# City of Penrith

The City of Penrith is a local government area in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The seat of the city is located in Penrith, located within Sydney about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Sydney central business district. It occupies part of the traditional lands of the Darug people. First incorporated as a municipality on 12 May 1871, on 1 January 1949, the municipalities of Penrith, St Marys and Castlereagh and part of the Nepean Shire amalgamated to form a new Municipality of Penrith. Penrith was declared a City on 21 October 1959, and expanded westwards to include Emu Plains and Emu Heights, formerly part of the City of Blue Mountains, on 25 October 1963. As of the 2021 census the City of Penrith had an estimated population of 217,664. It is a member council of the Hawkesbury River County Council.
The mayor of the City of Penrith is Todd Carney, a member of the Labor Party. (No relation to the rugby league player)

## Suburbs and localities in the local government area

The following suburbs and localities are located within the City of Penrith:
* Agnes Banks (shared with the City of Hawkesbury)
* Badgerys Creek (shared with the City of Liverpool)
* Berkshire Park
* Caddens
* Cambridge Gardens
* Cambridge Park
* Castlereagh
* Claremont Meadows
* Colyton
* Cranebrook
* Emu Heights
* Emu Plains
* Erskine Park
* Glenmore Park
* Jamisontown
* Jordan Springs
* Kemps Creek (shared with Liverpool)
* Kingswood
* Leonay
* Llandilo
* Londonderry
* Luddenham (shared with Liverpool)
* Mount Vernon
* Mulgoa
* North St Marys
* Orchard Hills
* Oxley Park
* Penrith
* Regentville
* St Clair
* St Marys (shared with City of Blacktown)
* Shanes Park (shared with City of Blacktown)
* South Penrith
* Wallacia (shared with Liverpool and Wollondilly Shire)
* Werrington
* Werrington County
* Werrington Downs

## Council history

The Municipality of Penrith was incorporated on 12 May 1871 under the Municipalities Act 1858 (NSW). On 3 March 1890, St Marys was separately incorporated, and on 26 July 1893 and 9 September 1895, Mulgoa and Castlereagh followed respectively. In 1913, Mulgoa became the "A" Riding of the neighbouring Nepean Shire.
On 1 January 1949, under the Local Government (Areas) Act 1948, the Municipalities of Penrith, St Marys and Castlereagh and A Riding of the Nepean Shire amalgamated to form a new Municipality of Penrith. It was declared a City on 21 October 1959, and expanded westwards to include Emu Plains and Emu Heights, formerly part of the City of Blue Mountains, on 25 October 1963.

