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.

St. Bartholomew's Church, Prospect Sydney Motor Sport Park

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).
2008	Development applications for AFL and Cricket facilities to be built at Blacktown Olympic Park are approved. Tenders are called for the design and construction of a $10.4 million expansion to Blacktown Leisure Centre, which will include the Dennis Johnson Branch Library.
2009	Dennis Johnson branch library and Blacktown Leisure Centre extensions are officially opened. AFL and Cricket precinct at Blacktown Olympic Park are opened. Plans are announced for a locally based AFL team to compete in the national league in 2012.
2010	Riverstone celebrated the bicentenary of the granting of land to Maurice O'Connell with a year long programme of events. Darug Research and Information Centre opened at Seven Hills. The Village Green at Blacktown was redeveloped. Almost 1300 hectares were rezoned in the Riverstone area for residential development. Residential development of the new suburb Bungarribee commenced. Great Western Sydney Giants Australian Football League team was formed.
2011	Wet 'n' Wild theme park proposed for Prospect. Redevelopment of Blacktown Showground and Francis Park commenced. Mt Druitt Library site redeveloped as a library and community centre. Community Resource Hub opened in Ropes Crossing.
2012	Blacktown Football Park opened at Rooty Hill. Work began on the redevelopment of Blacktown Showground. Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Garden opened at Nurragingy Reserve. Neighbourhood Centre at Stonecutters Ridge opened. Large recycling plant opened at Eastern Creek. New commuter car park under construction at Mt Druitt. Eastern Creek Raceway changed its name to Sydney Motorsport Park. Construction of Wet 'n' Wild theme park at Prospect began.