View source for Bankstown

{{About|the suburb|the former local government area|City of Bankstown|the state electoral district|Electoral district of Bankstown}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type      = suburb
| name      = Bankstown
| city      = Sydney
| state     = nsw
| image     = File:Bankstown CBD Aerial view.jpg
| caption   = Bankstown CBD
| local_map = yes
| zoom      = 12
| lga       = [[City of Canterbury-Bankstown]]
| postcode  = 2200
| alternative_location_map = Australia NSW metro Sydney
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in metropolitan [[Sydney]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|55|05|S|151|02|06|E|display=inline,title}}
| pop       = 34,933
| pop_year  = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes =<ref name="ABS">{{Census 2021 AUS | id = SAL10181| name =Bankstown (State Suburb) | quick = on | access-date = 5 July 2022}}</ref>
| elevation = 29
| area      =
| est       = 1795
| stategov  = [[Electoral district of Bankstown|Bankstown]]
| fedgov    = [[Division of Watson|Watson]]
| fedgov2   =  [[Division of Banks|Banks]]
| near-nw   = [[Yagoona, New South Wales|Yagoona]]
| near-n    = [[Chullora]]
| near-ne   = [[Greenacre]]
| near-w    = [[Condell Park]]
| near-e    = [[Mount Lewis, New South Wales|Mount Lewis]] [[Punchbowl, New South Wales|Punchbowl]]
| near-sw   = [[Revesby, New South Wales|Revesby]]
| near-s    = [[Padstow, New South Wales|Padstow]]
| near-se   = [[Punchbowl, New South Wales|Punchbowl]]
| dist1     =  19
| dir1      = south-west
| location1 = [[Sydney central business district|Sydney CBD]]
}}
{{mapbox raw data|data= {{City of Canterbury-Bankstown suburb map|suburb=yes}} |text=Bankstown within the City of Canterbury-Bankstown}}

'''Bankstown''' is a [[Suburbs and localities (Australia)|suburb]] of [[Sydney]], in the state of [[New South Wales]], Australia. It is located 19 kilometres south-west of the [[Sydney central business district]] and is part of the [[Canterbury-Bankstown]] region. Bankstown is the [[administrative centre]] of the [[City of Canterbury-Bankstown]], having previously been the administrative centre of the [[City of Bankstown]] prior to 2016. It is the most populous suburb within the City of Canterbury-Bankstown.

==History==
===Early history===
Before European settlement, Cumberland Plains [[woodland]] occupied much of the area. [[Turpentine]] [[ironbark]] forest covered much of what is now Bankstown. The land was occupied by the [[Bediagal]] people. Their land bordered the [[Tharawal people|Dharawal]] and the Darung people.

In 1795, [[Matthew Flinders]] and [[George Bass]] explored up the [[Georges River]] for about {{convert|20|mi|km|order=flip}} beyond what had been previously surveyed, and reported favourably to [[John Hunter (Royal Navy officer)|Governor Hunter]] of the land on its banks.<ref>{{gutenberg|bullet=none|no=12929|name=A Voyage to Terra Australis by Matthew Flinders}}</ref> Hunter examined the country himself, and established one of the pioneer colonies there, called Bank's Town, today written as one word: Bankstown.<ref>{{gutenberg|bullet=none|no=7304|name=The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders, by Ernest Scott}}</ref> Hunter named the area Bankstown after Sir [[Joseph Banks]], who travelled to Australia with Captain [[James Cook]] in 1770. The area of first European settlement along the river has been partially preserved as part of the [[Mirambeena Regional Park]].

In 1826, bushrangers were hanged on the site of the [[Bankstown Reservoir]] water tower.<ref name=Rosen>{{cite book |first=Sue |last=Rosen |year=1996 |title=Bankstown, a Sense of Identity }}</ref>

The first town hall and Council Chambers were opened on 22 Oct 1898 by Mayor Ines Peter Miller<ref>Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta), Wednesday 2 November 1898, page 6</ref> on the northern side of the [[Hume Highway]] (Liverpool Road), near Rookwood Road (site of the Three Swallows Hotel). In June 1918, the council chambers were relocated to a new building in South Terrace (subsequently Old Town Centre Plaza and, since sometime before 2022, Bankstown City Plaza). The building still stands and now has a shopping arcade running through it. Foundation stones from the old Town Halls have been preserved in a display outside the current Council Chambers.

