Werrington County

Location: Where is Werrington County?

Werrington County, New South Wales, Australia, is located within the City of Penrith. This suburb located west of Werrington and South Creeks, and east of Werrington Downs. It is a modern residential suburb with the vast open land of the St Marys ADI site located along its northern border. Originally, the area was farm land and orchards. Tanneries were once located along Werrington Creek. This suburb has a natural bushland boundary on its northern and eastern side. Werrington County is close to many recreational activities such as Dunheved and Colonial golf courses and the Kingsway sporting fields. This suburb has easy access to the urban centres of St Marys and Penrith.

Postcode: 2747 Population: 3,645 (2016 Census) Distance from Sydney: 50 km NW
Land Area: 2.09 km2 Density: 22.76 people per hectare (2016) Werrington County on Google Maps

Schools

Landscape Profile

  • Remnant Native Vegetation Survey: Listed under Cambridge Park – SITE No: CMP10
  • Werrington Creek: Werrington Creek is a small creek that flows into South Creek. It has its origins in Orchard Hills and runs through the University of Western Sydney campus and the suburbs of Kingswood, Werrington,  and Werrington County. The creek is a catchment for a number of diverse urban land uses. It is capable of capturing high volumes of runoff from rainfall. Werrington Creek rehabilitation is fully supported by the local Werrington Creek Landcare Group.
  • Werrington Lake: This man-made lake was conceived as a solution to help relieve flooding around Werrington Creek Removal of earth began in late 1981. The earth was used to create the rail overpass at Werrington. Lakes construction began in 1982. Stage One cost $225,000. An additional three stages followed, beginning in 1984. The cost of these stages exceeded $500,000. Council constructed walkways, bridges and wharves. Werrington Lakes are a haven for students undertaking wetland and water conservation studies. It has also become a recreational area for picnickers and sports enthusiasts. The area has naturally attracted a great variety of native birdlife.

Aboriginal History

For more general information on the Dharug people please see The Dharug Story by Chris Tobin (Penrith City Library collection 994.004 DHA). The Aboriginal population of Werrington County from the 2016 Census was 4.7%.

Origin of the place name – Werrington

The suburb of Werrington County is named after Werrington Estate. Werrington County forms part of Mary and Elizabeth King’s grants. It was developed as a residential estate from the late 1970s and by the mid 1980s was almost built out.

Mary King, the youngest daughter of Governor Philip King received a land grant of 790 acres in 1806. After her marriage to Robert Copland Lethbridge in Cornwall she returned to NSW with her husband. Lethbridge purchased an additional 600 acres adjoining his wife’s grant. It is on this land that their home Werrington House was built and completed in 1832. The house remained in the King-Lethbridge family until quite recently. The house is located in Rugby Street, Werrington County.

Historical Timeline

1806Land grants to Elizabeth and Mary King
182724 JanuaryRobert & Mary Lethbridge arrive in Sydney
1832Werrington House completed
1860Sir Henry Parkes leased Werrington House for 12 years
1865Robert Copland Lethbridge died
1860Henry Parkes leases Werrington House for 10 years
188317 MarchWerrington estate for sale including Werrington Park House
19593 JuneThorndale School opened
197320 OctoberWerrington Community Hall opened
1981 Land removed from around Werrington Creek to form Werrington Lake
1982 Werrington County Public School established
1983Land lots sold for $27,000
1988Werrington County Public School moved to its present location.

 Historic buildings & places

Werrington House:

Werrington House is a two storey sandstone house, built between 1829-1832 for Robert Copland Lethbridge and his wife Mary. It features an unusually formal facade with fine cut ashlar stone, decorated pilasters and architrave to the front door, and a false window to maintain symmetry.

werrington-house_001_webphoto by Craig Gilchrist Builder

For photos and more information on Werrington County, search Penrith City Library’s catalogue using an All Resources search.

Environmental

  • Environmental Landscapes & Penrith City Council, Werrington Creek: Statement of environmental factors, 1982.
  • Environmental Landscapes & Penrith City Council, Werrington Creek Park, [various stages], 1982-1984.

Historical

  • Murray, Robert and White, Kate Dharug & Dungaree: The History of Penrith and St. Marys to 1860. Penrith City Council, 1988.
  • Nepean District Historical Society, From Castlereagh to Claremont Meadows: Historical Places of Penrith City Council ,1997.
  • Parr, Lorna, A History of the Nepean and District Street Names, Nepean District Historical Society, 1990.
  • Parr, Lorna, Penrith Calendar, Nepean District Historical Society, 1987.
  • Stacker, Lorraine, Pictorial History: Penrith & St Marys, Kingsclear Books, 2002.
  • Stevenson, Colin R.,  Place Names and their Origins within the City of Penrith, Penrith City Council, 1985.
  • Stickley, Christine, The Old Charm of Penrith, 2nd ed., the author, 1984.

Social

  • De Kaizer, Dawn & McFarlane, Colin Demographic information & community service needs of the estates of Cambridge Gardens, Werrington Downs, Werrington County, Penrith City Council, 1982.