What if I told you Werrington is more than just a suburb? It is a place with layers of history waiting to be peeled back. Werrington sits 49.3 kilometres west of Sydney’s central business district. It is part of the City of Penrith. This area was once home to the Gomerrigal-Tongarra people. They spoke the Darug language. They lived by the Dreamtime laws. They hunted kangaroos and gathered native plants.
Now let’s jump to European settlement in Werrington. The first land grant was to Mary King in 1806. She was the youngest daughter of Governor Philip Gidley King. But Mary did not move here until 1827. She married Robert Copeland Lethbridge. They built a house and named it Werrington. They farmed the land until 1865. The Lethbridge family’s name lives on. Look for Lethbridge Street and Lethbridge Avenue.
Werrington House still stands on Rugby Street. Between 1860 and 1872, it was leased to New South Wales premier Henry Parkes. He even had a private railway platform built nearby. This platform opened to the public in 1878 as Parkes Platform. It was later renamed Werrington in 1893. The railway station became the heart of the growing town. From the 1880s, the Werrington estate was sold and subdivided. The Werrington Post Office opened in 1891.
Werrington has several heritage-listed sites. One is Rose Cottage and Early Slab Hut on Water Street. In the 2021 Census, Werrington had 5,328 residents. Many identify as Australian or English. But there are also significant Indian, Irish, and Filipino communities. A little over half the people were born in Australia. Many speak only English at home.
Werrington is also home to Werrington Park Corporate Centre. It is next to the Western Sydney University Werrington South campus. The suburb offers various educational facilities. There is Werrington Public School. The Western Sydney University has campuses in Werrington South and North.
Sports enthusiasts will find plenty to do in Werrington. There is the Colonial Golf Course and Parkes Avenue Tennis Club. You can also visit Parkes Avenue Sports Complex and Penrith Sports Stadium. Need medical attention? Werrington has a medical centre on Victoria Street.
Getting around Werrington is easy. Werrington railway station is on the Main Western line. The station was upgraded in 2007. It now has better access for the disabled. Werrington is also served by the Great Western Highway and the M4 Motorway.
Werrington has evolved from Aboriginal lands. It went through colonial settlement. It grew into a modern suburb. It continues to balance history with progress. From its heritage-listed sites to its diverse community, Werrington offers something for everyone. Take a moment to appreciate how Werrington’s past shapes its present.