===World War II===
[[File:Rwaybridge1946 in Bankstown.jpg|thumb|right|Bankstown Plaza in 1946]]
In 1939, local residents were made privy to the events of World War II. [[Conscripted]] residents were required to report for duty at a drill hall on Canterbury Road, Belmore. Camps were set up in and around Canterbury Racecourse and local parks in the district. Residents with foreign names were sent to [[internment camps]] as there was growing suspicion about residents with foreign names. A portion of these folk were Australian citizens who served with the [[Australian Defence Force]] during World War I.<ref name=Maltby>{{cite book |last=Maltby |first=Kathy |author2 =Rosen, Sue |title=From Settlement to City: Bankstown: Sense of Identity |publisher=Bankstown City Council |location=Bankstown }}</ref>{{rp|pages=14–16}}

During World War II, [[Bankstown Airport]] was established as a key strategic air base to support the war effort. After the arrival of [[Douglas MacArthur]] in Australia, control of Bankstown Airport was handed to [[United States Armed Forces|US Forces]], becoming home to US [[35th Fighter Wing|35th Fighter Squadron]] and the [[41st Pursuit Squadron]] of the [[United States Air Force]] and the [[United States Army Air Forces]] who occupied the airport from 1942 to 1944. In 1945 operations became the responsibility of the [[Fleet Air Arm|British Fleet Air Arm]], known as [[HMS Nabberley|HMS ''Nabberley'']],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/CommonwealthCountries/Countries_index.html|website= Fleetairarmarchive.net.|title=Index of Fleet Air Arm Air Stations in the Commonwealth 1939–1945|date=16 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919151316/http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/CommonwealthCountries/Countries_index.html |archive-date=19 September 2008|url-status=usurped }}</ref> until 1946, when it was handed back to the RAAF.<ref>[http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/recordsearch.aspx You will have to do you own record search for this info (Type in Stacey Street for the key words. For the date type in 1940–1950 and press enter)]</ref><ref>''[http://www.kingsclearbooks.com.au/cb.html A Pictorial History of Canterbury Bankstown].'' by Joan Lawrence, Brian Madden and Les Muir, Page 89,(Alexandria: Kingsclear Books 1999. Printed by Australian Print Group.) Retrieved on 13 August 2007.</ref>

During this period an RAAF unit known as [[No. 1 Fighter Sector RAAF]] took control of the Capital Hall in Bankstown. This unit was formed in Bankstown, on 25 February 1942. Their living quarters were located next door and down the road from the hall and the staff were housed in galvanised iron barracks. Operations were handed over to the [[United States Army Air Corps]] on 10 April 1942 before they were transferred to a disused railway tunnel at St James railway station in Sydney. The unit was renamed Air Defence Headquarters Sydney (ADHQ) on 21 January 1945 and moved into a three-storey semi-underground purpose built operations and plotting facility at Bankstown, known as the [[Bankstown Bunker]].<ref>[http://www.ozatwar.com/raaf/1fshq.htm No. 1 Fighter Sector Headquarters RAAF, later known as No. 101 Fighter Control Unit RAAF<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

World War II began Bankstown's industrial revolution. Few factories or industry of any consequence were located in Bankstown prior to 1945; this was changed dramatically between 1942 and 1954, especially when the Department of Aircraft Production gave approval for aircraft manufacturer [[De Havilland Australia|Hawker De Havilland]] to operate a factory at the airport for the production and manufacture of [[de Havilland Mosquito|de Havilland Mosquito bombers]]. There are now over seven-thousand businesses operating within the Bankstown district.<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au/coun/about/yesterday.cfm About Bankstown Council<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070829214231/http://www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au/coun/about/yesterday.cfm|date=29 August 2007}}</ref>

