Camden Council (New South Wales)

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Camden Council
New South Wales
Camden lga sydney.png
Location in Metropolitan Sydney
Camden Council (New South Wales)
Coordinates 34°03′S150°42′E / 34.050°S 150.700°E / -34.050; 150.700
Population119,325 (2021 census) [1]
 • Density593.7/km2 (1,538/sq mi)
Established6 February 1889 (1889-02-06) [2]
Area201 km2 (77.6 sq mi)
MayorTherese Fedeli (Liberal Party of Australia)
Council seat Oran Park
Region Greater Western Sydney
State electorate(s) Camden
Federal division(s)
Logo of Camden Council.svg
Website Camden Council
LGAs around Camden Council:
Wollondilly Liverpool Liverpool
Wollondilly Camden Council Campbelltown
Wollondilly Wollondilly Campbelltown

Camden Council is a local government area in the Macarthur region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The area is located south west of the Sydney central business district and comprises 201 square kilometres (78 sq mi) with an estimated population at the 2021 census of 119,325. The mayor of Camden is Cr. Therese Fedeli, a member of the Liberal Party of Australia.

Contents

Suburbs in the local government area

Suburbs serviced by Camden Council are:

Demographics

At the 2021 census there were 119,325 people in the Camden local government area, of these 49.1 per cent were male and 50.9 per cents were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.2 per cent of the population; similar to the NSW and Australian averages of 3.4 and 3.2 per cent respectively. The median age of people in the Camden Council area was 33 years, which is significantly lower than the national median of 38 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 25.3 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 9.9 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 54.0 per cent were married and 10.9 per cent were either divorced or separated. [3]

Population growth in the Camden Council area between the 2001 census and the 2006 census was 13.35 per cent; in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, population growth was 14.25 per cent. At the 2016 census, the population in the Camden local government area increased by 37.9 per cent. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same period, being 8.8 per cent, population growth in Camden local government area was in excess of four times the national average. [4] [5] [6] [3] The median weekly income for residents within the Camden Council area was generally slightly higher than the national average. [3]

At the 2021 census, the proportion of residents in the Camden local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon approached 70% of all residents. In excess of 58.0% of residents in the Camden Council area nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2021 census, compared with the national average of 43.9%; and the proportion of residents with no religion was about half the national average. Meanwhile, as at the 2021 census date, compared to the national average, households in the Camden local government area had a slighter higher proportion (22.5 per cent) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 22.3 per cent); and had a similar proportion (74.0 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 72.0 per cent). [1]

