Hill

Getting Around The Ponds

Main Roads

The main roads in The Ponds include The Ponds Boulevard, Riverbank Drive, Ridgeline Drive, Hambledon Road, Stanhope Parkway, and Schofields Road. Major highways like the Westlink M7 and the M2 Hills Motorway make it easy to drive to and from the suburb.

Bus Services

Busways provides bus services for The Ponds. You can catch a bus to:

• Blacktown (routes 734, 752)
• Rouse Hill (route 752)
• Schofields and Riverstone (route 734)

Train Connections

Tallawong station

The closest train station is Tallawong station, which is on the Metro North West & Bankstown Line. This line offers frequent services every four minutes to places like Norwest Business Park, Castle Hill, Macquarie Park, Chatswood, Town Hall, and Central Sydney. The line opened in May 2019.

There's also a special "on-demand" bus service called Cooee Busways. It connects The Ponds with Tallawong and Rouse Hill stations. Route 752 also links The Ponds to Rouse Hill station.

The nearest Sydney Trains stations are at Schofields and Quakers Hill. From these stations, you can travel to Blacktown, Parramatta, Richmond, Leppington, and the Sydney city center.

Shopping in The Ponds

The Ponds Shopping Centre

The Ponds Shopping Centre opened in 2015, right next to John Palmer Public School. It has a Woolworths supermarket, several cafes and restaurants, a news agency, a pharmacy, and about 20 other specialty shops. There's also a car park. The shopping center connects to a building that used to be a sales office, which is now a community center.

Nearby Shopping Options

• Rouse Hill Town Centre: This large shopping center is about 1 kilometer away. It has over 250 stores, including Coles, Woolworths, Kmart, Big W, and Reading Cinemas.
• Stanhope Village: Located about 3 kilometers from The Ponds, this center has Coles, Big W, Aldi, and many specialty stores.
• Other Shopping Areas: You can also find more shopping at Marsden Park, Castle Towers, and Westpoint Blacktown, which are about 12 kilometers away.

Interestingly, data from Australia Post and StarTrack couriers shows that people living in The Ponds receive the most online purchases in New South Wales!