====Bankstown Bunker====
{{Main|Bankstown Bunker}}

The Bankstown Bunker is a disused [[RAAF]] operations facility, located on the corner of Marion and Edgar Street, Bankstown.  The specially constructed bunker became an important [[Royal Australian Air Force]] headquarters from 1945 until its closure in 1947.<ref name=Maltby/>{{rp|page=13}}

The Bankstown Bunker is of similar design to the underground Ops rooms of wartime England, which directed Britain's air defence fighter plane attacks on the invading German [[Luftwaffe]]. Entrance to the bunker was obtained through a concrete passageway which was well screened by a grassy slope; a stairway led to a maze of corridors and hallways leading to various sections.<ref>(information supplied by R. Eyers [[Volunteer Air Observers Corps (Australia)|VAOC]] worker)</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.bunkerboyz.org/bankbunk2.htm |title=Teenagers raid bunker |publisher=BunkerBoyz.org |access-date=2 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829224351/http://www.bunkerboyz.org/bankbunk2.htm |archive-date=29 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Bankstown bunker is currently buried under a public park, surrounded by residential dwellings at the northern end of Taylor Street.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alen |last=Veitch |title=The Bankstown Bunker |publisher=Australian Post |date=24 June 1971 }}</ref><ref>[http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozatwar/bankstownbunker.htm Images of the Bankstown Bunker located in Condell Park.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060916162916/http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozatwar/bankstownbunker.htm |date=16 September 2006 }}</ref>

===Post World War II===
After World War II, Bankstown's population increased dramatically. People relocated from the inner-city and incoming migrants came, first as refugees from Europe and towards the end of the 20th century from Asia and the Middle East (especially Vietnamese and Lebanese<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/south-west/from-the-irish-and-english-in-the-late-18th-century-to-lebanese-and-vietnamese-in-recent-years--bankstown-has-always-been-a-hub-for-migrants/news-story/bc171224ec5a3475f07c53b3659fee00 |title=From the Irish and English in the late 18th century, to Lebanese and Vietnamese in recent years - Bankstown has always been a hub for migrants |work=[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)|Daily Telegraph]] |location=Australia |date=20 October 2015 |access-date=18 February 2019 |author=Beech, James }}</ref>) and the rest of the world.

Bankstown Council relocated to its third premises in 1963 when the Civic Centre that was located at the corner of Chapel Road and The Mall was constructed. It included the Council Chambers, or 'Roundhouse'. The current town hall was built in 1973. The administration building which was part of the 1963 premises, was destroyed by fire on 1 July 1997. Council offices relocated to Bankstown Civic Tower (the blue tower) in 1999. On 13 June 2000, Bankstown's now popular Central Park, where the former administration building once stood, was officially declared Paul Keating Park.<ref name=Maltby/>{{rp|page=13}}

===Heritage===
Bankstown has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* Beresford Avenue: [[Bankstown Reservoir]]<ref name=nswshr-1316>{{cite NSW SHR|5051417|Bankstown Reservoir (Elevated)|hr=01316|fn=EF14/4351; 10/2287; H04/326|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>

==Climate==
Bankstown has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Cfa''). Like most of Western Sydney, it has warm to hot summers and mild winters. The average summer temperature range is from 17.6&nbsp;°C (63.7&nbsp;°F) to 27.8&nbsp;°C (82.0&nbsp;°F), although hot north-westerly winds can cause temperatures to rise up to 40&nbsp;°C (104&nbsp;°F). On average, Bankstown has 8.8 days per year where the temperature rises above 35&nbsp;°C (95&nbsp;°F),<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066137_All.shtml | title = Climate statistics for Bankstown Airport | publisher= [[Bureau of Meteorology]]|access-date=21 Feb 2015 }}</ref> as opposed to only 3.0 days for Sydney Observatory Hill.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_066062_All.shtml | title = Climate statistics for Sydney Observatory Hill | publisher= [[Bureau of Meteorology]]|access-date=21 Feb 2015 }}</ref> The average winter temperature range is from 5.9&nbsp;°C (42.6&nbsp;°F) to 18.0&nbsp;°C (64.4&nbsp;°F). On an average of one night a year, the minimum temperature falls below freezing (0&nbsp;°C).{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}

