Smithfield, New South Wales

Smithfield Sydney, New South Wales
Smithfield Museum
Population:	10,950 (2006)
Established:	1836
Postcode:	2164
LGA:	Fairfield, Holroyd
State electorate:	Smithfield
Federal Division:	McMahon, Blaxland
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.7 °C 75 °F 11.1 °C 52 °F 742.4 mm 29.2 in
Suburbs around Smithfield: Greystanes Greystanes Merrylands West Wetherill Park Smithfield Woodpark Fairfield West Fairfield Heights Guildford West

Smithfield Gallery

Smithfield is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Smithfield is located 30 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the City of Fairfield and the City of Holroyd. The suburb is a mix of residential, industrial and commercial areas. Though, it's mostly characterized by low-density housing .

History

Aboriginal people from the Cabrogal tribe, a sub-group of the Gandangara tribe, have lived in the Fairfield area for over 30,000 years.

European settlement began in the area in the early 19th century. Smithfield was originally known as Chilsholm's Bush. In 1867, Smithfield was a semi-rural settlement populated by vine growers, gardeners, wood timber cutters, orchards and tanneries. Early settlers were attracted to Smithfield by its good soil, dependable water supply and easy access to the Colony's established towns. Some of the best farming land was in the district to the west and southwest of the Smithfield area.

In 1803, homeless children were becoming a problem after convicts turned their children out into the streets. As a consequence, Governor Philip Gidley King, put aside a large area of 12,300 acres (50 km²) for a Male Orphan School. By 1836, some of this land was offered for sale by the colonial government of the time. John Ryan Brenan (1798–1868), an attorney who was appointed Police Magistrate in 1836, bought 1,650 acres (7 km²) here. Brenan planned to make money with a meat market and a cattle saleyard. He subdivided the estate and named it Smithfield after the meat markets of London and Dublin. Saleyards opened in 1841 but the project to establish a village around the yards failed. Despite this, Smithfield did become a thriving commercial centre and remains a significant employment centre in south-western Sydney as part of the Wetherill Park/Yennora industrial block.

Smithfield still has the street patterns Brenan planned and the street names he chose. In the subdivision, Brenan offered an extra adjoining allotment to any buyer who built a cottage with a brick chimney and enclosed the property with a fence. The public school opened in 1850 and by 1880s Smithfield was well provided with churches, many of which still remain today as important relics of Smithfield's rich local heritage.

Commercial area

The commercial area is centred around The Horsely Drive, the main street in Smithfield. The shopping centre features a Coles supermarket, specialty shops, restaurants and a pub. There is a large industrial area in Smithfield with a number of factories and warehouses.

Transport

The Horsley Drive is the major road which runs through Smithfield. Other major roads include Polding Street, Brennan Street and Victoria Street. Bus services are provided by (Westbus). The closest train station is Fairfield train station, on the South line and Cumberland line. There are bus links to that station.

Education

There is two local primary schools. Smithfield Primary and Smithfield West Primary. There are no local high schools, however residents are usually in the area for Westfields Sports High School. There is a TAFE nearby.

Places of worship

St James Anglican church is on the corner of The Horsley Drive and Justin Street. St Benedicts Catholic Church is in Justin Street. Smithfield Uniting Church is on The Horsley Drive.

Smithfield has one of the oldest and only Mosques (Masjids), established by Bosnian migrants from the early-1960s to late-1970s under the name Bosnian Brothers Islamic Society (Bosanska Bratska Islamska Zajednica N.S.W). It was later renamed to Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in memory of the founder of the city of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Today it is commonly known as Smithfield Mosque.

Parks and recreation

Smithfield features an art gallery, museum and an RSL club. Brenan Park is a recreational area with tennis courts.

Geography

Smithfield is approximately around 21–48 meters above sea level. It is in the Greater Western Sydney/Western Sydney region and is 30 km west of Sydney CBD.

Climate

Climate data for Horsley Park
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	44.2 (111.6)	41.3 (106.3)	40.5 (104.9)	35.1 (95.2)	27.5 (81.5)	24.7 (76.5)	23.9 (75.0)	27.4 (81.3)	34.3 (93.7)	37.1 (98.8)	42.0 (107.6)	41.9 (107.4)	44.2 (111.6)
Average high °C (°F)	29.9 (85.8)	28.8 (83.8)	26.8 (80.2)	23.7 (74.7)	20.4 (68.7)	17.7 (63.9)	17.1 (62.8)	19.0 (66.2)	22.3 (72.1)	24.4 (75.9)	26.2 (79.2)	28.2 (82.8)	23.7 (74.7)
Average low °C (°F)	19.9 (67.8)	18.1 (64.6)	17.9 (64.2)	15.8 (60.4)	12.8 (55.0)	11.6 (52.9)	11.1 (52.0)	11.9 (53.4)	12.9 (55.2)	14.2 (57.6)	15.6 (60.1)	17.3 (63.1)	11.1 (52.0)
Record low °C (°F)	10.6 (51.1)	10.4 (50.7)	7.2 (45.0)	1.9 (35.4)	1.7 (35.1)	−1.8 (28.8)	−2.3 (27.9)	−0.5 (31.1)	0.7 (33.3)	3.6 (38.5)	6.6 (43.9)	9.0 (48.2)	−2.3 (27.9)
Precipitation mm (inches)	60.3 (2.374)	118.8 (4.677)	65.2 (2.567)	64.3 (2.531)	56.4 (2.22)	64.8 (2.551)	41.2 (1.622)	35.9 (1.413)	36.4 (1.433)	61.7 (2.429)	77.8 (3.063)	58.7 (2.311)	742.4 (29.228)
Avg. precipitation days	11.6	11.2	11.2	11.3	10.4	10.6	8.5	7.6	8.4	10.1	10.9	10.6	122.4
Source:

• Highest Recorded Temperature: 44.2 °C
• Lowest Recorded Temperature: -2.3 °C
• Warmest Month: January
• Coolest Month: July
• Highest Precipitation: February
• Lowest Precipitation: August

Demographics

According to the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population, there were 10,950 persons usually resident in Smithfield, of which the large majority were over the age of 15 (78.7%), Australian born (53.5%) and Australian citizens (85.6%). Interestingly, at the census date Smithfield had a rather low unemployment rate of 0.1%. The largest age groups in the suburb in 1996 comprised persons aged 25–34 (16.1%), 35-44 (16.1%), followed by those aged 45–54. Persons aged over 65 comprised 10.0% of the total population. The majority of families in the area were two parent families (54.3%) with single parent families comprising 16.3% of total families.

Approximately 40% of the population was born overseas, with the top countries of birth being Iraq 4.8%, Vietnam 4.6% and Italy 4.5%. The largest proportions of households were one family households (77.3%) and lone person households comprised 17.1%. Detached housing dominates the area, comprising 87.9% of total occupied private dwellings. The majority of dwellings are fully owned (47.5%). 26.6% of dwellings are rented, of these 17.6% are in private rental and 8.6% in public rental. Almost three in four residents (74.3%) are Christian. Followed by Buddhism (7.3%), non-religious (5.5%), Islam (3.9%) and Hinduism (0.5%).

Notable residents

Smithfield was the childhood home of footballer Harry Kewell and performance coach Jimmy Petruzziello also known as Jimmy Petruzzi.

Politics

Smithfield is led by Fairfield City Council, with Nick Lalich (Labor) as Mayor, Andrew Rohan (Liberal) as State MP for Smithfield, and Chris Bowen and Jason Clare (both Labor) as Federal MPs for the seats of McMahon and Blaxland respectively.