Penrith is a suburb, city and Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia. It is the western-most part of Sydney (50 km west of the central business district), lying on the Nepean River, at the foot of the Blue Mountains, which are part of the Great Dividing Range.
The name Penrith came into use in the area in 1822. It seems to have been named after the township of Penrith, England.
Political divisions
Penrith City is divided in to 3 council wards, each having its own set of council members responsible for it:
- North Ward - Population: 56,384 (2001 Census)
- South Ward - Population: 58,683 (2001 Census)
- East Ward - Population: 57,327 (2001 Census)
Geography & climate
Penrith City covers 407 square kilometres, the majority of this being very flat, although to the west are the Blue Mountains. The Nepean River runs through the city area and there is a lakes region in the north. Several rowing events in the Sydney 2000 Olympics were held at the lakes.
The climate is temperate, similar to Sydney although usually a few degrees warmer. Average Temperatures: Summer 16°- 30° / Winter 3°- 17° (Celsius). Median yearly rainfall is 821.6 millimetres.
Demographics
The estimated population of the Penrith LGA in June 2003 was 178,233.
According to the 2001 Census the population of Penrith City was 172,397 with a median age of 30 years. 72% of people were born in Australia, with 81% of people having the English language as the only language spoken at home. The population was 49% male and 51% female.
There were 45661 households in the area, of which 55.1% were couples with children, 26.4% were couples without children, 17.3% were one parent families and 1.3% other families. 85.3% of families live in detached houses, the remainder in townhouses, semi detached, flats, etc.
The mean household size was 3 people with a median weekly household income of AUD$800-$999.
Sporting & recreation
Penrith has a number of local sporting clubs, the most well known being the Penrith Panthers Rugby League club, the winners of the 2003 National Rugby League Grand Final. The club (one of the largest in Australia) has a massive entertainment complex and resort, Panthers World of Entertainment .
The city is also home to the Penrith Lakes Scheme , a system of flooded quarries that are now recreational lakes. One of these lakes hosted the rowing events of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
There are also many other sporting associations, including cricket clubs, AFL clubs and swimming clubs. For a full list see the Penrith City Council's list of sporting groups.
Additionally, Penrith hosts a large shopping centre, known as Penrith Plaza, which is a major gathering point for local youths and is the main commercial hub of the area. Construction is currently underway to increase the size of Penrith Plaza, which is typical of the growth the area has experienced in recent years.
Famous locations & tourist attractions
External links