The highest temperature recorded at Bankstown was 46.1&nbsp;°C (115.0&nbsp;°F) on [[Angry Summer|18 January 2013]], and the lowest temperature recorded was −4.0&nbsp;°C (24.8&nbsp;°F) on 26 July 1968. Bankstown's annual mean rainfall is 869.0mm, slightly less than the Sydney CBD, which is affected more by coastal showers which do not penetrate very far inland.

{{Weather box
|location = Bankstown Airport AWS (1991−2020 averages, extremes 1968−present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan record high C = 47.0
|Feb record high C = 45.3
|Mar record high C = 41.3
|Apr record high C = 36.9
|May record high C = 28.8
|Jun record high C = 25.4
|Jul record high C = 26.8
|Aug record high C = 30.5
|Sep record high C = 35.6
|Oct record high C = 39.7
|Nov record high C = 43.1
|Dec record high C = 44.9
|Jan high C = 29.0
|Feb high C = 28.2
|Mar high C = 26.5
|Apr high C = 24.0
|May high C = 20.8
|Jun high C = 18.0
|Jul high C = 17.6
|Aug high C = 19.3
|Sep high C = 22.2
|Oct high C = 24.4
|Nov high C = 25.8
|Dec high C = 27.6
|Jan low C = 18.5
|Feb low C = 18.3
|Mar low C = 16.4
|Apr low C = 12.8
|May low C = 9.3
|Jun low C = 6.9
|Jul low C = 5.4
|Aug low C = 6.0
|Sep low C = 8.9
|Oct low C = 12.0
|Nov low C = 14.7
|Dec low C = 16.8
|Jan record low C = 10.4
|Feb record low C = 10.0
|Mar record low C = 7.8
|Apr record low C = 2.4
|May record low C = 0.7
|Jun record low C = -1.9
|Jul record low C = -4.0
|Aug record low C = -0.7
|Sep record low C = 0.0
|Oct record low C = 4.4
|Nov record low C = 6.8
|Dec record low C = 6.3
|Jan precipitation mm = 87.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 107.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 81.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 67.1
|May precipitation mm = 55.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 83.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 44.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 42.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 44.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 53.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 67.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 66.6
|Jan precipitation days = 7.6
|Feb precipitation days = 7.4
|Mar precipitation days = 8.3
|Apr precipitation days = 6.2
|May precipitation days = 5.8
|Jun precipitation days = 6.8
|Jul precipitation days = 5.4
|Aug precipitation days = 3.9
|Sep precipitation days = 5.0
|Oct precipitation days = 6.0
|Nov precipitation days = 7.4
|Dec precipitation days = 7.5
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|humidity colour = green
|Jan afthumidity = 54
|Feb afthumidity = 57
|Mar afthumidity = 56
|Apr afthumidity = 53
|May afthumidity = 55
|Jun afthumidity = 55
|Jul afthumidity = 52
|Aug afthumidity = 43
|Sep afthumidity = 44
|Oct afthumidity = 48
|Nov afthumidity = 52
|Dec afthumidity = 52
|Jan dew point C = 16.3
|Feb dew point C = 17.1
|Mar dew point C = 15.2
|Apr dew point C = 12.1
|May dew point C = 9.7
|Jun dew point C = 7.5
|Jul dew point C = 6.0
|Aug dew point C = 5.2
|Sep dew point C = 7.4
|Oct dew point C = 9.7
|Nov dew point C = 12.4
|Dec dew point C = 14.4
|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=066137&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=statistics_summary&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal | title = Climate statistics for Bankstown Airport | publisher= [[Bureau of Meteorology]]|access-date=13 April 2013 }}</ref>
}}

==Commercial area==
Bankstown's central business district is clustered around [[Bankstown railway station]]. The commercial area beside the railway station is known as Bankstown Plaza, while the [[ethnic]] [[Multiculturalism|diversity]] of the area has resulted in a host of restaurants, eateries and [[cafes]].

