Sweet Auburn. Loveliest village of the plain. This isn’t just a line from Oliver Goldsmith’s poem. It is also the inspiration behind the name of this very suburb. Auburn.
Auburn’s story begins long before European settlement. Aboriginal people once used this area as a marketplace. They exchanged goods and held ritual battles here. It was a Law Place for ceremonies. The Wangal and Wategoro clans were the original inhabitants.
In 1788, Captain John Hunter was the first European to set foot here. He sailed up the Parramatta River. Soon after, Governor Phillip explored inland. They named the Duck River. They thought they saw ducks. These were actually Eastern Swamp Hens.
Auburn was established as a free agricultural settlement in 1793. Governor Phillip wanted free settlers. He believed they could create a self-sufficient country with convict assistance. The first land grants were given to Thomas Rose and others. They called their farms Liberty Plains. They were proud to be free men in a colony of felons. Their motto was Liberty, with steady zeal.
In the late 1870s, a township was surveyed. It was 11 miles from Sydney on the railway line. It was divided into fine township allotments. This new subdivision was named Auburn after Goldsmith’s poem. Advertisements quoted the poem. They described Auburn as the loveliest village.
Fred Chisholm was an early settler. He had an estate near the railway station. In the 1880s, John Buchanan bought land from him. He built Duncraggarn Hall. It was a two-story Italianate mansion. In 1892, the Sisters of Charity bought the estate. They turned it into St Joseph’s Hospital. It later became a retirement village.
Auburn Council was formed in 1948. Auburn and Lidcombe Councils merged. In 2006, it became the City of Auburn. But in 2016, it was split between other local government areas.
Auburn became a multicultural hub in the late 20th century. Immigrants from Ukraine, Russia, Italy, and Greece arrived. Later, people came from Turkey and Vietnam. More recently, immigrants have settled here from China, South Korea, Nepal, Iran, and Afghanistan.
According to the 2021 census, Auburn has over 39000 residents. The most common ancestries are Chinese, Nepalese, Turkish, and Lebanese. Many languages are spoken here. These include Mandarin, Nepali, Arabic, and Turkish.
Auburn Railway Station is on the Sydney Trains network. Many bus services also operate here. Auburn has a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial areas.
The commercial area is near the railway station. You’ll find many multicultural restaurants and cafes. This reflects Auburn’s diverse community.
Auburn has several landmarks. Auburn Hospital provides 24-hour emergency facilities. The Auburn Botanical Gardens are a beautiful place to visit.
Auburn is also home to several religious structures. The Auburn Gallipoli Mosque is a significant landmark. It was funded by the Turkish community. Its name reflects the legacy of Gallipoli. It symbolises the bond between Australia and the Australian Turkish Muslim community. The Sri Mandir is Australia’s oldest Hindu temple. The Auburn Baptist Church has been here since 1928.
Auburn continues to evolve. It embraces its multicultural identity. It is a place of community. It is a place of growth. It remains a vibrant part of Sydney’s west.