Chester Hill

Chester Hill Sydney,New South Wales
Nugent Park, Chester Hill
Population	14,007 (2021 census)
Postcode(s)	2162
Elevation	42 m (138 ft)
Location	25 km (16 mi) west ofSydney CBD
LGA(s)	City of Canterbury-Bankstown Cumberland Council
State electorate(s)	Auburn Bankstown
Federal division(s)	Blaxland
Suburbsaround Chester Hill: Guildford Old Guildford South Granville Auburn Villawood Chester Hill Sefton Bass Hill Bass Hill Bass Hill

Chester Hill,asuburbof Sydney, located 25 kilometres west of theSydney central business district,in the state ofNew South Wales,Australia.Chester Hill is mostly in theCity of Canterbury-Bankstown,with a minor part in the northeast in theCumberland Councillocal government area.Part ofWestern Sydney,Chester Hill shares thepostcodeof 2162 with the neighbouring suburb ofSefton,to the east.

History

An early market garden and orchard area north-west of Bankstown, it developed into a residential and light industrial area after the Regents Park railway line came through in 1924. The construction site of the station was known asBoroya,an Aboriginal word of unknown meaning, but when the station opened on 8 October 1924, it carried the nameChester Hill.

A local resident, Miss H. A. McMillan first suggested that the new railway station should be called Hillcrest (after an estate nearRegent's Park), but many objections were raised and the name was discarded.Miss McMillan then suggested Hillchester, after the quaint town ofChesterin England, but this also was not well received by the community. Suggesting yet another name, McMillian recommended Chester Hill which was received far better than her previous suggestions.

The area that became Chester Hill was originally the southern part of John Thomas Campbell'sCampbell Hillestate, which covered 1,000 acres (4.0 km²) in 1815 between Parramatta, Liverpool and Woodville Roads. Much of this land remained undeveloped until the first subdivision was made in the 1920s when the first shops were also built. The post office opened in July 1934, and the first public school in January 1945.

A significant tract of land between Priam and Hector Streets had been occupied by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from the 1960s.This area was used for accommodation and mess facilities for the nearby 2 Stores Depot (Regents Park) and the Ground Equipment Maintenance Squadron (Villawood). These properties were disposed of and subsequently acquired first by the Southern Cross Bible College and then by Salamah (Muslim) College.

Commercial area

Waldron Road shops

Chester Square in Chester Hill is the main shopping centre, catering for the catchment of Chester Hill, Sefton,BirrongandBass Hill,and directly situated behind the main road of Waldron Road. Amenities in the suburb include the Chester Hill branch of the Bankstown City Library, Chester Hill Fire Station and a community centre.

Transport

• Chester Hill railway stationis on theMain Southern railway line.
• Bus links toParramattaandBankstown

Schools

There are five schools in Chester Hill:Chester Hill Public Schooland Chester Hill North Public School, which cater for Years K-6,Chester Hill High Schoolcatering for Years 7–12, Sefton High School which is a partially selective high school also catering for Years 7-12 andSalamah College(sister school ofAl Amanah College) established in 2012.

Parks and recreation

Parks in Chester Hill include Campbell Hill Reserve, Everley Park, Nugent Park, theTerry Lamb Complex,which incorporates Frank Bamfield Oval, and Abbott Park which is home to the Chester Hill YouthCricketClub and Chester Hill Hornets JuniorRugby leagueClub. Recreational amenities also include an RSL Club,bowlingclub andcommunity garden.

Churches

Churches in the suburb include St John Mark's Parish Church (Anglican), Proctor Parade (that replaced St Mark's Church, Chester Hill and St John's Church, Sefton), Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, Proctor Parade (Sefton – but including Chester Hill within its parish), Hope Central Church (formerly Priam, now Christina Road) Campbell Hill Road, St Columba's Presbyterian Church, Baptist Church (both in Priam Street) and Hope Harvest Centre: Christian Mission Fellowship.

Population

Demographics

According to the2021 census,there were 14,007 residents in Chester Hill. 49.0% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were Vietnam 9.7%, Lebanon 7.5%, China 4.6%, Iraq 1.6% and Afghanistan 1.5%. In Chester Hill 28.2% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Arabic 25.2%, Vietnamese 11.5%, Mandarin 4.7%, Cantonese 4.1% and Urdu 1.5%. The most common responses for religion were Islam 34.8%, Catholic 15.6%, No Religion 14.1% and Buddhism 9.1%. The median household weekly income in Chester Hill was $1,355, lower than the national median of $1,746.

Chester Hill is officially the gun capital of Sydney, with one registered firearm for every 3.8 residents according to 2015 police data.

Notable residents

• Christian Heim– composer and medical researcher who grew up in Chester Hill
• Terry Lamb– former professionalrugby leaguefootballer with theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogsand Australian Test side
• Rebecca Rippon– Australian women's water polo player and 2008Beijing Olympic Gamesbronze medallist
• Melissa Rippon– Australian women's water polo player winner of a 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games bronze medal
• Ivan Milat– serial killer known for theBackpacker Murders
• Michael McCann (field hockey)– Australian Men's hockey Olympic gold medal (2004 Athens)

Politics

Chester Hill is part of theCity of Canterbury-Bankstown.The area to the north of the pipeline is part of theCumberland Council.For state elections, Chester Hill is split between the electorates of Bankstown and Auburn. Federally, it lies in thedivision of Blaxland.