[[Bankstown Central]], formerly known as Centro Bankstown and previously known as Bankstown Square, is a large shopping centre, immediately to the northeast of the railway station. It was first opened in 1966 and has been expanded a number of times.

Bankstown is the seat of major industry including the aviation, engineering and maintenance at [[Bankstown Airport]]. Other employers include small industrial operations, the public service and the retail industry. The suburb is affected with unusually high unemployment and is subject to a dedicated income management program specifically targeting the problem.<ref>[http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/families/progserv/welfarereform/Pages/income_mgt_bankstown.aspx] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327175407/http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/families/progserv/welfarereform/Pages/income_mgt_bankstown.aspx|date=27 March 2012}}</ref>

{{Wide image|Bankstown panorama.jpg|900px|Panoramic view of Bankstown CBD in 2008}}

==Transport==
[[File:Bankstown railway station 20180929 01.jpg|thumb|right|Southern entrance to Bankstown railway station]]
[[Bankstown railway station]] is on the [[Bankstown railway line|Bankstown line]] of the [[Sydney Trains]] network. The rail line was built to [[Belmore railway station|Belmore]] in 1895 and then extended to Bankstown in 1909. The line was electrified in 1926. In 1928, the line was extended westwards from Bankstown to join the Main Suburban railway at [[Lidcombe railway station|Lidcombe]] and the Main South line to [[Liverpool railway station, Sydney|Liverpool]]. The station was semi-closed on 30 September 2024 to allow for the line eastwards which is projected to be completed around December 2026; it will be converted to [[Sydney Metro]] standards; the Metro trains will subsequently serve the rebranded [[Metro North West & Bankstown Line]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/t3-bankstown-line-to-close-from-monday|title=T3 Bankstown line to close from Monday|publisher=NSW Government|work=Minister for Transport|date=25 September 2024|accessdate=13 October 2024}}</ref>

Bankstown is a major bus interchange for a number of bus services.

The ''Sydney Metropolitan Airport'', more commonly known as [[Bankstown Airport]], was established in 1940 and is constructed on 313 hectares. It has three [[runway]]s, an extensive [[taxiway]] and includes a large business park containing over 170 businesses.

==Parks==
Major parks within Bankstown include  Bankstown City Gardens, [[Bankstown Oval]], Griffith Park, [[McLeod Reserve]] and Paul Keating Park.

'Bankstown City Gardens' were opened to the public in 1973. These gardens consist of many unusual types of flora found in Bankstown and the surrounding area. The park consist of different areas, native, tropical, rose garden and Perennial.<ref>[[commons:Image:2007 0808klklk0001.JPG|File:2007 0808klklk0001.JPG – Wikimedia Commons]]. Commons.wikimedia.org. Retrieved on 16 July 2013.</ref>

'[[Paul Keating]] Park' was built on the site of Bankstown Council's former administration building, after it was destroyed by fire on 1 July 1997.

==Education==
===Primary and secondary education===
St Felix Catholic Primary School Bankstown was founded in 1853, when the area was known as "Irishtown". After [[Francis Moran (cardinal)|Francis Moran]], the [[List of Roman Catholic archbishops of Sydney|Catholic archbishop of Sydney]] had asked for assistance from [[Mary MacKillop]], in 1887 the [[Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart|Josephite sisters]] assumed charge of the school. In 1983, the [[Catholic education in Australia|Catholic Education Office]] took over, and appointed Shirley Jackson as the first lay principal of the school.<ref>{{cite web | title=St Felix Catholic Primary School Bankstown founded | website=Sydney Catholic Schools - The Catholic school system in the Archdiocese of Sydney educates more than 70,000 students in 147 schools. | date=18 August 2021 | url=https://sydcatholicschools.nsw.edu.au/timeline/st-felix-catholic-primary-school-bankstown-founded | access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref> One notable alumnus is [[Elizabeth Anne Reid|Elizabeth Reid]], later Women's Adviser to Prime Minister [[Gough Whitlam]].<ref name=vic>{{cite book| title=Women Shaping the Nation: Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Volume 1|date= 2001| chapter=Elizabeth Reid| via= Her Place Museum| publisher =Centenary of Federation Victoria| url=https://herplacemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2001-Honour-Roll-Booklet-2.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220101117/https://herplacemuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2001-Honour-Roll-Booklet-2.pdf | archive-date=20 December 2024 | url-status=dead | access-date=14 November 2025| p=26}}</ref> {{as of|2025}} the school is operational.<ref>{{cite web | title=St Felix Catholic Primary School Bankstown | website=St Felix Catholic Primary School Bankstown | date=2 December 2015 | url=https://stfbankstown.syd.catholic.edu.au/ | access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