## Demographics

At the 2021 census, there were 217,644 people in the Penrith local government area, of these 49.4% were male and 50.6% were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 5% of the population; notably above the national average of 3.4%. The median age of people in the City of Penrith was 35 years; notably below the national median of 39 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 21.2% of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 12.9% of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 45.5% were married and 12.3% were either divorced or separated.
Population growth in the City of Penrith between the 2001 Census and the 2006 census was 0.15% and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, population growth was 3.68%. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78% and 8.32% respectively, population growth in the Penrith local government area was significantly lower than the national average. The median weekly income for residents within the City of Penrith was on with par with the national average.
At the 2021 census, the proportion of residents in the Penrith local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or Anglo-Saxon exceeded 63.5% of all residents (national average was 58.4%). In excess of 28.7% of all residents in the City of Penrith area nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2021 census, which was fairly higher than the national average of 20%. Meanwhile, as at the Census date, compared to the national average, households in the Penrith local government area had a marginally lower than average proportion (23.9%) where two or more languages are spoken (national average was 24.8%); and a higher proportion (74.2%) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 72%).
| Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area | Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area | Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area | Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area | Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area | Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area | Selected historical census data for Penrith local government area | |
| Census year | Census year | Census year | 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 |
| Population | Population | Estimated residents on census night | 171,870 | 172,140 | 178,467 | 196,066 | 217,644 |
| Population | Population | LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales | | 7th | 8th | 13th | 9th |
| Population | Population | % of New South Wales population | | | 2.58% | 2.63% | 2.67% |
| Population | Population | % of Australian population | 0.92% | 0.87% | 0.83% | 0.84% | 0.85% |
| Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | Cultural and language diversity | | | | | |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Australian | | | 29.1% | 26.3% | 33.3% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | English | | | 25.2% | 24.5% | 30.2% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Irish | | | 6.8% | 7.2% | 8.2% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Scottish | | | 5.3% | 5.5% | 6.7% |
| Ancestry, top responses | Ancestry, top responses | Maltese | | | 3.0% | 2.8% | |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Arabic | 1.3% | 1.5% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.8% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Tagalog | 1.3% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.2% |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Italian | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 0.9% | |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Maltese | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.7% | |
| Language, top responses (other than English) | Language, top responses (other than English) | Hindi | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | Religious affiliation | | | |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Catholic | 34.5% | 34.9% | 35.2% | 32.1% | 28.7% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Anglican | 26.1% | 24.7% | 23.6% | 18.4% | 13.1% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | No religion | 9.8% | 11.9% | 14.0% | 21.1% | 28.9% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Presbyterian and Reformed | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.9% |
| Religious affiliation, top responses | Religious affiliation, top responses | Uniting Church | 3.7% | 3.1% | 2.7% |
| Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | Median weekly incomes | | | | | |
| Personal income | Personal income | Median weekly personal income | | A$517 | A$623 | A$728 | A$866 |
| Personal income | Personal income | % of Australian median income | | 110.9% | 108.0% | 109.6% | 106.52% |
| Family income | Family income | Median weekly family income | | A$1,147 | A$1,582 | A$1,858 | A$2188 |
| Family income | Family income | % of Australian median income | | 111.7% | 106.8% | 107.1% | 100.14% |
| Household income | Household income | Median weekly household income | | A$1,285 | A$1,398 | A$1,658 | A$1903 |
| Household income | Household income | % of Australian median income | | 109.7% | 113.3% | 111.5% | 104.05% |

## Council
### Composition and election methods

| Term | Aldermen/Councillors | Wards | Mayor |
| 1871–1891 | 9 | No wards | Annual election by Aldermen |
| 1891–1893 | 12 | No wards | Annual election by Aldermen |
| 1893–1948 | 9 | No wards | Annual election by Aldermen |
| 1949–1950 | 24 | Ward One (9, Penrith) Ward Two (9, St Marys) Ward Three (3, Nepean) Ward Four (3, Castlereagh) | Annual election by Aldermen |
| 1950–1959 | 12 (3 per ward) | Ward One Ward Two Ward Three Ward Four | Annual election by Aldermen |
| 1959–1963 | 13 (3 per ward: 12 Aldermen, 1 Mayor) | Ward One Ward Two Ward Three Ward Four | Direct triennial election |
| 1963–1968 | 13 (4 per ward: 12 Aldermen, 1 Mayor) | North Ward South Ward East Ward | Direct triennial election |
| 1968–1987 | 12 (4 per ward) | North Ward South Ward East Ward | Annual election by Aldermen/Councillors |
| 1987–date | 15 (5 per ward) | North Ward South Ward East Ward | Annual election by Aldermen/Councillors |

### Current composition and election method

Penrith City Council is composed of fifteen councillors elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing five 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 for a two-year term, while the deputy mayor is elected for a single-year term only. The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021. The current council is as follows:
| Party | Councillors |
| Australian Labor Party | 4 |
| Liberal Party of Australia | 6 |
| Independents | 4 |
| Vacant Seats | 1 |
| Total | 15 |
The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election by ward, is:
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Notes |
| East Ward | Bernard Bratusa | Liberal | |
| East Ward | Tricia Hitchen | Liberal | Mayor 2022–2023; Deputy Mayor 2016–2017, 2020–2021 |
| East Ward | Todd Carney | Labor | Mayor 2023–Present; Deputy Mayor 2022–2023 |
| East Ward | Marlene Shipley | Independent | |
| East Ward | Robin Cook | Labor | |
| North Ward | John Thain | Labor | Mayor 2005–2006, 2016–2018; Deputy Mayor 2004–2005 |
| North Ward | Ross Fowler OAM | Liberal | Mayor 1995–1996, 2013–2015, 2018–2020; Deputy Mayor 2015–2016 |
| North Ward | Glenn Gardiner | Liberal | |
| North Ward | Jonathan Pullen | Independent | Member of the Multicultural Working Party and the Recreation Working Party. Was a member of the Labor Party until 2022. |
| North Ward | Kevin Crameri OAM | Independent | Mayor 1996–1997, 2009–2011; Deputy Mayor 1988–1989. |
| South Ward | Karen McKeown OAM | Labor | Mayor 2015–2016, 2020–2021; Deputy Mayor 2006–2007, 2019–2020 |
| South Ward | Mark Davies | Liberal | Mayor 2012–2013; Deputy Mayor 2023–Present |
| South Ward | Mark Rusev | Labor | |
| South Ward | Sue Day | Independent | |
| South Ward | Jim Aitken OAM | Resigned | Mayor 2008–2009; Deputy Mayor 2010–2011, 2013–2014. Resigned 2023. |

