|
Before European Settlement
The original inhabitants of the area now known as Bankstown were the Aboriginal people known as the Eora. Their land bordered the Dharawal and the Darung people. The Aboriginal people strongly resisted European settlement until a number of their leaders were killed or imprisoned in 1816. An epidemic at about the same time severely reduced the Aboriginal populations, from which time resistance ceased.
How Europeans Discovered the Bankstown area
Europeans first came to Bankstown in 1795, just seven years after the first settlement at Sydney Cove. Governor Hunter commissioned Matthew Flinders (then a Royal Navy midshipman), and George Bass (a surgeon), together with the boy servant called William Martin, to explore the 'western arm' (Georges River) of Botany Bay to see if the area was hospitable. The trio sailed the winding course of the Georges River aboard an eight-foot craft called the 'Tom Thumb'. They sailed 20 miles beyond any previous survey and landed at what is now known as Garrison Point, located at Georges Hall.
Following their favourable report on the area Governor Hunter decided to make it a settlement, and at a later date, named the area Banks' Town in honour of Sir Joseph Banks, who sailed with Captain James Cook aboard the 'Endeavour' on Cook's voyage of discovery from 1768 to 1771. Banks collected botanical and scientific specimens at Botany Bay between 28 April and 6 May 1770 and on his return to England, advocated for the settlement at Botany Bay. With his growing stature as a scientist, Banks' enthusiasm for settlement had a considerable impact on the decision to send the First Fleet to Australian shores.
Banks has been called 'The Father of Australia.
Settlement
Fifteen months after Bass, Flinders and boy Martin first sailed the Tom Thumb up the Georges River in 1795, Governor Hunter extended their exploration as far as the present site of the 'Lansdowne Bridge'. In January 1798, a settlement of Royal marines was stationed near the junction of the Georges River and Prospect Creek, at the area now known as Garrison Point. With the establishment of the settlement, parcels of land were distributed. Bass received the first grant of 100 acres on Prospect Creek. Within a few years some 1200 acres were granted to marines, ex-convicts and free settlers on land adjacent to the Georges River. Governor Hunter reported to Lord Bathurst that he had named the district 'Banks'Town in honour of Sir Joseph Banks.
|
|
The Great Southern Road
One of the most crippling obstacles to the progress of the new settlement was isolation. There were no safe routes to the markets of Parramatta and Sydney where residents needed to sell their produce. Many were unable to tolerate the isolation and a large number abandoned their land and returned to the livelier centres of Sydney and Parramatta. Not until the arrival of the new Governor, Lachlan Macquarie, in 1810 was there any prospect of reviving the decaying settlement.
Macquarie was forward thinking and immediately realised that the area needed more roads. His initial project then was Liverpool, however, this dream had no chance of becoming a reality without a reliable overland route to Sydney. In 1813 he commissioned Mr William Roberts to build a direct road between Sydney and Liverpool.
This led to the construction of the Great Southern Road which later became the Hume Highway. Residents no longer risked unsafe travel on the primitive Native Dog Track to reach Sydney. Almost at once, there was a resurgence of settlers including market gardeners, farmers and timber cutters. New land grants were made and others already in occupation extended their holdings.
|
|
With Bush Rangers Come the Police
Outlying areas remained largely unprotected against the lawless, particularly bushrangers, until well into the 1820s. It became clear that a permanent form of law enforcement was needed in the growing community and father and son team (the Merediths) were given the positions of Chief Constables of Liverpool. The Merediths had some success and were awarded grants of land near where Meredith Street is today.
|
|
Lansdowne Bridge
In 1836 Lansdowne Bridge was opened by Governor Burke. The bridge, named after Lord Lansdowne, was built at a cost of one thousand pounds by convict labour. Stone for the bridge was quarried from opposite East Hills Park and punted up stream with the tide.
|
|
Gold Fever Dwindles Bankstown
In common with many other agricultural districts, Bankstown suffered as a result of the 1850s gold rush. Small land-holders were caught up in the gold fever and Bankstown's population dwindled. A further drop in the population was caused by the railway extension by-passing the town in 1856. This caused farmers to move closer to the railway for improved access to Sydney. However, those who remained continued to work and plan for the future. During the next few decades, churches, schools and a post office opened despite the population remaining around 1000 people.
