Perhaps you’ve noticed the unique blend of history and modernity that defines Casula. This suburb of Sydney holds secrets waiting to be uncovered. Casula lies 34 kilometers southwest of Sydney’s central business district. It’s part of the City of Liverpool local government area.
The original inhabitants of Casula were the Tharawal people. They are part of the greater Eora nation. “Tharawal” refers to the country and people of greater southern and southwestern Sydney. The superb lyrebird is the totem animal for the Tharawal country.
European settlement in Casula began with agriculturalists in the 19th century. Richard Guise was one of the first. He named his farm “Casula”. The area became known for poultry farming, market gardening, and fruit growing. Glenfield Farm is another notable farm. It dates back to around 1817. Charles Throsby, a politician and explorer, originally owned it. Glenfield Farm is the oldest continuously worked farm in Australia.
During World War I, Casula hosted a large Australian Imperial Forces recruitment and training reserve. This is reflected in the name of Reserve Road. In 1916, a riot broke out at the camp. Soldiers rebelled against the training. They marched on Liverpool, ransacked pubs, and hijacked trains. Military Police intervened. One rioter was killed.
In 1918, Walter Ingham Sr. gifted 42 acres of bushland in Casula to his son, Walter. Walter’s sons, Jack and Bob, transformed a small chicken breeding operation into Inghams Enterprises. It became Australia’s largest producer of chickens and turkeys. Inghams is now headquartered in Liverpool.
The Casula Post Office served the community from 1924 to 1979. A Liverpool South office was renamed Cross Roads in 1964 and Casula Mall in 1990. It remains open.
Casula remained heavily farmed until the late 1950s. The central and southern parts were subdivided and developed. Yet, pockets of undeveloped land remain.
Casula boasts several heritage-listed sites. Glenfield Farm at 88 Leacocks Lane is one of them.
The ecological community is known as the Cumberland Plain Woodland. It once covered vast areas of southwestern Sydney, including Casula. Leacock Regional Park is home to one of the last remaining stands of this woodland. It also protects the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Land Snail.
The Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre stands next to the Casula railway station. It was a former 1950s power station. It fell into disrepair but reopened in 1994 as an arts centre. The Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre hosts exhibitions and arts events. Since 2016, it has hosted the Blake Prize, an art prize focused on spirituality.
Casula Mall opened in 1986. It features a Kmart, a Coles, and about forty specialty shops. Crossroads Homemaker Centre is another shopping center. It houses Bunnings Warehouse, Costco, and various furniture and electrical stores.
Casula is bordered by the M5 Motorway. The Hume Highway also runs through it. Casula railway station is on the Main Southern railway line.
Casula Primary School opened in 1959. Casula High School followed in 1973. All Saints Catholic Senior College opened in 1987.
Casula is known for its diverse demographics. It features a mix of socio-economic levels.
So, as you explore Casula, remember its layers of history. From the Tharawal people to the agriculturalists, from wartime events to industrial growth, Casula is a place of constant change. It is a place where the past and present intertwine.