Western Sydney

Western Sydney is a region of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia that generally encompasses the north-west, outer-west, central-west, south-west and outer south-west suburbs of Greater Metropolitan Sydney, with the Blue Mountains forming the region's western fringe. Western Sydney consists of 11 local government areas: Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith and Wollondilly. Radiocarbon dating suggests human activity occurred in the Sydney metropolitan area from around 30,000 years ago. The Darug people lived in the area that was greater western Sydney before European settlement regarded the region as rich in food from the river and forests. Parramatta was founded in 1788, the same year as Sydney, making it the second oldest city in Australia. Opened in 1811, Parramatta Road, which navigates into the heart of greater western Sydney, is one of Sydney's oldest roads and Australia's first highway between two cities, Sydney central business district (CBD) and Parramatta, which is now the sixth-largest business district in Australia. Rapid population increase after World War II saw the settlement of many ex-servicemen and migrants in the greater west, making it one of the most urbanised regions in the country and an area of growing national importance. Being the third-largest economy in Australia, behind the Sydney CBD and Melbourne, the region covers 5,800 square kilometres (2,200 sq mi) and is one of the fastest growing populations in Australia, with an estimated resident population of 2,288,554 in 2017. Western Sydney has the most multicultural suburbs in the country, with 38% of the population speaking a language other than English at home, and up to 90% in some suburbs. Containing about 9% of Australia's population and 44% of Sydney's population, the people of Western Sydney are predominantly working-class, with major employment in heavy industry and vocational trades. Encompassing significant areas...