|
|
Becoming a Municipal District
One hundred years after its naming, Bankstown was proclaimed a municipal district on 9 September 1895. At this time there was a feeling of impending growth which was further strengthened by the promise of increased railway extensions. Municipalities already constituted became ambitious and in 1894, both Enfield and Auburn Councils announced their intention to absorb Bankstown as part of their own municipalities. However, a petition was organised and signed by 300 residents resulting in Bankstown retaining its individual status. And on 9 September 1895 it was proclaimed a municipal district. The first election was held on 2 November 1895. With 884 electors on the roll, 112 people voted to cast a total of 213 votes. Each ratepayer was entitled to 1.4 votes according to the assessed value of his property.
|
|
The First Mayor
Bankstown's first Mayor was Joseph James Cooper, who played a significant role in having Bankstown proclaimed a Municipal District in 1895. It was Cooper who organised the petition that prevented Bankstown being absorbed by Enfield or Auburn municipalities.
Cooper was elected Mayor on 2 November 1895 but less than a year later on 13 June 1896, he resigned due to financial hardship caused by the depression, and returned to Sydney for work. He died aged 85 on 22 September 1918, and was buried in an unmarked grave.
On 14 March 2001 a special headstone was erected at Joseph Cooper's grave in Rookwood Cemetery to recognise his contribution to the formation of Bankstown. The headstone was a community partnership coordinated by Bankstown Heritage Committee and equally funded by Bankstown Council, Metropolitan Funeral Homes and Labor Funerals.
|
|
The Railways Arrive
 |
|
Station Opening 1909 |
With the arrival of the 20th century came the railways. The Public Works Committee agreed to an extension of the line from Belmore to Bankstown and in April 1909, Bankstown's 1720 residents were able to board their first steam-driven locomotive. The line was electrified in 1924 and in 1928 the first motor rail service operated from Bankstown to Lidcombe, passing through Yagoona and Birrong. A single line from Tempe to East Hills was approved in 1920, but was not completed until 1931.
With the arrival of the railways, the population increased and land sales accelerated. Between 1920 and 1930 approximately 22,000 building sites were created by the subdivision of thousands of acres of rural land. The increasing population meant a greater available labour force, enabling the Railway Department to staff their new workshops at Chullora with local residents.
|
|
The Great Depression
By 1930 the population had jumped to 23,789. Then came the Great Depression, with 1000 unemployed in Bankstown alone. In an effort to overcome distress caused by the Great Depression and utilise idle labour, the Government decided to build Henry Lawson Drive extending from the Lansdowne Bridge to Salt Pan Creek (where it now meets River Road).
|
|
World War II
After the Great Depression, Bankstown began to move forward again, although progress was slow. Apart from the railways, there were few serious industries in the district. At the beginning of World War II, Bankstown presented a depressing picture with little prospect of major industries opening up to absorb the increasing population, which in 1939 stood at 28,400.
However, the war years brought another kind of boom - a population explosion and a minor industrial revolution. The armed forces and the United States Air Force occupied Bankstown Aerodrome, the Department of Aircraft Production set up Hawker De Havilland to manufacture mosquito bombers, and in the north of the municipality, Commonwealth Defence Industries were established at Villawood.
|
|
Post War Growth
World War II brought with it increased industrialisation and the Bankstown municipality experienced a post war boom in industry. The number of industrial concerns operating on the Bankstown Aerodrome site increased from one to 112. Although there was an arsenal at Villawood during the war, there were few factories of any major consequence until 1948, when there was a striking increase until 1954. The population, boosted by incoming migrants and people moving out of crowded industrial areas into Bankstown, increased by approximately 10,000 each year.
|
|
|
Railway Bridge 1946
|
|
Population Growth
1947 - 42,646
1954 - 102,384
1961 - 151,246
At the end of the war, from 1946, the Housing Commission Minister (Mr McGirr) instituted large-scale development in the Padstow, Revesby, Panania, Greenacre and Villawood areas. Land was selling at reasonable prices and the building trade gained momentum.
|
|
|
Bankstown Council Chambres 1956
|
|
Becoming a City
On 27 May 1980, during a visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Bankstown was accorded city status.
