History

Blacktown - The Region

The area comprising the City of Blacktown has a long history - Aborigines belonging to the Darug tribe certainly inhabited the area long before European settlement and archaeological evidence of their settlement has been found along creeks in the area. Europeans on exploratory expeditions to the Hawkesbury and beyond traversed the area and the first European settlement occurred at the base of Prospect Hill in August 1791.

Since that time, the area has changed and developed from a largely rural community. Some traces of the past still exist in areas to the north west, although the plans for development will see drastic changes in the next few years.

Pre - 1788
The Aboriginal people of the Western Cumberland Plain referred to themselves as the Darug (also spelt as Dharug, Daruk, Dharuk and Dharruk). The three Clans of the Blacktown area included: Gomerigal - South Creek; Wawarawarry - Eastern Creek; and Warmuli - Prospect. The impact of white settlement meant that there was competition for land and resources. While numbers declined there has always been an Aboriginal presence in Blacktown and today, this is reflected in the name of the City and its suburb Dharruk and the fact that Blacktown has the largest Aboriginal population in the state.

1788  Governor Phillip travelled to Prospect Hill in April.

1791  In February, Governor Phillip granted land to 13 people at Prospect Hill. These were the first land grants in the Blacktown District.

1800  Population was 16.

1801  John Macarthur buys 1770 acres at Seven Hills.

1804  The Battle of Vinegar Hill was fought at Rouse Hill on 5th March. Convicts escaping from the Castle Hill barracks clashed with Government troops under Major George Johnson, declaring themselves to be for ' Liberty or Death'. The convicts were easily defeated and died in the battle or its aftermath.

1819  On 31st August, land granted to Colebee and Nurragingy by Gov. Macquarie is registered.

1820s   A number of land grants were made. The Native Institute, known as ' Black Town', was built at Plumpton to assimilate the Aborigines into European ways. It was abandoned by 1833.

1823  Native Institution (School for Aboriginal Children) moved from Parramatta to Black Town.

1824  Bungarribee House erected for John Campbell.

1827  Bushranger, Jack Donahue (Wild Colonial Boy) starts robbing in the Blacktown area.

1841  St. Bartholomew's Church, Prospect, dedicated by Bishop Broughton.

1850s - 60s
Original land grants were sub-divided.

1860  Railway comes to Blacktown with the first railway station called 'Black Town Road Station' (Great Western Line).

1862  First Post Office opens at the railway station. Becomes Blacktown in official records.

1864  Railway extended from Blacktown to Richmond.

1867   Prospect Public School opened.

1872  First butcher opens in Blacktown (Edward Palmer).

1875   Rooty Hill Public School opened.

1876   Christ Church opened in Flushcombe Road.

1877   Blacktown Public School opens.

1878  Riverstone Meatworks starts operating.

1880s Thousands of residential lots were released in Mount Druitt, Rooty Hill and Marsden Park.

1880  St. Andrew's Church of England opened in Seven Hills.

1887  Woodstock Fruit Cannery begins operating.

1888  Prospect Reservoir opened.

1889  First bakery opens in Blacktown (Sam Snyder).

1892  Services commence at St. Patrick's Church.

1906  The Shire of Blacktown (104 square miles) was created by Local Government Act of 1906 with the first Council meeting was held at the Rooty Hill School of Arts.

1912  First aircraft crash in Australia occurred along the railway line between Mt Druitt and Rooty Hill. First policeman appointed in Blacktown. First Council Chambers opened.

1914  Population was 6,000.

1918 Blacktown's first Savings Bank agency opens.

1920  First Blacktown Show held. First taxi service begins operating in Blacktown (John Miller).

1921   Blacktown's first picture theatre opens (Rivoli Theatre). Population was 7,381.

1930  Electricity came to Blacktown.

1933  Population was 13,724.

1939  Council Chambers extended. Post Office opens in Flushcombe Road.

1947  Population was 17,750. Seven Hills Housing Commission Estate commenced.

1950s — present
Large residential and industrial releases.