Selected historical census data for Camden local government area
Census year2001 [4] 2006 [5] 2011 [6] 2016 [3] 2021 [1]
PopulationEstimated residents on census night 43,799Increase2.svg49,645Increase2.svg56,720Increase2.svg78,218Increase2.svg119,325
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales 39thIncrease2.svg 28thIncrease2.svg 24th
% of New South Wales population0.82%Increase2.svg 1.05%Increase2.svg 1.48%
% of Australian population0.23%Increase2.svg 0.25%Increase2.svg 0.26%Increase2.svg 0.33%Increase2.svg 0.47%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal incomeA$566A$690A$821A$984
% of Australian median income121.5%119.6%124.0%122.2%
Family incomeMedian weekly family incomeA$1,353A$1,865A$2,161A$2,487
% of Australian median income131.7%125.9%124.6%117.3%
Household incomeMedian weekly household incomeA$1,465A$1,727A$2,047A$2,353
% of Australian median income125.1%140.0%142.4%134.8%
Selected historical census data for Camden local government area
Ancestry, top responses
2001 [4] 2006 [5] 2011 [6] 2016 [3] 2021 [1]
No DataNo DataAustralian31.1%AustralianDecrease2.svg 27.0%AustralianIncrease2.svg 32.7%
English27.2%EnglishDecrease2.svg 25.1%EnglishIncrease2.svg 28.9%
Irish7.2%IrishIncrease2.svg 7.4%IrishIncrease2.svg 7.6%
Scottish6.1%ScottishDecrease2.svg 6.0%ItalianIncrease2.svg 7.4%
Italian4.6%ItalianIncrease2.svg 5.0%ScottishIncrease2.svg 6.7%
Country of Birth, top responses
2001 [4] 2006 [5] 2011 [6] 2016 [3] 2021 [1]
Australia79.8%AustraliaSteady2.svg 79.8%AustraliaIncrease2.svg 80.2%AustraliaDecrease2.svg 77.4%AustraliaDecrease2.svg 74.1%
England4.9%EnglandDecrease2.svg 4.3%EnglandDecrease2.svg 4.0%EnglandDecrease2.svg 3.1%IndiaIncrease2.svg 2.4%
New Zealand1.3%New ZealandDecrease2.svg 1.0%New ZealandIncrease2.svg 1.1%New ZealandIncrease2.svg 1.3%EnglandDecrease2.svg 2.3%
Italy0.9%ItalySteady2.svg 0.9%ItalySteady2.svg 0.9%IndiaIncrease2.svg 0.9%New ZealandIncrease2.svg 1.5%
Scotland0.9%ScotlandDecrease2.svg 0.8%ScotlandSteady2.svg 0.8%PhilippinesIncrease2.svg 0.7%PhilippinesIncrease2.svg 1.3%
China0.5%ChinaSteady2.svg 0.5%ChinaSteady2.svg 0.5%FijiIncrease2.svg 0.7%IraqIncrease2.svg 1.1%
Language, top responses (other than English)
2001 [4] 2006 [5] 2011 [6] 2016 [3] 2021 [1]
Italian1.7%ItalianDecrease2.svg 1.6%ItalianDecrease2.svg 1.5%ArabicIncrease2.svg 1.4%ArabicIncrease2.svg 2.3%
Spanish0.7%SpanishIncrease2.svg 0.8%SpanishIncrease2.svg 0.9%ItalianDecrease2.svg 1.3%SpanishIncrease2.svg 1.6%
Cantonese0.7%ArabicIncrease2.svg 0.7%ArabicIncrease2.svg 0.8%SpanishIncrease2.svg 1.3%HindiIncrease2.svg 1.5%
Arabic0.6%CantoneseSteady2.svg 0.7%CantoneseDecrease2.svg 0.6%HindiIncrease2.svg 0.9%PunjabiIncrease2.svg 1.1%
Maltese0.5%Croatian0.5%MalteseDecrease2.svg 0.4%MandarinIncrease2.svg 0.7%ItalianDecrease2.svg 1.1%
Religious affiliation, top responses
2001 [4] 2006 [5] 2011 [6] 2016 [3] 2021 [1]
Catholic33.5%CatholicIncrease2.svg 34.7%CatholicIncrease2.svg 35.4%CatholicDecrease2.svg 34.4%CatholicDecrease2.svg 31.7%
Anglican30.9%AnglicanDecrease2.svg 29.1%AnglicanDecrease2.svg 28.3%AnglicanDecrease2.svg 21.4%No ReligionIncrease2.svg 25.1%
No Religion9.6%No ReligionIncrease2.svg 11.3%No ReligionIncrease2.svg 12.9%No ReligionIncrease2.svg 18.9%AnglicanDecrease2.svg 13.9%
United Church4.8%United ChurchDecrease2.svg 4.0%United ChurchDecrease2.svg 3.5%Not StatedIncrease2.svg 6.6%IslamIncrease2.svg 4.8%
Presbyterian
and Reformed
3.0%Presbyterian
and Reformed
Decrease2.svg 2.6%Presbyterian
and Reformed
Decrease2.svg 2.4%Uniting ChurchDecrease2.svg 2.4%Not StatedDecrease2.svg 4.3%

Council

Current composition and election method

Camden Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing three councillors. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent election was held on 14 September 2024, and the makeup of the council is as follows: [7] [8] [9]

NSW Camden Council 2024.svg
PartyCouncillors
Labor 3
Independents 3
Libertarian 2
Liberal Party 1
Total9

The current Council, elected in 2024, by ward, is:

WardCouncillorPartyNotes
Central Ward [7] Therese Fedeli Liberal Mayor [10]
Ashleigh Cagney Labor Deputy Mayor [10]
Peter McLean Independent
North Ward [8] Abha Suri Independent
Eliza Rahman Labor
Vince Ferreri Libertarian
South Ward [9] Eva Campbell Independent
Damien Quinnell Labor
Rose Sicari Libertarian

Election results

2024

2024 New South Wales local elections: Camden [11]
PartyVotes%SwingSeatsChange
  Labor 20,05429.7−3.33Steady2.svg
  Libertarian 16,44824.32Increase2.svg 2
  Liberal 8,37812.4−31.61Decrease2.svg 3
 Camden Community First3,6775.40Steady2.svg
  Shooters, Fishers and Farmers 5680.8+0.30Steady2.svg
  Independents 18,49127.3+4.83Increase2.svg 1
 Formal votes
 Informal votes
 Total

2021

2021 New South Wales local elections: Camden [12]
PartyVotes%SwingSeatsChange
  Liberal 27,14844.0+12.04Steady2.svg
  Labor 20,35133.0+8.03Steady2.svg
  Independent 13,91322.5−20.52Steady2.svg
  Shooters, Fishers and Farmers 3140.5+0.50Steady2.svg
 Formal votes61,72694.58
 Informal votes3,5375.42
 Total65,263100.0

