Bella Vista Farm is an early part of the Macarthur family pastoral empire and an important site in the history of colonial NSW.
Category: Urban growth
Beulah and Sydney’s Urban Sprawl
Beulah estate, Sydney's urban sprawl and the Appin Road
Lost Campbelltown heritage
The lost built heritage of a country town on Sydney's urban fringe at Campbelltown
Ben Linden Narellan An Edwardian Gem
Ben Linden in Narellan is a notable Edwardian cottage representing early twentieth-century Australian architecture. The style emerged after the Federation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, influenced by English Edwardian houses but tailored to suit local conditions. This housing style provides insight into the cultural heritage of Camden and the people who built and lived in these houses.
Elderslie, a suburb on Sydney’s fringe
A history of continuity and change Elderslie is a suburb of Camden, the traditional land of the Dharawal people. It lies on the southern end of the Camden Municipality, 62 km southwest of Sydney, on the rural-urban fringe. Elderslie borders the Nepean River to the west, Narellan Creek to the north, Camden By-Pass to the… Continue reading Elderslie, a suburb on Sydney’s fringe
Westies, Bogans and Yobbos. What’s in a name?
The article explores regional identity in Sydney's Macarthur district, focusing on the communities of Campbelltown, Camden, and Picton. It discusses the strong local attachment to identity, which is challenged by perceptions of western Sydney as a cultural wasteland. Jeff McGill’s criticism of regional labeling sparked significant community response, revealing a conflict over identification and stereotypes. While Macarthur's regionalism reflects urban expansion, it struggles for acceptance amidst historical, cultural, and emotional ties that residents hold with their distinct localities.
Interwar Camden, the heritage of a country town
During the interwar period, Camden experienced economic growth driven by dairy and coal industries. The town's population grew by over 35%, making it a vital commercial and administrative center. The Hume Highway and railway brought modern influences, leading to developments such as motor industry, cinemas, and the airfield. Camden has maintained its bucolic charm, but has also experienced urbanization pressure. The town centre has many buildings from the interwar period.
Pictorial History of Camden and District
The history of the Camden District is told in a recent publication that has been recently been republished by Kingsclear Books. Pictorial History of Camden & District.
Sydney’s urban fringe: a transition zone of hope and loss
Sydney’s rural-urban fringe is a site of winners and losers. It is a landscape where dreams are fulfilled and memories are lost. The promises of land developers in master-planned suburban utopias meet the hope and expectations of newcomers.
Sydney’s urban sprawl invades the Macarthur region
Urban sprawl has invaded the Macarthur region. It is re-run of the planning policies of the 1970s.
