Warragamba, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WarragambaNew South Wales |
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 Warragamba
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 1,241 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2752 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 178 m (584 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 69 km (43 mi) W of Sydney | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Wollondilly Shire | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Wollondilly | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Hume | ||||||||||||||
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Warragamba is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Wollondilly Shire. You can find Warragamba on the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains. It's about a one and a half hour drive west of Sydney. The name Warragamba comes from Indigenous Australian words. Warra and Gamba together mean 'water running over rocks'.
Contents
A Look Back: Warragamba's History
In 1804, George William Evans was the first European to explore the Warragamba River. He traveled upstream to where the Warragamba Dam is today.
However, for Indigenous peoples, this river and valley were always important. They were a big part of their daily lives. This area is still a special place for their culture today.
Building the Town and Dam
Warragamba started as a place for workers to live. These workers were building the Warragamba Dam. This dam is very important because it provides most of Sydney's water. The town was built from scratch in the 1940s. It included homes, shops, and schools for the workers and their families.
When the dam was finished, many workers decided to stay. They bought their homes from the Water Board. Warragamba Public School celebrated its 50th birthday in 1998. It was supposed to be taken down after the dam was built in the 1960s, but it stayed!
Warragamba has a unique feature for an Australian town. Its streets do not have regular names. Instead, they are numbered, like First Street or Eighteenth Street.
Challenges and New Attractions
Over the years, the town has faced some challenges. Work on the dam, including safety upgrades, has meant fewer weekend visitors. In 2001, the town was affected by bushfires.
Warragamba was once home to the African Lion Safari. This popular animal park closed in 1991. Today, a new Warragamba Dam Visitor Centre and Haviland Park are popular spots. They have great picnic areas for families to enjoy.
Warragamba's Population
During the Australian Census in 2016, Warragamba had 1,241 people living there. Most people, about 85.4%, were born in Australia. Also, 92.4% of people spoke only English at home. The most common religions were Catholic (31.8%), Anglican (26.4%), and No Religion (25.6%).
