Geography
Located just 30 km west of the Sydney CBD, Girraween is a suburb in the local government area of Cumberland Council. It is bordered on the north and west by Toongabbie. To its east is Pendle Hill while to its south is Greystanes.
History
Girraween is derived from an Aboriginal word that means “the place where flowers grow”. Prior to being settled in the early 1900s, it was part of what was known as Major Wentworth’s farm.
Dr. D’Arcy Wentworth was a surgeon who arrived on the Second Fleet convict transport “Neptune” in 1790. As one of the early settlers, he received 2,750 acres of land which extended over most of Toongabbie, Girraween, Pendle Hill, Wentworthville (named after Dr. Wentworth), and parts of Greystanes.
Demographics
As of the 2016 census, Girraween had a population of 5,590. Of that, 37.9% of people were born in Australia. This number shrank compared to 2011’s census which placed the figure at 44.6%. The other top countries of birth in order are India 26.9%, Sri Lanka 10.6%, Malta 2.5%, Philippines and China 2.2%.
At 70%, a majority of people spoke a language besides English at home. The commonly-spoken languages include Tamil 18.3%, Gujarati 9.4%, Hindi 6.4%, Telugu 4.4% and Maltese 2.5%. Hinduism is the top religious affiliation at 42.5%, followed by Catholicism at 19.8%, and No Religion constituting 8.5%.
Housing and Community
Due to its proximity to Parramatta and Blacktown and the existence of good primary and secondary schools, Girraween is a sought-after area. Most of the homes are on decent and good-sized plots of land which is characteristic of typical Western Sydney suburbs. In Girraween, residents are treated to a homey suburb with peaceful streets. Among the best areas to live in are Girraween Rd, Gilba Rd, Oramzi Rd & Tungarra Rd.
The median home price in Girraween sits at around $864,000. Renters can expect to pay an average rent of $500 per week, where property owners have the potential to earn a 3.01% increase in gross rental yield.
Education
Girraween is home to two government school catchments. The selective Girraween High School is especially popular to parents and migrant families who are keen to send their children to one of the best high schools in the area. The primary school, Girraween Public School, matches this with quality and holistic education where kids have the opportunity to further their interests. Girraween also has St. Anthony’s Girraween, which is a Catholic school.
Transportation
The Hills Bus 705 services Girraween from Toongabbie to Parramatta. While there is no railway station in the suburb itself, it is quite near the Pendle Hill and Toongabbie railway stations.
Recreation
Girraween has parks and recreation areas including the Girraween Park where children can play football and cricket. Over at CV Kelly Park, the Girraween Little Athletics Club offers a wide range of activities such as running, jumping, throwing, and walking events for 4-16-year-olds.