Menangle Park, New South Wales

Menangle Park is a suburb in Sydney the state of New South Wales, Australia. Menangle Park is located 56 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown. Menangle Park is a largely rural area and is part of the Macarthur region.

Menangle Park
Sydney, New South Wales
Menangle Park station
Population257 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2563
Elevation79 m (259 ft)
Location
  • 56 km (35 mi) south-west of Sydney
  • 55 km (34 mi) north-east of Mittagong
LGA(s)City of Campbelltown
State electorate(s)Campbelltown
Federal division(s)Macarthur
Suburbs around Menangle Park:
Spring Farm Mount Annan Glen Alpine
Camden Park Menangle Park Gilead
Menangle Menangle Gilead

Demographics

According to the 2016 census, Menangle Park had a population of 257 people, who are mostly Australian born. The area has a particularly high number of people from the Anglican church (41%), over double the proportion of Anglicans nationwide (17%). The median income of $443 per week is lower than the national average ($577).[2]

History

Menangle Park was originally home to the Tharawal people, and it was they who gave the name, transcribed as Manangle or Manhangle, to a small lagoon on the west bank of the Nepean River. The river was important to the Tharawal both for its consistent water supply as well as the fish and yabbies that could be caught there.[3][4]

When British settler Walter Davidson established a farm on the west side of the river in 1805, he named it Manangle after the lagoon. Another early settler Thomas Taber built Menangle House on the east side of the river, indicating the name was being used to describe the district. The Main South railway line came through in 1863[5] and stations were established on either side of the river but following a north–south line so that the station in what is now known as Menangle Park was initially called North Menangle.

With the establishment of the Menangle Park Racecourse in 1914, the suburb name became synonymous with the racecourse and only a few years later, the name was officially changed to Menangle Park. In 1920, the land to the east of the station was subdivided into 1-hectare (2.5-acre) lots to provide land for returned World War I servicemen. While there has been a push to open the area up for further subdivision since then, this has been resisted by the state government because of concern about the effects such development could have on the water quality of the Nepean.[6]

Heritage listings

Menangle Park has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Landmarks

Built in 1914, Menangle Park Paceway gave the suburb its name and is still its major landmark. Designed by local architect Alfred Payten, it lies on the river flats between the railway station and the Nepean River. In 1996, much of the Paceway activity was relocated to the newly upgraded Harold Park; it was then used mostly for training. In 2004–2007, the Paceway received a major upgrade, and was reopened for major racing events,[8] with the intention of concentrating all such events there after the closing of Harold Park.

By the western side of the current railway station are the remains of the Menangle Racecourse Junction. This comprised three sidings, and provided a Passenger Platform and a Horse Loading Platform. The platforms can still be seen, and they are considerably longer than the current station platform.[9]

To the north is an older landmark. Glenlee House was built by magistrate William Howe in 1824. It was purchased by the Macarthur Development Board in 1978 who restored it and opened it to the public.[10]

Present community

Menangle Park is effectively divided from the eastern neighbouring suburb of Gilead by the M31 Hume Motorway. On the eastern side of the motorway are Broughton Anglican College, established in 1986 in the premises of the former Mount Gilead Christian School, and The Campbelltown Steam and Machinery Museum. A Retirement Resort at Gilead has been planned for some years, but currently is not likely to proceed.[11] All these give their address as Menangle Park.

In the village proper on the western side, there are a small General Store, and a Rural Fire Brigade Shed, as well as the Menangle House Tavern, built 1834.[12] The Progress Hall has been destroyed.[13]

Further reading

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Menangle Park (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Menangle Park (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  3. "History of Menangle Park". Campbelltown City Council. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  4. Liston, C: Campbelltown: The Bicentennial History, Allen & Unwin, 1988: pp. 1–2.
  5. Bayley, W. A. 1973. Picton-Mittagong Loop-Line Railway. pp.11 Bulli: Austrail. ISBN 0-909597-14-6
  6. "History of Menangle Park". Campbelltown City Council. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  7. "Glenlee, outbuildings, garden & gatelodge". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H00009. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  8. Paceway History Archived 16 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Discussion on Railpage, March 2008.
  10. "History of Menangle Park". Campbelltown City Council. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
  11. The Australian 12 May 2008.
  12. History of Menangle House Archived 11 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Photo of Progress Hall dated 2003 Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  • Disused railway platform
    Disused railway platform
  • Entry to the Paceway
    Entry to the Paceway
  • Track at Paceway
    Track at Paceway
  • Paceway Pavilion
    Paceway Pavilion
  • Rural fire brigade shed
    Rural fire brigade shed
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