## Election results
### 2024

2024 New South Wales local elections: Penrith :
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change |
| | Labor | Labor | 26,544 | 33.9 | −0.6 | 9 | 4 |
| | Liberal | Liberal | 15,303 | 19.5 | −13.8 | 2 | 4 |
| | Libertarian | Libertarian | 11,849 | 15.1 | | 1 | 1 |
| | Greens | Greens | 3,522 | 4.5 | | 0 | |
| | Independents | Independents | 31,490 | 26.9 | −2.9 | 3 | 1 |
| Formal votes | Formal votes | Formal votes | 78,282 | 91.6 | | | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 7,221 | 8.4 | | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 85,503 | | | 15 | |
| Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | Registered voters / turnout | | | | | |

### 2021

The election was conducted by the Australian Election Company.
2021 New South Wales local elections: Penrith :
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats |
| | Labor | Labor | 36,376 | 34.5 | –6.2 | 5 |
| | Liberal | Liberal | 35,081 | 33.3 | +2.9 | 6 |
| | Independent | Independent | 10,336 | 9.8 | | |
| | Sue Day Independent | Sue Day Independent | 6,859 | 6.5 | | 1 |
| | The North Ward Independents | The North Ward Independents | 5,820 | 5.5 | | 1 |
| | MARCUS CORNISH | MARCUS CORNISH | 3,868 | 3.7 | | |
| | WE DESERVE BETTER | WE DESERVE BETTER | 3,073 | 2.9 | | 1 |
| | Australia First | Australia First | 2,549 | 2.4 | +2.4 | |
| | People Before Politics | People Before Politics | 1,534 | 1.5 | | |
| Formal votes | Formal votes | Formal votes | 105,496 | | | |