In 1862, a [[Church of England]] School was first opened, and was commissioned as a public school in 1867.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} 

In 1880, Bankstown's first public school was built on land now established as [[McLeod Reserve]]. In 1882, there were 49 boys and 36 girls enrolled, and upkeep expenses totalled 219 pounds, eight shillings and 11 pence. The school's first headmaster was [[Dugald McLeod]] who taught at the school since its opening until 1912. The site of the well used by Bankstown Public School is today commemorated by a plaque. The school was demolished in 1924 due to the development of North Bankstown School in the same year.<ref>[[:Image:First public school in bankstown sign.jpg|File:First public school in bankstown sign.jpg – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]]. Wikipedia.</ref> 

Bankstown Public School, located on Restwell Street, opened in 1915, and celebrated its centenary in 2015. Bankstown West Public School, located on the western side of the suburb, opened in 1931. Since then Bankstown has seen the development of several different educational facilities, such as, [[Al Amanah College]], [[Bankstown Senior College]] (formerly Bankstown Boys High School 1963–1991), [[Bankstown Girls High School]], [[Georges River Grammar School]], [[LaSalle Catholic College, Bankstown|LaSalle Catholic College]], and [[St Euphemia College]].

===Tertiary education===
Tertiary institutions located in the suburb include [[TAFE NSW]] Bankstown and the [[Western Sydney University]] Bankstown City campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/westerngrowth/projects/bankstown-city-campus |title=Bankstown City Campus |publisher=Western Sydney University|access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref>

==Sports==
Bankstown is represented in the [[National Rugby League]] by the [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]]. [[Bankstown District Cricket Club]], which plays its home games at the [[Bankstown Oval]], represents the suburb in the [[Sydney Grade Cricket|NSW Premier Cricket]] competition. [[Bankstown Bruins]], which plays its home games at the [[Bankstown Basketball Stadium]], represents the suburb in the [[NBL1 East]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bruinsbasketball.com.au/about-us/bruins-history/|title=Bruins History|publisher=Bankstown Basketball Association|access-date=12 July 2022|language=en}}</ref> [[Bankstown City FC|Bankstown City Lions FC]] and [[Canterbury Bankstown FC]] represents the suburb in the [[NSW League One]] competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://womens.nplnsw.com.au/2019/06/05/bankstown-city-lions-abuzz-with-their-own-matildas-star/|title=Bankstown City FC abuzz with their own Matildas star|date=5 June 2019 |publisher=Football NSW|access-date=5 July 2022|language=en}}</ref>

==Community facilities ==
===Health===
The NSW Government has committed $1.3 billion for a new hospital in the Bankstown CBD. The new Bankstown Hospital will be located at the site of TAFE Bankstown Campus and is expected to open by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20231211_00.aspx|title=Bankstown CBD announced as location for new hospital|work=NSW Health|date=11 December 2023 |access-date=1 March 2024}}</ref>

===Library===
[[File:Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre May 2019.jpg|thumb|right|Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre]]
The Bankstown Central Library<ref>[http://www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au/Library/default.aspx] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090519000443/http://www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au/Library/default.aspx|date=19 May 2009}}</ref> has served Bankstown on its present site in The Mall since 1954. Eight years earlier in 1946, Bankstown became the first municipality to adopt the Library Act of 1939 by opening a Children's Library, located at Restwell Street. The Bankstown Central Library was demolished in 1981 to make way for a different facility which opened in 1983. {{Citation needed|date=November 2016}}

