Cumberland
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Established4 June 1788
Lands administrative divisions around Cumberland:
Hunter Northumberland Northumberland
Cook Cumberland Pacific Ocean
Camden Camden Pacific Ocean

Cumberland County is a county in the State of New South Wales, Australia. Most of the Sydney metropolitan area is located within the County of Cumberland.

The County of Cumberland stretches from Broken Bay to the north, the Hawkesbury River to the north-west, the Nepean River to the west, the Cataract River to the south-west and the northern suburbs of Wollongong to the south. It includes the area of the Cumberland Plain.

History

Cumberland Gang Show Scout neckerchief

The name Cumberland was conferred by Governor Arthur Phillip in honour of Prince Henry Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn at a gathering to celebrate the birthday of his brother, King George III, on 4 June 1788.[1] The county has been marked on maps since the start of the colony, as shown along the key on a 1789 map describing Port Jackson as being within the county of Cumberland. In the nineteenth century, parts of the county were in the South and North Riding electoral districts from 1856 to 1859, which were replaced by Central Cumberland. There was also the Cumberland Boroughs electoral district.

Politics

The State of New South Wales is divided up into 141 counties, for the purposes of surveying and the registration of land titles. Few Australian counties have ever had any government or administrative function. However, the County of Cumberland did have a county government, the Cumberland County Council, from 1945 to 1964. Its responsibilities were primarily limited to town planning on the metropolitan scale. The Cumberland County Council was not elected by the people, but rather was elected by councillors of the various local governments within the county. The council consisted of 10 councillors each elected to a single constituency: No. 1 (Sydney), No. 2 (Marrickville, Canterbury), No. 3 (Randwick, Botany, Woollahra, Waverley), No. 4 (Rockdale, Hurstville, Kogarah, Sutherland), No. 5 (Strathfield, Ashfield, Burwood, Leichhardt, Drummoyne, Concord), No. 6 (Auburn, Bankstown, Holroyd, Parramatta), No. 7 (Mosman, Manly, North Sydney, Warringah), No. 8 (Hunter's Hill, Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Ryde), No. 9 (Blacktown, Penrith, Baulkham Hills, Windsor) and No. 10 (Fairfield, Camden, Liverpool, Campbelltown, and parts of Wollondilly and Wollongong).[2]

In 1948 the Council published the County of Cumberland planning scheme, a framework for accommodating expected postwar growth in the Sydney Basin. The objectives of the County Council were often in conflict with the aims of many State Government departments. For instance, the County Council's plans called for a green belt to encircle metropolitan Sydney, while the NSW Housing Commission wished to use much of this land to build new low-density public housing estates in areas such as Blacktown and Liverpool. As a result, the Cumberland County Council was dissolved in 1964.

Its metropolitan planning functions were taken over by a new body, the State Planning Authority, which has since been superseded by a succession of state government planning departments.[3] As of 2019, the planning department is the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

Chairmen

YearsNameCouncilNotes
1945–1951John Percival TateRyde[4]
1951–1958Ronald Stark LukeMosman[5][6]
1958–1960Leslie Arthur ScuttsMarrickville
1960–1961Sydney John WebbHolroyd
1961–1962Tom FosterSydney[7]
1962–1963Sydney John WebbHolroyd[8]
1963–1964Samuel PetersRandwick

Sub-divisions

Hundreds

Map of Cumberland County in 1840, showing 13 hundreds and 53 parishes. The four smaller parishes in Sydney city are not displayed.

There were thirteen hundreds in Cumberland County, which were published in a government gazette on 27 May 1835, but repealed on 21 January 1888. Unlike South Australia, the hundreds were never adopted anywhere else in New South Wales. The hundreds:

Parishes

Parishes of Cumberland County

In 1835, Cumberland County was subdivided into 57 parishes.[9] Previously, the subdivisions of the area since the beginning of the colony were called districts. Many of the parishes founded in 1835 kept the name of the district. Others were named after Anglican churches in the same area. This included three of the four small parishes in the Sydney city area: The Parish of St Philip, which is named after St Philip's Church; the Parish of St James, which is named after St James Church, and is still the name of the region today; and finally the Parish of St Andrew which is named after St Andrew's Cathedral. However, the Parish of St Lawrence gave its name to the church, rather than the other way around.[10] Further out of the city, the parishes of St John, St Luke, St Peter and St Matthew, in the Parramatta, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Windsor areas respectively, have Anglican churches which bear the same saints names; St John's in Parramatta (opened 1803); St.Luke's in Liverpool (building began 1818); St.Peter's in Campbelltown (opened 1823, the third oldest Anglican church in Australia); and St. Matthew's in Windsor (consecrated in 1822)