1952  Patrician Brothers' High School opened.

1953  Ian Clunies Ross Animal Research Laboratory (C.S.I.R.O.) opens at Prospect.

1954  Population was 31,748.

1955  Railway line electrified to Blacktown.

1957  Bungarribee House demolished. Ukrainian Church opened on Kildare Road.

1958  Ambulance Station opens at Blacktown.

1959  Russian Orthodox Church opened in Kempsey Street. Local Government boundaries change, leaving 98 square miles in Blacktown Shire. Marayong School opens.

1960   Blacktown linked to Sydney and Metropolitan telephone exchanges.

1961   Blacktown became a Municipality on 17th June. Blacktown Swimming Pool is opened.

1965   Blacktown Hospital opens.

1966  Population was 111,488. Blacktown Court House and Police Station opens. Housing Commission developments starts in Mt. Druitt.

1967  Blacktown Library opened.

1969  K-Mart opens in Blacktown. Blacktown TAFE opened.

1973  Westpoint Shopping Centre opens in Blacktown. Mt. Druitt Shopping Centre opened.

1974  McDonald's opens, Main Street, Blacktown. Blacktown-Richmond Railway line electrified. Village Twin Cinema opened in Blacktown.

1975 Population 165,000.

1978  2WS Radio Station started broadcasting.

1979  With even more growth, Blacktown became a City on 7th March. Mt. Druitt TAFE opened.

1981 Council granted its Coat of Arms. Population 181,139.

1982   Mt. Druitt Hospital opened.

1983  Parklea Prison opens.

1989  Parklea Markets begin operating.

1990  First race at Eastern Creek Raceway.

1991  First Australian 500 cc Grand Prix at Eastern Creek Raceway. Population was 211,613.

1992  B.H.P. Mini Steel Mill is opened at Rooty Hill. Phillip Parkway opened.

1993  2WS starts broadcasting on FM band.

1994  Blacktown Ring Road opened.

1995  New Railway Station and Bus Interchange opened in Blacktown. Opening of Nirimba Education Precinct (formerly naval base HMAS Nirimba).

1996  Population of the Blacktown Local Government Area at the census was 232,219.

2000  Blacktown City Olympic Park (Doonside) is the venue for Olympic softball and 2nd venue for Olympic baseball during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. New Blacktown Hospital Opens.

2001  St Bartholomew's Church restored and expressions of interest called for future use of the building. Population of Blacktown Local Government area at the census was 256,364.

2002  Golfer Greg Norman is part of a consortium buying property for a golf course and residential area in Schofields. Two new radio stations open in the area - Radio 2 and FM 103.2 (2CBA). Blacktown Arts Centre opens in former Christ Church, Flushcombe Road, Blacktown.

2003  Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope opens. Work begins on the M7 (Western Sydney Orbitol). Construction of a new central library at Blacktown commenced. New interchange at Mt Druitt station commenced. Construction of extensions to Westpoint Shopping Centre commenced.

2004  Bicentennial of the Battle of Vinegar Hill.

2005  Blacktown City Max Webber Library (corner Flushcombe Road and Alpha Street) opens.

2006  Blacktown celebrates its Centenary of Local Government. Emerton Leisure Centre opens.

2007  Blacktown Arts Centre re-opens after a $1.9 million refurbishment. Blacktown CitLy becomes the first Australian City to sign the Solar Cities agreement. Blacktown City opens its first Visitor Information & Heritage Centre (located in the former Blacktown Public School building on Flushcombe Rd, opposite the Max Webber Library).

2009  The Dennis Johnson Library at Stanhope Gardens opens in June. The extensions to Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope are finalised. The AFL/Cricket NSW Complex at Blacktown Olympic Park opens in July.

2011 Blacktown Olympic Park is renamed Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney and is home to the 2nd Sydney AFL Team, the GWS Giants and the Sydney Bluesox (baseball).

Blacktown's History