City of Penrith

Local government area in New South Wales, Australia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The City of Penrith is a local government area in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The seat of the city is located in Penrith, located within Sydney about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Sydney central business district. It occupies part of the traditional lands of the Darug people. First incorporated as a municipality on 12 May 1871, on 1 January 1949, the municipalities of Penrith, St Marys and Castlereagh and part of the Nepean Shire amalgamated to form a new Municipality of Penrith. Penrith was declared a City on 21 October 1959, and expanded westwards to include Emu Plains and Emu Heights, formerly part of the City of Blue Mountains, on 25 October 1963. As of the 2021 census the City of Penrith had an estimated population of 217,664.[1] It is a member council of the Hawkesbury River County Council.

CountryAustralia
Established12 May 1871 (1871-05-12) (Municipality)
21 October 1959 (1959-10-21) (City)
Council seatCivic Centre, Penrith
Time zoneUTC+10 (AEST)
Quick facts Country, State ...
City of Penrith
Local government area
Location in Metropolitan Sydney
Location in Metropolitan Sydney
Official logo of City of Penrith
Coordinates: 33°45′S 150°42′E
CountryAustralia
StateNew South Wales
RegionGreater Western Sydney
Established12 May 1871 (1871-05-12) (Municipality)
21 October 1959 (1959-10-21) (City)
Council seatCivic Centre, Penrith
Government
 • MayorTodd Carney
 • State electorates
 • Federal divisions
Area
 • Total
404.9 km2 (156.3 sq mi)
Population
 • Total217,664 (2021 census)[1] (24th)
 • Density537.57/km2 (1,392.31/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+10 (AEST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+11 (AEDT)
WebsiteCity of Penrith
LGAs around City of Penrith
Hawkesbury Hawkesbury Hawkesbury
Blue Mountains City of Penrith Blacktown
Wollondilly Liverpool Fairfield
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The mayor of the City of Penrith is Todd Carney, a member of the Labor Party (no relation to the NRL player).[2]

Suburbs and localities in the local government area

The following suburbs and localities are located within the City of Penrith:

Council history

Penrith Community Centre, on the corner of Henry and Station streets, was the Penrith Council Chambers from November 1959 to December 1993.
Plaque commemorating the Penrith municipal centenary unveiled on the Penrith Council Chambers by Governor Sir Roden Cutler.

The Municipality of Penrith was incorporated on 12 May 1871 under the Municipalities Act 1858 (NSW). On 3 March 1890, St Marys was separately incorporated, and on 26 July 1893 and 9 September 1895, Mulgoa and Castlereagh followed respectively. In 1913, Mulgoa became the "A" Riding of the neighbouring Nepean Shire.[3]

On 1 January 1949, under the Local Government (Areas) Act 1948, the Municipalities of Penrith, St Marys and Castlereagh and A Riding of the Nepean Shire amalgamated to form a new Municipality of Penrith. It was declared a City on 21 October 1959, and expanded westwards to include Emu Plains and Emu Heights, formerly part of the City of Blue Mountains, on 25 October 1963.[3]

Demographics

At the 2021 census, there were 217,644 people in the Penrith local government area, of these 49.4% were male and 50.6% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 5% of the population; notably above the national average of 3.4%. The median age of people in the City of Penrith was 35 years; notably below the national median of 39 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 21.2% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 12.9% of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 45.5% were married and 12.3% were either divorced or separated.[4]

Population growth in the City of Penrith between the 2001 Census and the 2006 census was 0.15% and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, population growth was 3.68%. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78% and 8.32% respectively, population growth in the Penrith local government area was significantly lower than the national average.[5] The median weekly income for residents within the City of Penrith was on with par with the national average.[4]

At the 2021 census, the proportion of residents in the Penrith local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon exceeded 63.5% of all residents (national average was 58.4%). In excess of 28.7% of all residents in the City of Penrith area nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2021 census, which was fairly higher than the national average of 20%. Meanwhile, as at the Census date, compared to the national average, households in the Penrith local government area had a marginally lower than average proportion (23.9%) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 24.8%); and a higher proportion (74.2%) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 72%).[4]