|
|
Crest of the City of Bankstown
The crest of the City of Bankstown comprises four quarters, each with a significant meaning. The Southern Cross is the constellation of stars that we also see on the Australian flag. The mace and Mayoral chain represent office or authority. The fleur-de-lis, chief among the flowers and floral forms, derives from the family coat of arms of Sir Joseph Banks, the famous botanist after whom Bankstown was named by Governor Hunter. The stork on an oak stump sprouting new branches derives from the crest of Sir Joseph Banks. The crown represents Australia's ties with the monarchy.
|
|
Bankstown Today
Bankstown is a lively, cosmopolitan city enhanced by influences from around the world. It has one of the highest proportions of any local government area in New South Wales. According to the 2001 census, Bankstown's population count in August 2001 was 164,841. This reflects an increase of approximately 7,000 people on the 1996 census count of 157,735. The latest population estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics place the June 2001 population of the city at 172,785 and the city's median age at 35.1 years.
The rapid post-war boom in population and development in Bankstown reflected the Commonwealth Government's immigration policy, making Bankstown one of the most multicultural cities in Australia. This cultural diversity continues today. According to the 2001 census 35.3% of the population was born overseas, and 46.2% of the area's population speak a language other than English at home. Over 60 different languages are spoken, with the most common being (in order of use) English, Arabic, Vietnamese, Chinese, Greek and Italian.
|
|
Timeline - How Bankstown Came To Be
1795 - Bass and Flinders sailed up the Georges River and discovered the area now known as 'Georges Hall'
1797 - Returned to the area to settle
1798 - First official land grant
1826 - Bushrangers hanged on the water tower site on Liverpool Road (Hume Highway)
1836 - Lansdowne Bridge opened
1853 - First church, St Felix's Catholic Church
1863 - First Post Office
1880 - First public school
1889 - First official police station
1895 - Bankstown proclaimed as a Municipality
1909 - Railway extended to Bankstown
1923 - Electricity extended to Bankstown
1954 - Bankstown library opened
1957 - Bankstown hospital opened
1973 - Bankstown Town Hall opened
1980 - Bankstown proclaimed a City
1990 - Bankstown Civic Tower opened
1995 - Bicentenary of discovery
1996 - Won the bid to host the United States Olympic team during the Sydney 2000 Olympics
1997 - An accidental fire destroyed Council's administration building (July 1 1997)
1999 - Opening of Paul Keating Park on the site of the former Council administration building
1999 - Opening of the revitalised Bankstown City Plaza
2000 - Opening of the 'Stephen and Mark Waugh Pavilion' and 'The Kevin McCormick Grandstand' at Memorial Oval
2000 - Opening of the Dunc Gray Velodrome (used during the Sydney 2000 Olympics)
2003 - Council become the only government agency in Australia to achieve triple certification in quality management systems, environmental management systems and OH & S management systems.
2003 - Bankstown City Council declared itself a Refugee Welcome Zone.
« top
|
|
Vital Statistics
Geography
- Area - Approximately 77 square kilometres
- Elevation - 9 metres above sea level
- Location - 20 minutes south-west of the city of Sydney
Weather
- Average January max. temp. - 27.9 degrees Celsius
- Average July max. temp. - 17.1 degrees Celsius
- Average September max. temp. - 21 degrees Celsius
- Average max humidity - between 63 percent and 79 percent
- Total annual rainfall - 905mm, peaking from January to March
- Average wind speed - 11 to 20 km/hr
- Wind direction - westerly from May to September, and south-easterly from October to April
Population
Census Counts
- 1901 total - 1247
- 1996 total - 157,735
- 2001 total - 170,000 (approx)
A Breakdown of the Population
- 50.6% of Bankstown's population is female.
- The indigenous population of Bankstown comprises 1,303 of our residents.
- 87.9% of the city's population are Australian citizens.
- 60% of the population is aged between 18 and 64 years. More than 18% of the population is aged 60 years and more.
- The most common religion in Bankstown is Catholicism, followed by Anglican, Islam, Orthodox and Buddhism. Over 66% of the population describe themselves as Christian.
- 66.6% of households own (or are purchasing) their own home, and 26.1% are renting.
- 42.1% of households comprise couples with children, and 12.6% are one-parent families.
- 76.5% of residents live in a detached house, that is, not a townhouse, terrace or flat/unit.
|
|