Epping, New South Wales

Epping is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Epping is located 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the City of Ryde, the City of Parramatta and Hornsby Shire.

History

Epping is derived from Epping Forest in Essex, England.

The Wallumedegal Aboriginal tribe lived in the area between the Lane Cove River and Parramatta River, which was known as Walumetta.

In 1792, Governor Phillip began the granting of parcels of lands to marines, and the area was referred to on Phillip's maps as the Field of Mars, named after the Roman Field of Mars probably because of the military link. It contained the area of what is now Epping, along with the surrounding suburbs of Ryde and Marsfield.

Epping railway station was originally called 'Field of Mars' and then was changed to Carlingford. The first post office opened as East Carlingford. To avoid confusion, the postal department suggested changing the name of the railway station to East Carlingford but strong opposition led to other names being suggested such as Corella and East Lynne. In 1899 the suburb name of Epping was adopted after suggestion by a local landowner William Midson (1849-1924), after a town near Epping Forest in Essex, where his father was born.

Commercial Area

Epping features a small shopping centre close to Epping railway station. Other commercial and industrial developments are also located in the surrounding area.

Epping RSL club is a popular venue, which attracts many people including students from the nearby Macquarie University. Epping also has a bar (Epping Hotel) with its own nightclub 'Tracks', also popular on Wednesdays and the weekend.

Epping features some television production studios owned by the Seven Network in the south of the suburb, but production of programs has moved to Pyrmont and the News & live studios in Martin Place in the centre of the Sydney CBD. The station's former headquarters are due to close in 2009.

Transport

Epping Station is on Northern railway line of Sydney's CityRail network. Epping will soon become a junction for the Epping to Chatswood line, which is currently under construction and expected to be fully operational in early 2009. The second stage of this project which was intended to run west from Epping to Parramatta has been put on hold indefinitely.

A North West Metro is also under planning which will link Epping to Rouse Hill via Castle Hill and to Sydney CBD via Top Ryde, New South Wales, Gladesville, New South Wales and Pyrmont.

Epping is also well-serviced by bus facilities by Sydney Buses and Hillsbus. The M2 Hills Motorway runs along the northern border to the Sydney CBD. Epping Road is a major arterial road in the area that runs east from the railway station to the Pacific Highway.

Churches

• Epping Seventh-day Adventist Church
• Chester St Uniting Church, Oxford St Uniting Church, West Epping Uniting Church
• Emmaus Bible College
• Epping Baptist Church
• Epping Church of Christ
• Epping Gospel Chapel
• Epping Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Reformed Church Epping
• North Side Chinese Alliance Church
• Our Lady Help of Christians (Roman Catholic) Church
• St. Albans (Anglican), St. Aidens - West Epping (Anglican) - part of the Epping Parish

Schools

• Arden Anglican School (formerly the Catholic girls' school Our Lady of Mercy College)
• Epping Boys High School (located in Marsfield)
• Epping Heights Public School
• Epping North Public School
• Epping Public School
• Epping West Public School
• Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Primary School

Population

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Census, Epping had a population of 18,970, of which 9,216 (48.6%) were male and 9,754 (51.4%) were female. Approximately 64% of residents living in Epping are Australian born and the majority of its migrant residents hail from Hong Kong (5%), China (4%), Korea (4%), Britain (4%) and India (2%) respectively.

Epping is also known to be a more affluent suburb in its region, as evidenced by its higher median house prices compared to neighbouring suburbs, and the high proportion of professionals who reside in Epping (nearly double the Sydney average).

Politics

Epping is primarily under the municipal authority of Ward C in the Hornsby Shire Council, although the City of Parramatta also administers a small area within the suburb.

References

External links