More information Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area, Census year ...
Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area
Census year2001[5]2006[6]2011[4]2016[7] 2021
PopulationEstimated residents on census night171,870172,140178,467196,066 217,644
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales7thDecrease 8th 13th 9th
% of New South Wales population2.58% 2.63% 2.67%
% of Australian population0.92%Decrease 0.87%Decrease 0.83% 0.84% 0.85%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		Australian29.1% 26.3% 33.3%
English25.2% 24.5% 30.2%
Irish6.8% 7.2% 8.2%
Scottish5.3% 5.5% 6.7%
Maltese3.0% 2.8%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		Arabic1.3%Increase 1.5%Increase 1.6% 1.6% 1.8%
Tagalog1.3%Decrease 0.8%Increase 1.0% 1.1% 1.2%
Italian1.0%Decrease 0.9%Decrease 0.8% 0.9%
Maltese0.8%Steady 0.8%Steady 0.8% 0.7%
Hindi0.6%Increase 0.7%Increase 0.8% 0.9% 1.1%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		Catholic34.5%Increase 34.9%Increase 35.2% 32.1% 28.7%
Anglican26.1%Decrease 24.7%Decrease 23.6% 18.4% 13.1%
No religion9.8%Increase 11.9%Increase 14.0% 21.1% 28.9%
Presbyterian and Reformed3.4%Decrease 3.1%Decrease 2.9%
Uniting Church3.7%Decrease 3.1%Decrease 2.7%
Median weekly incomes
Personal incomeMedian weekly personal incomeA$517A$623 A$728 A$866
% of Australian median income110.9%108.0% 109.6% 106.52%
Family incomeMedian weekly family incomeA$1,147A$1,582 A$1,858 A$2188
% of Australian median income111.7%106.8% 107.1% 100.14%
Household incomeMedian weekly household incomeA$1,285A$1,398 A$1,658 A$1903
% of Australian median income109.7%113.3% 111.5% 104.05%
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Council

Quick facts Leadership, Mayor ...
City of Penrith Council
Leadership
Mayor
Todd Carney (Labor)
Deputy Mayor
Ross Fowler OAM (Liberal)
Structure
Seats15 councillors
Map of elected councillors by party in each of the 3 wards[8]
Political groups
Majority (9)
  •   Labor (9)
Others (6)
  Independent (3)   Liberal (2)   Libertarian (1)
Elections
Single transferable vote
Last election
14 September 2024
Next election
16 September 2028
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Penrith City Council is composed of fifteen councillors elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing five councillors. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council for a two-year term, while the deputy mayor is elected for a single-year term only.

Current composition

The most recent election was held on 14 September 2024. The Composition by ward is as follows:

More information Ward, Councillor ...
WardCouncillorPartyNotes
East Ward[9] Libby Austin Labor
Todd Carney Labor Mayor 2023–Present; Deputy Mayor 2022–2023
Sarbjeet Kaur Labor
Edwin Misfud Labor
Garion Thain Labor
North Ward[10] John Thain Labor Mayor 2005–2006, 2016–2018; Deputy Mayor 2004–2005[11]
Robin Cook Labor
Ross Fowler OAM Liberal Mayor 1995–1996, 2013–2015, 2018–2020; Deputy Mayor 2015–2016, 2024—Present
Reece Nuttall Liberal
Glenn Gardiner Independent
South Ward[12] Hollie Mclean Labor
Kirstie Boerst Labor
Vanessa Pollak Libertarian
Sue Day Independent
Faithe Skinner Independent
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Penrith Civic Centre, designed by Feiko Bouman on 601 High Street, has been the council seat since December 1993.

Election methods

More information Term, Aldermen/Councillors ...
TermAldermen/CouncillorsWardsMayor
1871–1891 9 No wards Annual election by Aldermen
1891–1893 12
1893–1948 9
1949–1950 24 Ward One (9, Penrith)
Ward Two (9, St Marys)
Ward Three (3, Nepean)
Ward Four (3, Castlereagh)
1950–1959 12 (3 per ward) Ward One
Ward Two
Ward Three
Ward Four
1959–1963 13 (3 per ward: 12 Aldermen, 1 Mayor) Direct triennial election
1963–1968 13 (4 per ward: 12 Aldermen, 1 Mayor) North Ward
South Ward
East Ward
1968–1987 12 (4 per ward) Annual election by Aldermen/Councillors
1987–date 15 (5 per ward)
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Election results

2024

This section is an excerpt from 2024 Penrith City Council election § Ward results.[edit]
More information Party, Votes ...
2024 Penrith City Council election: Ward results
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 26,544 33.9 −0.6 9 Increase 4
  Independents 31,490 26.9 −2.9 3 Decrease 1
  Liberal 15,303 19.5 −13.8 2 Decrease 4
  Libertarian 11,849 15.1 +15.1 1 Increase 1
  Greens 3,522 4.5 +4.5 0 Steady
 Formal votes 78,282 91.6
 Informal votes 7,221 8.4
 Total 85,503 100.0 15
 Registered voters / turnout 151,015 83.7[a]
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2021