A full list of parishes found within this county; the LGAs which the parish is mostly in (most parish boundaries do not match LGA boundaries exactly), and mapping coordinates to the approximate centre of each location is as follows:

Parish LGA Hundred (former) Coordinates
AlexandriaMunicipality of WoollahraSydney33°50′54″S 151°17′04″E / 33.84833°S 151.28444°E / -33.84833; 151.28444 (Alexandria Parish)
AppinWollondilly ShireCampbelltown34°11′54″S 150°45′04″E / 34.19833°S 150.75111°E / -34.19833; 150.75111 (Appin Parish)
BankstownCity of Canterbury-BankstownLiverpool33°55′54″S 150°59′04″E / 33.93167°S 150.98444°E / -33.93167; 150.98444 (Bankstown Parish)
BerowraHornsby ShireDundas33°33′54″S 151°05′04″E / 33.56500°S 151.08444°E / -33.56500; 151.08444 (Berowra Parish)
BotanyBayside CouncilSydney33°56′54″S 151°14′04″E / 33.94833°S 151.23444°E / -33.94833; 151.23444 (Botany Parish)
BringellyCity of PenrithBringelly33°53′54″S 150°41′04″E / 33.89833°S 150.68444°E / -33.89833; 150.68444 (Bringelly Parish)
Broken BayNorthern Beaches CouncilPackenham33°38′54″S 151°13′04″E / 33.64833°S 151.21778°E / -33.64833; 151.21778 (Broken Bay Parish)
BulgoCity of WollongongHeathcote34°09′54″S 151°03′04″E / 34.16500°S 151.05111°E / -34.16500; 151.05111 (Bulgo Parish)
CabramattaCity of LiverpoolBringelly33°54′54″S 150°49′04″E / 33.91500°S 150.81778°E / -33.91500; 150.81778 (Cabramatta Parish)
Castle HillThe Hills ShireParramatta33°44′54″S 150°41′04″E / 33.74833°S 150.68444°E / -33.74833; 150.68444 (Castle Hill Parish)
CastlereaghCity of PenrithRichmond33°40′54″S 150°42′04″E / 33.68167°S 150.70111°E / -33.68167; 150.70111 (Castlereagh Parish)
ClaremontCity of PenrithEvan33°48′54″S 150°43′04″E / 33.81500°S 150.71778°E / -33.81500; 150.71778 (Claremont Parish)
ConcordCanada Bay, Strathfield and BurwoodSydney33°51′54″S 151°06′04″E / 33.86500°S 151.10111°E / -33.86500; 151.10111 (Concord Parish)
CookCamden CouncilBringelly33°57′54″S 150°42′04″E / 33.96500°S 150.70111°E / -33.96500; 150.70111 (Cook Parish)
CorneliaThe Hills ShireHardinge32°59′54″S 150°00′04″E / 32.99833°S 150.00111°E / -32.99833; 150.00111 (Cornelia Parish)
CowanHornsby ShireDundas33°36′54″S 151°08′04″E / 33.61500°S 151.13444°E / -33.61500; 151.13444 (Cowan Parish)
EckersleyCity of CampbelltownSouthend34°04′54″S 150°55′04″E / 34.08167°S 150.91778°E / -34.08167; 150.91778 (Eckersley Parish)
Field of MarsCity of ParramattaParramatta33°46′54″S 151°03′04″E / 33.78167°S 151.05111°E / -33.78167; 151.05111 (Field of Mars Parish)
FrederickHornsby ShireHardinge33°27′54″S 151°02′34″E / 33.46500°S 151.04278°E / -33.46500; 151.04278 (Frederick Parish)
GidleyCity of BlacktownWindsor33°40′54″S 150°52′04″E / 33.68167°S 150.86778°E / -33.68167; 150.86778 (Gidley Parish)
GordonKu-ring-gai CouncilPackenham33°12′54″S 151°09′04″E / 33.21500°S 151.15111°E / -33.21500; 151.15111 (Gordon Parish)
Ham CommonCity of HawkesburyRichmond33°35′54″S 150°45′04″E / 33.59833°S 150.75111°E / -33.59833; 150.75111 (Ham Common Parish)
HeathcoteSutherland ShireHeathcote34°05′54″S 150°59′04″E / 34.09833°S 150.98444°E / -34.09833; 150.98444 (Heathcote Parish)
HolsworthyCity of LiverpoolLiverpool33°56′54″S 150°57′04″E / 33.94833°S 150.95111°E / -33.94833; 150.95111 (Holsworthy Parish)
Hunters HillRyde, Hunter's HillParramatta33°47′54″S 151°06′04″E / 33.79833°S 151.10111°E / -33.79833; 151.10111 (Hunters Hill Parish)
Liberty PlainsCumberland, Canterbury-BankstownParramatta33°51′54″S 151°02′04″E / 33.86500°S 151.03444°E / -33.86500; 151.03444 (Liberty Plains Parish)
LondonderryCity of PenrithRichmond33°40′54″S 150°45′04″E / 33.68167°S 150.75111°E / -33.68167; 150.75111 (Londonderry Parish)
