Mount Druitt

History

Major George Druitt (1775–1842) was granted 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) in the area by Governor Macquarie. He named his grant, where he died in 1842, Mount Druitt.

Rail services to Mount Druitt commenced on 19 August 1881. The railway station operated as the post office between 1885 and 1918. The station had two platforms and a level crossing at the western end and included small goods yard, servicing a small mill. A railway gatekeeper's lodge was built circa 1867, and was later converted to the station master's cottage. It was later sold and converted to commercial use.

Electric train services to Mount Druitt commenced in 1955, at a service presided by then Premier of New South Wales, Joseph Cahill. In 1975, the railway station was relocated approximately 500 metres east to service a new shopping centre that was locally known as "The Great Western" and is now owned by Westfield. The old railway station was demolished almost immediately, although the level crossing remained until a road bridge carrying Carlisle Avenue over the railway line was completed. A footbridge was also built for pedestrians.

Mount Druitt Hospital was opened in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II. The 200-bed hospital was opened following significant fundraising and political agitation from the local community due to perception that the community was unable to access medical services at either Blacktown or Nepean Hospitals.

In April 2006, the Attorney General's Department of New South Wales opened a new court house at a cost of A$12 million. This was to become the first metropolitan area courthouse to utilise "circle sentencing", with aims to reduce over representation of Indigenous Australians in custody and give them lighter sentences.

A local landmark is the Georgian cottage known as The Manse, situated in The Avenue. It was probably built by John Harris in the mid-1880s; the land on which it was built was originally part of Druitt's property. Later it was sold to Robert Kennedy. Kennedy left it to the Presbyterian Church when he died, and it was used for some time as a manse. It was acquired by Blacktown City Council in 2000 and restored. It is now the headquarters of the Mt Druitt Historical Society and is open to the public. It has both a local government and state government heritage listing.

Commercial area

The Mount Druitt township was serviced by a relatively small shopping area known as Mount Druitt Village.

In 1975, a new shopping centre, known locally as "The Great Western", was opened approximately 500 metres to the east when the railway station was also relocated and a large bus/rail interchange was built. The Westfield corporation took over the shopping centre, which is now known as Westfield Mount Druitt, located on the corner of Carlisle Avenue and Luxford Road, both major roads in the area. The complex has over 200 stores, ranging from discount department stores to specialty shops. Shopsmart is another shopping centre located in the suburb. Other services such as a hospital, coffee shops, small bars, council-operated swimming pool and library are all located within walking distance of the railway station.

The area is under a Blacktown council redevelopment Plan.

Bovis Lendlease is about to embark on a major project in the area to revitalise the station and surrounding area in conjunction with the local Shire Council.

Much of the Housing commission has been sold off to Developers and the area is being revitalized - with Mixed use developments taking place. The area is becoming extremely popular with the Chinese, Thai and Filipino community. Due to the affordability, excellent schools, parks and transport links.

Transport

Mount Druitt railway station is located on the North Shore, Northern & Western Line of the Sydney Trains network. It features a newly upgraded interchange with bus routes operated by Busways with routes to all suburbs in the Mount Druitt area, Blacktown and Glendenning.

Education

Mount Druitt High school was established in the 1960s. The school is currently located within the suburb of Dharruk, adjacent to the local Emerton Shopping Village. It later became known as Chifley College Mount Druitt Campus, educating years 7–10. Chifley College Senior Campus educates the senior classes (years 11–12), and is within walking distance from Mount Druitt Station. Mount Druitt schools have become extremely favorable in recent years, with the high Asian Demographic helping to raise the bar in educational achievements.

Demographics

The 2001, the City of Blacktown Social Plan identified that a high portion of Mount Druitt residents are migrants from non-English speaking nations. These statements are backed up by the 2011 census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most common occupation categories were tradesmen (17%), retail workers (15%)and government workers (15%).

It states that 42% of Mount Druitt's 15,794 residents were born in Australia mostly descendants of Chinese migrants, compared to the national average of 70%, with 12.0% born in the Philippines, 4.4% from Iraq, 4.2% from Pakistan, 3.7% from India and 3.0% from Fiji. The most common ancestries were Filipino 13.3% and Chinese who made up 45%, Australian born Chinese 12.5%, English 11.1%, Indian 5.8% and Pakistani 4.1%. The most common languages spoken at home other than English were Tagalog 5.7%, Arabic 3.0%, Urdu 2.1%, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic 1.9% and Samoan.5%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 35.7%, Islam 18.0%, Anglican 7.9%, No Religion 6.0% and Hinduism 4.4%.

Notable residents