Harris Park, New South Wales

Harris Park
Sydney, New South Wales

Kenilworth, Holy Spirit Seminary, Diocese of Parramatta
Population 5,072 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 2150
Location 23 km (14 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s) City of Parramatta
State electorate(s) Parramatta
Federal Division(s) Parramatta
Suburbs around Harris Park:
Camellia Parramatta Rydalmere
Parramatta Harris Park Rosehill
Granville Granville Granville

Harris Park is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Harris Park is located 23 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.

Harris Park is the home of several historic sites, including Experiment Farm.

History

James Ruse was the first convict to be granted land in the colony, by Governor Arthur Phillip in this area in 1791. He developed Australia's first private farm known as Experiment Farm, which sowed the first wheat in Australia. Surgeon John Harris, who had already received land grants in the area in 1793 and 1805, bought the farm and built a cottage on the site in c1795. Harris Park is named after John Harris.[2] The cottage is heritage-listed and open to the public.[3]

John Macarthur built Elizabeth Farm in 1793. The building changed and grew substantially over the years, and the architect John Verge is thought to have worked on it from around the late 1820s to the late 1830s. It now falls within the Rosehill area and is heritage-listed.[4][5]

Macarthur built Hambledon Cottage in the early 1820s for Penelope Lucas, the governess for his children. The main wing was designed by Henry Kitchen and the house was used for vice-regal guests until 1883. It is heritage-listed.[6][7] Penelope Lucas is now remembered in Penelope Lucas Lane, in Rosehill.[8]

In the 1880s, Arthur Latimer McCredie, an architect and alderman in Parramatta Council, built his mansion, Kenilworth, in Allen Street. It was a two-storey building in Victorian Italianate style and served as his home for most of the remainder of his life. Though his will expressly forbade the property being conveyed to Catholics, it was acquired on his death by the Sisters of Mercy, who ran it as the Convent of Mercy from 1927 to 1998. It then became the Australian International Performing Arts High School. In 2013 it was converted into the new home of Holy Spirit Seminary, the seminary of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta. Kenilworth is heritage-listed.[9]

Commercial area and transport

Harris Park has a small shopping area around Marion Street. It is very close to the major commercial centre of Parramatta. Harris Park railway station is on the North Shore, Northern & Western Line of the Sydney Trains network.

Churches

Population

In the 2011 Census there were 5,072 residents in Harris Park. 53.6% were males and 46.4% were females. Only 21.8% of people were born in Australia. The top other countries of birth were India 39.9%, China 4.7%, Lebanon 3.3%, Afghanistan 2.3% and Philippines 2.2%. The majority of people spoke a language other than English at home, with the most common languages spoken being Gujarati 20.4%, Hindi 8.3%, Punjabi 6.5%, Arabic 6.3% and Mandarin 3.3%. The top responses for religious affiliation were Hinduism 37.0%, Catholic 15.1%, Islam 9.9% and no religion 8.6%.[1]

Cultural Developments

Harris Park has recently developed into a hub of Indian diaspora. Indians call Harris Park a "PIND" or Little India. There are over 18 Indian restaurants, music and merchandise shops. Harris Park is well known for Indian cuisine and grocery stores. There are also various restaurants and food stores in the area representing a range of different cultures including Lebanese, Greek and Italian.

United Indian Associations Inc is working in the area to develop the communities and support them. The team made representations to the New South Wales government to recognise the area as 'Little India' of Sydney.

Gallery

Green Map

The Rosehill Green Map is the first for Western Sydney. For further information about Green Mapping.

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Harris Park (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon (Angus and Robertson) 1990, page 120
  3. ↑ State Heritage Register
  4. ↑ The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/49-50
  5. ↑ State Heritage Register
  6. ↑ The Heritage of Australia, p.2/53
  7. ↑ State Heritage Register
  8. ↑ Gregory's Sydney Street Directory, 2002, Map 308
  9. ↑ State Heritage Register
  10. ↑ Our Lady of Lebanon Parish
  11. ↑ Church Website

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harris Park, New South Wales.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hambledon Cottage.

Coordinates: 33°49′29″S 151°00′19″E / 33.82481°S 151.00521°E / -33.82481; 151.00521

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, January 11, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.