Manly CoveNorthern Beaches CouncilPackenham33°46′54″S 151°16′04″E / 33.78167°S 151.26778°E / -33.78167; 151.26778 (Manly Cove Parish)
MarootaThe Hills ShireHardinge33°29′54″S 151°00′04″E / 33.49833°S 151.00111°E / -33.49833; 151.00111 (Maroota Parish)
MarramarraHornsby ShireDundas33°29′54″S 151°17′04″E / 33.49833°S 151.28444°E / -33.49833; 151.28444 (Marramarra Parish)
MelvilleCity of FairfieldEvan33°51′16″S 150°49′20″E / 33.85444°S 150.82222°E / -33.85444; 150.82222 (Melville Parish)
MenangleCity of CampbelltownCampbelltown34°06′54″S 150°47′04″E / 34.11500°S 150.78444°E / -34.11500; 150.78444 (Menangle Parish)
MintoCity of CampbelltownLiverpool33°57′54″S 150°51′04″E / 33.96500°S 150.85111°E / -33.96500; 150.85111 (Minto Parish)
MulgoaCity of PenrithEvan33°48′54″S 150°40′04″E / 33.81500°S 150.66778°E / -33.81500; 150.66778 (Mulgoa Parish)
NarellanCamden CouncilCampbelltown34°02′54″S 150°44′04″E / 34.04833°S 150.73444°E / -34.04833; 150.73444 (Narellan Parish)
NarrabeenNorthern Beaches CouncilPackenham33°36′54″S 151°20′04″E / 33.61500°S 151.33444°E / -33.61500; 151.33444 (Narrabeen Parish)
NelsonThe Hills ShireWindsor33°36′54″S 150°57′04″E / 33.61500°S 150.95111°E / -33.61500; 150.95111 (Nelson Parish)
North ColahHornsby ShireDundas33°37′54″S 151°03′04″E / 33.63167°S 151.05111°E / -33.63167; 151.05111 (North Colah Parish)
PetershamInner West CouncilSydney33°51′54″S 151°10′04″E / 33.86500°S 151.16778°E / -33.86500; 151.16778 (Petersham Parish)
Pitt TownCity of HawkesburyWindsor33°35′54″S 150°53′04″E / 33.59833°S 150.88444°E / -33.59833; 150.88444 (Pitt Town Parish)
ProspectCity of BlacktownParramatta33°46′54″S 150°55′04″E / 33.78167°S 150.91778°E / -33.78167; 150.91778 (Prospect Parish)
Rooty HillCity of PenrithRichmond33°43′54″S 150°48′04″E / 33.73167°S 150.80111°E / -33.73167; 150.80111 (Rooty Hill Parish)
South ColahHornsby ShireDundas33°41′54″S 151°05′04″E / 33.69833°S 151.08444°E / -33.69833; 151.08444 (South Colah Parish)
SouthendCity of WollongongSouthend34°16′54″S 150°55′04″E / 34.28167°S 150.91778°E / -34.28167; 150.91778 (Southend Parish)
St AndrewCity of SydneySydney33°52′26″S 151°12′23″E / 33.87389°S 151.20639°E / -33.87389; 151.20639 (St Andrew Parish)
St GeorgeGeorges River, BaysideSydney33°56′54″S 151°06′04″E / 33.94833°S 151.10111°E / -33.94833; 151.10111 (St George Parish)
St JamesCity of SydneySydney33°52′10″S 151°12′39″E / 33.86944°S 151.21083°E / -33.86944; 151.21083 (St James Parish)
St JohnParramatta, CumberlandParramatta33°49′54″S 151°03′04″E / 33.83167°S 151.05111°E / -33.83167; 151.05111 (St John Parish)
St LawrenceCity of SydneySydney33°52′53″S 151°12′18″E / 33.88139°S 151.20500°E / -33.88139; 151.20500 (St Lawrence Parish)
St LukeCity of FairfieldLiverpool33°51′54″S 150°54′04″E / 33.86500°S 150.90111°E / -33.86500; 150.90111 (St Luke Parish)
St MatthewCity of HawkesburyWindsor33°37′54″S 150°49′04″E / 33.63167°S 150.81778°E / -33.63167; 150.81778 (St Matthew Parish)
St PeterCity of CampbelltownCampbelltown34°03′54″S 150°50′04″E / 34.06500°S 150.83444°E / -34.06500; 150.83444 (St Peter Parish)
St PhilipCity of SydneySydney33°51′51″S 151°12′22″E / 33.86417°S 151.20611°E / -33.86417; 151.20611 (St Philip Parish)
SutherlandSutherland ShireHeathcote34°01′54″S 151°05′04″E / 34.03167°S 151.08444°E / -34.03167; 151.08444 (Sutherland Parish)
WattamollaSutherland ShireHeathcote34°05′49″S 151°06′27″E / 34.09694°S 151.10750°E / -34.09694; 151.10750 (Wattamolla Parish)
WedderburnWollondilly ShireSouthend34°14′54″S 150°50′04″E / 34.24833°S 150.83444°E / -34.24833; 150.83444 (Wedderburn Parish)
WilloughbyLane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, WilloughbyPackenham33°49′54″S 151°15′04″E / 33.83167°S 151.25111°E / -33.83167; 151.25111 (Willoughby Parish)