Mayors from 1889 to Present

#MayorTerm startTerm endTime in officeNotes
1Frederick Burne24 April 188918912 years, 0 days [13]
2Charles Whiteman189218932 years, 0 days [14]
3Henry Reeves189418941 year, 0 days [15]
4James Noakes1895October 1895 (res)273 days [16]
5James Rankin23 October 18954 May 1896 (res)194 days [17]
6W.C. Furner4 May 189614 February 18992 years, 286 days [18]
7George Furner14 February 189913 February 19011 year, 364 days [19]
8E.F. Druitt13 February 190112 February 1902364 days [20]
9George Macarthur Onslow12 February 190210 February 19041 year, 363 days [21]
10A.D. Little10 February 190412 February 19062 years, 2 days [22]
George Macarthur Onslow12 February 19061 March 19071 year, 17 days [23]
George Furner1 March 19071 March 19092 years, 0 days [24]
George Macarthur Onslow1 March 19091 March 19101 year, 0 days [25]
George Furner1 March 19107 February 1911 (res)343 days [26]
George Furner (acting)7 February 19111 March 191122 days [27]
11Thomas Sheil1 March 19111 March 19132 years, 0 days [28]
12R.E. Young1 March 191319 January 1915 (ret)1 year, 324 days [29]
George Furner19 January 191510 July 19172 years, 172 days [30]
13W.F. Peters10 July 19171 March 1918234 days [31]
George Furner1 March 191815 December 19257 years, 289 days [32]
14Francis Macarthur Onslow15 December 192511 December 19282 years, 362 days [33]
15William Larkin11 December 192812 December 19324 years, 1 day [34]
16Robert Crookston12 December 193211 December 1933364 days [35]
William Larkin11 December 193319 December 19385 years, 8 days [36]
17Horace (Stan) Kelloway19 December 193814 December 195415 years, 360 days [37] [38] [39]
18William Cruikshank14 December 195419628 years, 0 days [40]
19G.T. Griffiths196219642 years, 0 days [41]
20R.B. (Bruce) Ferguson1964197713 years, 0 days [42]
21Grahame Bush197719803 years, 0 days [41]
22 Elizabeth (Liz) Kernohan 198019811 year, 0 days [43]
Grahame Bush198119821 year, 0 days [41]
23L.A. (Don) Duncombe198219831 year, 0 days [41]
24Warren Eggins198319852 years, 0 days [41]
Elizabeth (Liz) Kernohan 198519916 years, 0 days [44]
25Theresa Testoni199127 September 19932 years, 26 days [45]
26Frank Brooking27 September 199319973 years, 339 days [46]
27 Geoff Corrigan 199819991 year, 0 days
28Eva Campbell199920012 years, 0 days [47]
Geoff Corrigan 200120032 years, 0 days [48]
29Fred Anderson2003September 20063 years, 0 days [49]
30 Chris Patterson September 200614 June 20114 years, 286 days [50]
31 Greg Warren 14 June 20119 October 20121 year, 12 days [51]
32Lara Symkowiak9 October 201211 September 20185 years, 337 days [52]
33 Peter Sidgreaves 11 September 201823 April 2019224 days [53]
34Therese Fedeli23 April 20199 May 20234 years, 16 days [54]
35Ashleigh Cagney9 May 202315 October 20252 years, 157 days
Therese Fedeli15 October 2025Present4 days

Development

In Camden Council area there were 2,168 residential buildings approved to be built in the financial year 2021–22. [55] Being a significant part of the South-Western Sydney Growth Area, Camden Council represents a rapidly growing region which is expected[ by whom? ] to house a large portion of Sydney's population growth over the coming decade. To the north are residential developments including Oran Park (8,000 homes) [56] and Gregory Hills (2,600 homes), [57] whilst to the south are further developments of the Elderslie estate.

