Blacktown history

Blacktown City has a captivating and interesting history.

Blacktown City acknowledges the Darug as the first people of the Blacktown region. The Darug people have lived in this region thousands of years. This was a living country inter-twined and connected with the many clan groups of the Darug. The traditional name for the place is Boongarrunbee or Bungarribee.

The first European settlement occurred at the base of Prospect Hill in 1791. After the Second World War the city’s population of 18,000 began to grow, with housing development in Blacktown and along the railway lines. In the 1960s and 1970s, large‑scale housing development took place in Blacktown and north of Mount Druitt. By 1981, the city was home to 181,000.

The past 25 years has seen significant development in suburbs such as Glenwood, Oakhurst, Plumpton, Glendenning and Stanhope Gardens, with the city catering for the significant demand for affordable housing and providing families’ access to vibrant and welcoming neighbourhoods.

Current growth is expected to continue with urban development focused in the North West Growth Centre, of which Blacktown local government area has the principal share.

Today there remains a strong Aboriginal presence in the Blacktown area and this is reflected in the name of the city and its surrounding suburbs such as Dharruk, Marayong and Toongabbie. Perhaps more importantly, it is reflected by the many Darug descendants who continue to live and maintain their connections to this place.