Districts

Districts on an 1824 map

The first subdivisions of the county were called districts, shown in early maps from the period, such as 21 districts on an 1810 map and 37 districts on an 1824 map (not including Philip which was across the Nepean River and not part of the county). The districts in use in 1824:

  • Airds
  • Appin
  • Bankstown
  • Bathurst
  • Botany Bay
  • Bringelly
  • Bullanaming
  • Cambramatta
  • Castle Hill
  • Castlereagh
  • Concord
  • Cooke
  • Dundas
  • Eastern Plains
  • Evan
  • Field of Mars
  • Green Hills
  • Holsworthy
  • Hunter's Hill
  • Illawarra
  • Liberty Plains
  • Mecham
  • Melville
  • Meyrick
  • Minto
  • Nelson
  • Northern Boundary
  • Oxley
  • Parramatta
  • Petersham
  • Ponds
  • Prospect
  • Richmond
  • Sydney
  • Tongabee
  • Upper Minto
  • Upper Nelson

References

  1. "Cumberland County". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales.
  2. "CUMBERLAND COUNTY". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 35, 293. New South Wales, Australia. 1 February 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 11 March 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  3. "AGY-424 State Planning Authority". NSW State Archives & Records. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. Sarah-Jane Rennie, 'Tate, John Percival (1894–1977)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/tate-john-percival-11822/text21153, published first in hardcopy 2002, accessed online 11 March 2017.
  5. "Councillor R. S. Luke". Construction. New South Wales, Australia. 14 February 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 11 March 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "County Council Chairman's Chain of Office". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 36, 054. New South Wales, Australia. 11 July 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 11 March 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Thomas Christopher Foster". Sydney's Aldermen. City of Sydney. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  8. "Draw decides new chairman". The Biz. No. 2903. New South Wales, Australia. 7 February 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 11 March 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Names Search". Geographical Names Board of NSW. Archived from the original on 23 March 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
  10. The Naming of the Parish, Christ Church of St.Laurence
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