A Muslim group, the Quranic Society, made a development application in the Camden area for an A$19 million Muslim school with the capacity for 1,200 students. In May 2008 the Council voted unanimously to reject the application. After reducing its proposal to a school catering for 900 students, the Quranic Society took its case to the Land and Environment Court. The application was met with significant community protest; [58] and the application rejected by the Court on the grounds that the land chosen was suited to rural uses. [59] [60]

Heritage listings

The Camden Council has a number of heritage sites, including:

See also

References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Camden (A)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 9 October 2022. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
    2. "Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation – New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 – 1900) – 6 Feb 1889". nla.gov.au. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Camden (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 November 2012. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
    4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Camden (A)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 November 2012. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
    5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Camden (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
    6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Camden (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 November 2012. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
    7. 1 2 "Camden Council – Central Ward". Local Government Elections 2024. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    8. 1 2 "Camden Council – North Ward". Local Government Elections 2024. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    9. 1 2 "Camden Council – South Ward". Local Government Elections 2024. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 1 October 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    10. 1 2 "Councillors".
    11. "Your Camden Independents Team: Camden Community First" (PDF). htvdisplay.elections.nsw.gov.au. New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
    12. "Camden". ABC News.
    13. Trove (14 December 1889). "The Mayor of Camden" . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    14. Trove (11 June 1903). "Obituary: C.T. Whiteman J.P." Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    15. Camden History Notes (8 November 2019). "White House (or Reeves House), Camden NSW" . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    16. Camden History: Journal of the Camden Historical Society (March 2023). "JD Rankin" (PDF). Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    17. Trove (24 October 1895). "Municipal District of Camden" . Retrieved 21 September 2020.
    18. Trove (7 May 1896). "Camden Municipal Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    19. Trove (16 February 1899). "Election of Mayor" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    20. Trove (21 February 1901). "Camden Municipal Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    21. Trove (13 February 1902). "Camden Municipal Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    22. Trove (18 February 1904). "Camden Municipal Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    23. Trove (15 February 1906). "Camden Municipal Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
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    29. Trove (28 January 1915). "Municipality of Camden" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    30. Trove (11 February 1915). "Municipality of Camden" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    31. Trove (12 July 1917). "Camden Municipal Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    32. Trove (14 February 1918). "Ald. G.F. Furner, Mayor of Camden" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    33. Trove (17 December 1925). "Camden Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    34. Trove (13 December 1928). "Camden Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    35. Trove (15 December 1932). "Camden Council" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    36. Trove (14 December 1933). "Ald. W. Larkin elected mayor of Camden" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    37. Trove (23 December 1948). "Ald. H.S. Kelloway elected mayor of the united area of Camden" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    38. Trove (14 December 1944). "Ald. H.S. Kelloway mayor of Camden" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    39. Trove (18 December 1952). "Ald. H.S. Kelloway re-elected mayor" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    40. Trove (17 December 1953). "New mayor for Camden" . Retrieved 19 September 2020.
    41. 1 2 3 4 5 Where not otherwise cited, mayors listed from 1889 to 1989 drawn from "A Century of Change: One Hundred Years of Local Government in Camden", Macarthur Independent Promotions, Camden, 1989, p. 14
    42. Sydney Morning Herald (31 May 2008). "Distinguished in war and peace" . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    43. Parliament of NSW (6 November 2024). "Dr (Liz) Elizabeth Anne KERNOHAN" . Retrieved 6 November 2024.
    44. Parliament of NSW (6 November 2024). "Dr (Liz) Elizabeth Anne KERNOHAN" . Retrieved 6 November 2024.
    45. Camden Council (7 January 2015). "Passing of former mayor, Theresa Testoni" (PDF). Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    46. Camden Council (29 April 2020). "Historical naming of parks and reserves" . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    47. Macarthur Chronicle (6 September 2016). "Camden Council's election candidates tell you why they deserve your vote" . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    48. Sydney Morning Herald (3 March 2003). "Camden: a swinging seat to watch" . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
    49. Sydney Morning Herald (7 November 2003). "Pollution sinkhole may house thousands" . Retrieved 9 June 2025.
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    52. Armstrong, Kerry (16 October 2012). "New mayor will lobby for us". Camden Advertiser. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
    53. Tullis, Ashleigh (13 September 2018). "New Camden mayor Peter Sidgreaves to focus on jobs". Camden Advertiser. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
    54. Osborne, Kayla (23 April 2019). "Camden's new mayor has been chosen". Camden Advertiser. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
    55. "Camden Council Area Residential Building Approvals". profileID. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
    56. "Oran Park Town Official Website". Archived from the original on 15 October 2009.
    57. "Gregory Hills Official Website". Archived from the original on 11 February 2010.
    58. Murray, Elicia (22 April 2009). "Churches oppose Islamic school". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 13 July 2017.
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    62. "Macquarie Grove". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00493. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
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    65. "Raby". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01694. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
    66. "Denbigh". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01691. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
    67. "Gledswood". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01692. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
    68. "Harrington Park". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01773. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
    69. "Orielton". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01693. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
    70. "Studley Park". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00389. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
    71. "Camelot". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H00385. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
    72. "Kirkham Stables and Precinct". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01411. Retrieved 18 May 2018. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
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