Yagoona, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yagoona Sydney, New South Wales
Hume Highway, Yagoona
Yagoona Location in New South Wales
Population	18,013 (2016 census)
• Density	4,030/km2 (10,400/sq mi)
Established	1927
Postcode(s)	2199
Elevation	45 m (148 ft)
Area	4.47 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Location	20 km (12 mi) south-west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Canterbury-Bankstown
State electorate(s)	Bankstown
Federal Division(s)	Blaxland
Suburbs around Yagoona: Sefton Birrong Chullora Bass Hill Yagoona Greenacre Georges Hall Condell Park Bankstown

Yagoona, a suburb of the local government area City of Canterbury-Bankstown, is located 20 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is a part of the South-western Sydney region. Yagoona is an Aboriginal word meaning 'now' or 'today'. It was the site of the first McDonald's restaurant to open in Australia in December 1971.

History

Before European settlement, the area was originally occupied by the Bediagal people.

The area now known as Yagoona, Bass Hill, and north Bankstown was once known as Irish Town, due to the high concentration of Irish rebels transported here from Ireland in the late 1700s. Land grants were issued to Irish families and finally the suburb of Yagoona was created in 1927. St Matthew's Anglican Church was built on Liverpool Road (now Hume Highway) in 1861 to cater for the Protestants of the district as well as to function as a school.

Transport

Yagoona railway station

Yagoona railway station is on the Bankstown line of the Sydney Trains network. A number of bus services link Yagoona to Bankstown and Parramatta. Yagoona is located some 5 – 10 minutes from Bankstown Central Business District and about 10 – 15 minutes from Parramatta CBD.

The Hume Highway cuts through Yagoona and is the main road access for Yagoona to Liverpool and Sydney City; and Rookwood Road connects south to Stacey Street/Fairford Road (Entrance to the M5), and north to Silverwater Road (Access to the M4). A 30-metre pedestrian bridge costing A$2.3 million linking the side footpaths of Hume Highway was built in 2006, primarily to ensure easy and safe access travel in this area for the students of Yagoona Primary School. Lifts are located at each end to ensure easy access for those with disabilities. The construction of the bridge was funded by the Government of New South Wales. The bridge will also help streamline Hume Highway traffic by removing the previous set of traffic lights.

Parks

Yagoona is home to Gazzard Park, George Green Oval, Gillman Reserve, Middleton Park, Graf Park and O'Neill Park. All the parks contain various sporting facilities and play equipment.

Demographics

In the 2016 Census, there were 18,013 people in Yagoona, 50.6% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were Vietnam 11.8%, Lebanon 8.3%, Republic of Macedonia 2.1%, China 2.1% and New Zealand 1.2%. 29.2% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Arabic 25.9%, Vietnamese 15.9%, Macedonian 3.5%, Cantonese 2.8% and Greek 2.0%. The most common responses for religion were Islam 26.3%, Catholic 24.0% and No Religion 10.3%.

Culture

Yagoona Autumn Fair

Each year an Autumn Fair was hosted in Yagoona's Gazzard Park, designed to allow the community to express their aims and objectives, as well as to raise funds for community projects and work. Its final year was around 2009. Events include a ticket raffle, Yagoona Scouts $1 sausage sizzle, free rides, a non-stop stage show, face painting and more. On at least one occasion, the fair was held in the Spring rather than Autumn.

2007 Autumn Fair Pictures

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  Stalls

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  Big Slide

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  Jumping Castle

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  Lotus Exige Police Car on Display

Popular culture

Footy Legends, written by Khoa and Anh Do, directed by the former and starring the latter, is a drama movie set in Yagoona. It makes references to the social issues in the area and revolves around an amateur rugby league team consisting of socially disaffected people.

Sport

The local sports team is the Yagoona Lions football team, a member of the Bankstown District Amateur Football Association. The Lions' home-ground is at O'Neill Park.

A (now defunct) Indoor Cricket Sports Club was situated on the Hume Highway.

The Yagoona Schooners (Rugby league).

Notable people

• Anh Do, Vietnamese Australian actor and stand-up comedian
• Khoa Do, actor, writer and director (brother of Anh Do)

Images for kids

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  Entering Yagoona from Bankstown along the Hume Highway

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  Stalls

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  Big Slide

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  Jumping Castle

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  Lotus Exige Police Car on Display