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2021 New South Wales local elections in Outer Sydney § Penrith.[edit]

The election was conducted by the Australian Election Company.[13]

More information Party, Votes ...
2021 New South Wales local elections: Penrith[13]
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 36,376 34.5 –6.2 5
  Liberal 35,081 33.3 +2.9 6
  Independent 10,336 9.8
  Sue Day Independent 6,859 6.5 1
  The North Ward Independents 5,820 5.5 1
  MARCUS CORNISH 3,868 3.7
  WE DESERVE BETTER 3,073 2.9 1
  Australia First 2,549 2.4 +2.4
  People Before Politics 1,534 1.5
 Formal votes 105,496
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Mayors

More information Mayor, Party ...
Mayor Party Term Notes
Patros Athanas Tornaros Labor 1 January 1949 – 5 December 1949 [14]
Bill Chapman Independent 5 December 1949 – 11 December 1956 [15]
Bernard Noel Fowler Independent 11 December 1956 – 11 December 1957 [16]
Leo Joseph Spies Labor 11 December 1957 – 19 April 1961 [17][18][19][20][21][22]
Bill Chapman Independent 3 June 1961 – December 1968 [23][24]
Ron Mulock Labor December 1968 – September 1971 [25]
Brian King Independent September 1971 – September 1974 [25]
Eileen Cammack OBE Independent September 1974 – September 1977 [26]
Brian King AM Independent September 1977 – September 1985 [25]
Kevin Dwyer OAM Independent September 1985 – September 1987 [25]
Rodney Field Independent September 1987 – September 1988 [25]
Kevin Dwyer OAM Independent September 1988 – September 1989 [25]
Brian King AM Independent September 1989 – September 1990 [25][27]
Faye Lo Po' AM Labor September 1990 – September 1991 [25]
Tony Aquilina September 1991 – September 1992 [25]
Bill Gayed Independent September 1992 – September 1993 [25]
Diane Beamer Labor September 1993 – September 1994 [25]
Pat Sheehy September 1994 – September 1995 [25]
Ross Fowler Independent September 1995 – September 1996 [25]
Kevin Crameri OAM Independent September 1996 – September 1997 [25]
Kevin Dwyer OAM Independent September 1997 – September 1998 [25][28]
John Bateman OAM Independent September 1998 – September 2000 [25]
David Bradbury Labor September 2000 – September 2001 [25]
Pat Sheehy September 2001 – September 2002 [25]
Greg Davies September 2002 – April 2004 [25]
David Bradbury April 2004 – September 2004 [25]
Jackie Greenow Independent September 2004 – September 2005 [25]
John Thain Labor September 2005 – September 2006 [25]
Pat Sheehy AM September 2006 – September 2007 [25][29]
Greg Davies September 2007 – September 2008 [25]
Jim Aitken OAM Independent September 2008 – September 2009 [25][30]
Kevin Crameri OAM Independent September 2009 – September 2011 [25][31][32]
Greg Davies Labor September 2011 – September 2012 [25]
Mark Davies Liberal September 2012 – 23 September 2013 [25]
Ross Fowler OAM 23 September 2013 – September 2015 [33][34]
Karen McKeown OAM Labor September 2015 – 26 September 2016 [25]
John Thain 26 September 2016 – 24 September 2018 [11]
Ross Fowler OAM Liberal 24 September 2018 – 28 September 2020 [35]
Karen McKeown OAM Labor 28 September 2020 – 13 January 2022 [2]
Tricia Hitchen Liberal 13 January 2022 – October 2023 [36]
Todd Carney Labor October 2023 – present
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Media

The City of Penrith is served by a weekly newspaper, The Western Weekender, which was founded in 1991. It produces a print edition each Friday as well as a digital news service. The newspaper is independently owned.

Sister cities

Since it signed its first agreement with Fujieda, Japan in 1984, Penrith City has gradually expanded its sister cities and international links programme. Presently Penrith has links with:

  • United Kingdom Penrith, Cumbria, England – Sister City
  • Japan Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan – Sister City
  • Japan Hakusan City (incorporating Matto City), Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan – Friendship City
  • China Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China – Friendship City
  • China Xicheng District of Beijing City, China – Mutual Co-operation Agreement
  • South Korea Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea – Mutual Co-operation Agreement

Heritage listings

The City of Penrith has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

References

External links

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