Harris Park, New South Wales

Harris Park
Sydney, New South Wales

Kenilworth, Holy Spirit Seminary, Diocese of Parramatta
Population 5,072 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 2150
Location 23 km (14 mi) west of Sydney CBD
LGA(s) City of Parramatta
State electorate(s) Parramatta
Federal Division(s) Parramatta
Suburbs around Harris Park:
Camellia Parramatta Rydalmere
Parramatta Harris Park Rosehill
Granville Granville Granville

Harris Park is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Harris Park is located 23 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.

Harris Park is the home of several historic sites, including Experiment Farm.

History

James Ruse was the first convict to be granted land in the colony, by Governor Arthur Phillip in this area in 1791. He developed Australia's first private farm known as Experiment Farm, which sowed the first wheat in Australia. Surgeon John Harris, who had already received land grants in the area in 1793 and 1805, bought the farm and built a cottage on the site in c1795. Harris Park is named after John Harris.[2] The cottage is heritage-listed and open to the public.[3]

John Macarthur built Elizabeth Farm in 1793. The building changed and grew substantially over the years, and the architect John Verge is thought to have worked on it from around the late 1820s to the late 1830s. It now falls within the Rosehill area and is heritage-listed.[4][5]

Macarthur built Hambledon Cottage in the early 1820s for Penelope Lucas, the governess for his children. The main wing was designed by Henry Kitchen and the house was used for vice-regal guests until 1883. It is heritage-listed.[6][7] Penelope Lucas is now remembered in Penelope Lucas Lane, in Rosehill.[8]

In the 1880s, Arthur Latimer McCredie, an architect and alderman in Parramatta Council, built his mansion, Kenilworth, in Allen Street. It was a two-storey building in Victorian Italianate style and served as his home for most of the remainder of his life. Though his will expressly forbade the property being conveyed to Catholics, it was acquired on his death by the Sisters of Mercy, who ran it as the Convent of Mercy from 1927 to 1998. It then became the Australian International Performing Arts High School. In 2013 it was converted into the new home of Holy Spirit Seminary, the seminary of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta. Kenilworth is heritage-listed.[9]

Commercial area and transport

Harris Park has a small shopping area around Marion Street. It is very close to the major commercial centre of Parramatta. Harris Park railway station is on the North Shore, Northern & Western Line of the Sydney Trains network.

Churches

Population

In the 2011 Census there were 5,072 residents in Harris Park. 53.6% were males and 46.4% were females. Only 21.8% of people were born in Australia. The top other countries of birth were India 39.9%, China 4.7%, Lebanon 3.3%, Afghanistan 2.3% and Philippines 2.2%. The majority of people spoke a language other than English at home, with the most common languages spoken being Gujarati 20.4%, Hindi 8.3%, Punjabi 6.5%, Arabic 6.3% and Mandarin 3.3% and Tamil 1.2%. The top responses for religious affiliation were Hinduism 37.0%, Catholic 15.1%, Islam 9.9% and no religion 8.6%.[1]

Cultural Developments

Harris Park has recently developed into a hub of Indian diaspora. This includes Gujaratis, Punjabis, Tamils, Malayalees, Teluguites and others from north indian states. Indians call Harris Park a Little India. There are over 18 Indian restaurants, music and merchandise shops. Harris Park is well known for Indian cuisine and Indian Grocery stores. There are also various restaurants and food stores in the area representing a range of different cultures including Lebanese, Greek and Italian.

Wigram Street intersecting Marion Street is considered to be a street with series of Indian restaurants, starting from Billu's, Not Just Curries and ending with 'The Spice of Life' on one-side and few more on the other side. 'Paani Puri' (Gol Gappe) is available under the shelter in the corner of Marion Street and Harris Street round about under the shelter. Sweet Land Patisserie, a traditional Lebanese sweets outlet is adjacent to Australia POST. There is also a pharmacy (Pharmacy/medicals) Cincotta Discount Chemist Harris Park in the very street.

Go Cool fresh markets in Marion Street is considered to be the most famous Fruits & Veggies shop in Harrris Park. Patel Brothers, India Spices Parramatta, Sabzee (The Little India) and Radhe Super Market are considered to be the predominant Indian Supermarkets in this area, from where you can get the adequate Indian family needs.

Desi Kazai is the most popular meat-shop with friendly staff working at the counters, a good meat shop for Chicken, Lamb and Baby goats and masalas. Many people from other suburbs visit this shop to buy meat. There are a couple of medical centres in the suburb- Wigram Street Medical Centre in Wigram Street (Closed in weekends) and Priority Medical Centre in Marion Street (Open in weekends).

Swastik Dance Studio is available in the Station Street East of Harris Park that teaches different varieties of dance viz. (Kathak, Bollywood, Folk etc.)

Harris Park is the suburb with a mixture of friendly communities and a small suburb in between Parramatta, Granville and Rosehill range.

United Indian Associations Inc is working in the area to develop the communities and support them. The team made representations to the New South Wales government to recognise the area as 'Little India' of Sydney.

Green Map

The Rosehill Green Map is the first for Western Sydney. For further information about Green Mapping.

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Harris Park (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon (Angus and Robertson) 1990, page 120
  3. ↑ State Heritage Register
  4. ↑ The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/49-50
  5. ↑ State Heritage Register
  6. ↑ The Heritage of Australia, p.2/53
  7. ↑ State Heritage Register
  8. ↑ Gregory's Sydney Street Directory, 2002, Map 308
  9. ↑ State Heritage Register
  10. ↑ Our Lady of Lebanon Parish
  11. ↑ Church Website
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Coordinates: 33°49′29″S 151°00′19″E / 33.82481°S 151.00521°E / -33.82481; 151.00521

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