Western Sydney includes the nine local government areas that belong to the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC). It encompasses the areas from Parramatta to the Blue Mountains as well as the edges of Campbeltown. It has a population of around 1,600,000 people. As one of Australia’s fastest-growing populations, it is also the nation’s third-largest economy. Compared to the rest of the region like Sydney CBD, North Sydney, and South Western Sydney, it has the highest population growth.
The largest industries in the west for the past decade is manufacturing, financial and insurance services, and transport which contributes to a total of 17% of the total GRP.
What suburbs are in Western Sydney?
There are a lot of suburbs in the Greater Western Sydney region but here are a few you probably know:
- Auburn
- Berala
- Bankstown
- Bayside
- Belmore
- Belrose
- Canley Vale
- Canterbury
- Castle Hill
- Eastern Creek
- Glenmore Park
- Harris Park
- Hills Shire
- Fairfield
- Penrith
- Parramatta
- Roselands
- Rosebery
- Rouse Hill
- St Ives
- St George Area
- Sutherland Shire
- Windsor
- What is Western Sydney university known for?
Western Sydney University is a world-class university ranking in the top 2% of universities worldwide according to the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. It’s also one of the 39 universities included in U-Multirank for Australia.
First opened in January 1989, the university is known for its academic excellence, integrity, and pursuit of knowledge. Formerly known as the University of Western Sydney, the multi-campus university can be found in the Greater Western Sydney region. It has 11 campuses around various parts of Australia (South Australia, North Australia, etc. )and more than 48,000 students.
Graduates in Western Sydney University are deemed workplace ready. Their employability status was given a five-star rating by the QS World University Rankings. All students in the university also have equal opportunities to participate in internships, volunteering, and work experiences to develop their skill sets before employment.
A research leader in the country, 80% of the University’s assessed research is rated at ‘World Standard’. Its campus locations can be found in the following Sydney area: Sydney City, Sydney Olympic Park, Liverpool City, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Penrith, Parramatta, Parramatta City, and Nirimba.
What to do in Western Sydney?
Are you visiting Western Sydney? Known for its beautiful national parks, museum, and brilliant art scene, the region is a popular tourist hub. Here are things to do while you’re in the city for vacation:
Attend concerts and music events at Sydney Olympic Park. Often considered the heart of the region, the park is where the most iconic music concerts are hosted. It has hosted thousands of concerts by the world’s most famous artists! The park is also near many western suburbs as well as recreational and sporting facilities.
Explore the food scene at Parramatta. Considered Sydney’s best eating destination, Parramatta has a wide variety of food from all kinds of places. Here you’ll find the best diners and restaurants serving Southeast Asian dishes, Middle Eastern delights, and Italian food.
Have a picnic at Western Sydney Parklands. Enjoy 60 kilometres of green space in this huge park spanning Blacktown, Fairfield, and Liverpool. You can take your family here for a nice picnic, take a look at urban farms, and Chinese gardens.
Try indoor skydiving at iFLY Downunder. Perhaps, jumping out of a plane is too much for you. If you want to experience a safe and fun similar experience, why not try indoor skydiving?
Visit the Auburn Botanic Gardens. Located in Auburn, South West Sydney, this garden is tucked away from suburbia and offers a relaxing place to enjoy nature. It has an inclusive playground for children, a waterfall, a garden, and native animals such as kangaroos.
Visit Australia’s largest wave pool at Raging Waters Sydney. This park features 30 water-pumping slides and rides for people of all ages. They also have gentler splashing rides for kids. It’s also near the Sydney Motorsport Park where you can watch motorcycle and car racing events.
Attend astronomy nights at the observatory. Western Sydney University runs astronomy nights for groups throughout the year. Their events are a great way to learn more about space science and astronomy. Events usually include a multimedia presentation, a 3D astronomy movie, and night sky viewing through computerised telescopes.
Watch Shakespeare performances at the Riverside Theatre. `Located in Parramatta’s this performing arts centre is home to ballet events, comedy shows, and their famous Shakespeare performances. They have all kinds of shows for everyone. Plus, all the best steakhouses and dining bars are just within the area!
When will Western Sydney Airport Open?
The Western Sydney International Airport which is located in the Liverpool city centre is set to open in 2026. The 5.3 billion dollar airport will cater to international and domestic flights and will fly around 10 million passengers every year.
It’s predicted to create thousands of jobs and opportunities for local businesses. The airport started its first stage of construction in September 2018 and is expected to be complete by December of 2026.
The airport’s design is said to have been inspired by Australia’s natural beauty and aboriginal people heritage. The concepts are developed by Zaha Hadid Architects and the Australian firm Cox Architecture. The designers have consulted with aboriginal communities to create an airport that is connected to the country. These designs will be shown in the departures and arrivals to create an “authentic sense of place in Dharug country”. The overall layout is simple and intuitive. It focuses on ease of navigation so that passengers will arrive or fly to other destinations stress-free.
The airport is currently the largest aviation project in Australia over the last decade. Aurecon aviation is providing terminal precinct engineering designs with a user-centered design approach. Their goal is to create an airport that is designed for a great passenger experience.
Where is Greater Western Sydney?
Greater Western Sydney Region (GWS) is composed of local government areas within the Sydney Metropolitan area which include: the Parramatta, Liverpool, Hawkesbury, Fairfield, Cumberland, and the City of Blacktown. It is also is the third-largest economy in the country. Here are the three sub-regions of GWS:
- North-West: The cities of Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, and Penrith
- South-West: Camden Council, Campbelltown, and the cities of Liverpool and Wollondilly Shire
- West Central: Auburn Council and cities of Bankstown, Fairfield, Holroyd, and Parramatta
Greater Western Sydney geography is flat compared to the other regions above it. It’s also drier than the coastal areas with lots of natural bushland that are less lush than the hills in the northern suburbs. Bodies of water found in GWS are the Nepean river, Georges river, and the Parramatta River, which is the main river of the Greater West.
The Parramatta river has a rich environmental diversity. It also plays a key role in the region’s agricultural economy and fishing industries which contributes to its growing national importance. GWS is home to posh suburbs as well as public housing estates.