## Mayors

| Mayor | Party | Term |
| Patros Athanas Tornaros | Labor | 1 January 1949 – 5 December 1949 |
| Bill Chapman | Independent | 5 December 1949 – 11 December 1956 |
| Bernard Noel Fowler | Independent | 11 December 1956 – 11 December 1957 |
| Leo Joseph Spies | Labor | 11 December 1957 – 19 April 1961 |
| Bill Chapman | Independent | 3 June 1961 – December 1968 |
| Ron Mulock | Labor | December 1968 – September 1971 |
| Brian King | Independent | September 1971 – September 1974 |
| Eileen Cammack OBE | Independent | September 1974 – September 1977 |
| Brian King AM | Independent | September 1977 – September 1985 |
| Kevin Dwyer OAM | Independent | September 1985 – September 1987 |
| Rodney Field | Independent | September 1987 – September 1988 |
| Kevin Dwyer OAM | Independent | September 1988 – September 1989 |
| Brian King AM | Independent | September 1989 – September 1990 |
| Faye Lo Po' AM | Labor | September 1990 – September 1991 |
| Tony Aquilina | Labor | September 1991 – September 1992 |
| Bill Gayed | Independent | September 1992 – September 1993 |
| Diane Beamer | Labor | September 1993 – September 1994 |
| Pat Sheehy | Labor | September 1994 – September 1995 |
| Ross Fowler | Independent | September 1995 – September 1996 |
| Kevin Crameri OAM | Independent | September 1996 – September 1997 |
| Kevin Dwyer OAM | Independent | September 1997 – September 1998 |
| John Bateman OAM | Independent | September 1998 – September 2000 |
| David Bradbury | Labor | September 2000 – September 2001 |
| Pat Sheehy | Labor | September 2001 – September 2002 |
| Greg Davies | Labor | September 2002 – April 2004 |
| David Bradbury | Labor | April 2004 – September 2004 |
| Jackie Greenow | Independent | September 2004 – September 2005 |
| John Thain | Labor | September 2005 – September 2006 |
| Pat Sheehy AM | Labor | September 2006 – September 2007 |
| Greg Davies | Labor | September 2007 – September 2008 |
| Jim Aitken OAM | Independent | September 2008 – September 2009 |
| Kevin Crameri OAM | Independent | September 2009 – September 2011 |
| Greg Davies | Labor | September 2011 – September 2012 |
| Mark Davies | Liberal | September 2012 – 23 September 2013 |
| Ross Fowler OAM | Liberal | 23 September 2013 – September 2015 |
| Karen McKeown OAM | Labor | September 2015 – 26 September 2016 |
| John Thain | Labor | 26 September 2016 – 24 September 2018 |
| Ross Fowler OAM | Liberal | 24 September 2018 – 28 September 2020 |
| Karen McKeown OAM | Labor | 28 September 2020 – 13 January 2022 |
| Tricia Hitchen | Liberal | 13 January 2022 – October 2023 |
| Todd Carney | Labor | October 2023 – present |

## Media

The City of Penrith is served by a weekly newspaper, The Western Weekender, which was founded in 1991. It produces a print edition each Friday as well as a digital news service. The newspaper is independently owned.

## Sister cities

Since it signed its first agreement with Fujieda, Japan in 1984, Penrith City has gradually expanded its sister cities and international links programme. Presently Penrith has links with:
* Penrith, Cumbria, England – Sister City
* Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan – Sister City
* Hakusan City (incorporating Matto City), Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan – Friendship City
* Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China – Friendship City
* Xicheng District of Beijing City, China – Mutual Co-operation Agreement
* Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea – Mutual Co-operation Agreement

## Heritage listings

The City of Penrith has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* Agnes Banks, Rickards Avenue: Agnes Bank Natural Area
* Castlereagh, Castlereagh Road: Upper Castlereagh Public School
* Emu Plains, Main Western railway: Emu Plains railway station
* Londonderry, 947–953 Londonderry Road: Fossil and Petrology collections, New South Wales
* Mulgoa, Fairlight Road: Fairlight Homestead
* Mulgoa, Mulgoa Road: Fernhill, Mulgoa
* Mulgoa, 754–760 Mulgoa Road: Glenmore, Mulgoa
* Mulgoa, St Thomas Road: St Thomas' Anglican Church, Mulgoa
* Mulgoa, 2 St Thomas Road: Cox's Cottage
* Penrith, 34–40 Borec Road: Craithes House
* Penrith, 26 Coombes Drive: Torin Building
* Penrith, Great Western railway: Penrith railway station, Sydney
* Penrith, Nepean River, Great Western Highway: Victoria Bridge (Penrith)
* Penrith, Off Bruce Neale Dr, Steel Trusses 1.3 km past station: Emu Plains Underbridge
* Penrith, 1 Museum Drive: Penrith Museum of Fire, including the following:
** Fire and Rescue NSW Heritage Fleet
** NSW Fire Brigades No 10 Vehicle Number Plates
** 1869 Shand Mason 7 inch Manual Fire Engine
** 1891 Shand Mason Fire Engine
** 1898 Shand Mason Curricle Ladders
** 1909 Edward Smith Headquarters Switchboard
** 1929 Ahrens Fox PS2 Fire Engine
** 1939 Dennis Big 6 Fire Engine
** 1942 Ford 21W Fire Brigade Mobile Canteen
* Regentville, 427 Mulgoa Road: Glenleigh Estate
* St Marys, Great Western Railway: St Marys railway station, Sydney
* St Marys, Mamre Road: Mamre, St Marys
* Werrington, Water Street: Rose Cottage and Early Slab Hut