Campbelltown was founded in 1820 by Governor Lachlan Macquarie and named after his wife Elizabeth, whose maiden name was Campbell.
Located just 50 minutes southwest of the Sydney CBD, Campbelltown extends from Glenfield in the north, Menangle Park in the south, the Scenic Hills in the west and the Georges River in the east.
A great place to escape to, Macarthur, comprising the townships of Campbelltown and Camden, features an abundance of unexpected surprises, including adventurous endeavours, heritage attractions, entertainment activities and award winning dining, as well as plenty of opportunities to get up close with nature. Campbelltown offers a unique combination of city opportunities in a natural setting.
Within easy reach of major road and rail links to the Southern Highlands, Canberra, the Blue Mountains and the South Coast beaches,
Useful Facts
Size: 312 km2 Population : 150,000 Climate: Warm spring and summer, and mild autumn and winter temperatures. Average temperature range is 15° to 30°C in summer and 4° to 19°C in winter. The average annual rainfall is 800 mm.
Transport
Road 53km from Sydney, 233km from Canberra Rail Services to the Sydney CBD are very frequent Airport Sydney Local Busways provides the local bus service in and around the Campbelltown area. Campbelltown is also on the Sydney Trains network making access to the CBD easy.
Education
- University of Western Sydney
- Campbelltown College, South Western Sydney Institute TAFE
In addition to local education facilities, most of Sydney’s universities and TAFES can be reached by train ride in about 40 minutes.
Employment
Search for jobs in Campbelltown or Sydney CBD
Dining
Food lovers are well catered for, with an abundance of dining options. There are many pubs, and clubs in the Campbelltown area. The Macarthur Tavern is one the newest and said to be one of the best for good food and entertainment.
Sport Campbelltown is fast becoming renowned as a major sporting region, having played host to a number of national sporting events over the past few years. Almost any sport imaginable is available as a spectator or participant. There is an equestrian centre, aquatic centre, skate park, athletics centre, golf, horseriding, greyhound racing and more.
Arts & Culture
Campbelltown Arts Centre consists of exhibition spaces, workshop and studio spaces, a 180-seat performance studio, residency apartment, Sculpture Garden, Japanese Garden, amphitheatre and café. There are also plenty of cinemas and art galleries in the area.
Aboriginal culture The original inhabitants of the land were the Dharawal Aboriginal people and today, Campbelltown still has one of the largest populations of people identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in NSW.
There are many areas and specific sites of cultural significance that have been left by the Dharawal people. One of the most significant of these is what is known as the Bull Cave.
The legend of the Cowpastures explains how early European settlers stumbled on the region’s fertile farming land. In July 1788, just six months after European arrival, the early settlers lost two bulls and four cows.
Almost two years later, the cattle were sighted in the Menangle area. Local Aboriginal people saw the strange animals and sketched them on the walls of sandstone shelters along the Georges River, including in a cave now known as ‘Bull Cave’.