Bankstown's current library, the Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre was opened in April 2014. The library was designed by [[Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp|FJMT]] and is located next to the Western Sydney University Bankstown Campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.australiandesignreview.com/architecture/bankstown-library-and-knowledge-centre/|title=Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre|work=Australian Design Review|date=31 October 2014 |access-date=7 October 2021|language=en}}</ref>

===Places of worship===
[[Truc Lam]] and [[Thich Huyen Quang|Huyen Quang Temple]], Vietnamese Buddhist temples, are located in the suburb.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phatgiaoucchau.com/p107/thanh-vien-giao-hoi |publisher=The Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Australia - New Zealand |title=THÀNH VIÊN GIÁO HỘI|access-date= 14 July 2021}}</ref>

St Felix de Valois Parish, St Brendan Catholic Church, Bankstown District Uniting Church and St Euphemia Greek Orthodox Church are located in the suburb.<ref>{{cite news|first=Andriana |last=Simos|date=16 November 2020 |title=St Euphemia College's Year 12 cohort given touching graduation ceremony |url=https://greekherald.com.au/community/st-euphemia-colleges-year-12-cohort-given-touching-graduation-ceremony/ |work=The Greek Herald|access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref>

In 1991, the Bankstown Synagogue in Sydney was the subject of an [[Antisemitism in Australia|arson attack]] which destroyed the building.<ref>[https://www.jta.org/archive/fire-at-synagogue-in-sydney-is-fourth-arson-in-six-weeks "Fire at Synagogue in Sydney is Fourth Arson in Six Weeks."] ''Jewish Telegraphic Agency''. 7 Mar 1991. Accessed 4 Mar 2024.</ref> The synagogue was established in 1914.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120823504 Consecration of new synagogue at Bankstown]. ''The Hebrew Standard''. 8 April 1914. Accessed 5 March 2024.</ref> The site was redeveloped and serves as a Uniting Church Aged Care facility.<ref>[https://catalogue.cbcity.nsw.gov.au/libero/WebopacOpenURL.cls?ACTION=DISPLAY&sid=LIBERO:DBK&RSN=888449 "Jewish Martyrs War Memorial Synagogue, Meredith Street Bankstown."] ''Canterbury Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centres''. Accessed 19 Mar 2024.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations

|2001|25293
|2006|26446
|2011|30572
|2016|32113
|2021|34933
}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Bankstown recorded a population of 34,933 people, of which 50.4% were female and 49.6% were male. The median age of the Bankstown population was 34 years, 4 years below the national median of 38.<ref name="ABS"/>

Bankstown has one of the most ethnically diverse communities in Australia. Bankstown is considered one of the most multicultural areas in the country with over 60 different languages spoken by the people of this suburb. 36.1% of people living in Bankstown were born in Australia. The next top responses for country of birth were 15.6% [[Vietnam]], 6.0% [[Lebanon]], 4.8% [[China]] (excludes [[Taiwan]] and [[Special administrative regions of China|SARs]]), 3.2% [[Pakistan]] and 3.1% [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="ABS"/> The most common ancestries in Bankstown were 18.7% [[Vietnamese Australians|Vietnamese]], 11.9% [[Lebanese Australians|Lebanese]], 10.8% [[Chinese Australians|Chinese]], 8.6% [[Australians|Australian]] and 6.2% [[English Australians|English]].<ref name="ABS"/> 18.0% of people spoke only [[English language|English]] at home; the next most common languages were 20.3% [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], 19.3% [[Arabic]], 5.1% [[Urdu]], 4.7% [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] and 3.7% [[Bengali language|Bengali]].<ref name="ABS"/>

The most common responses for religion were 31.1% [[Islam]], 16.3% [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]], 15.5% [[Irreligion|No Religion]], 11.0% [[Buddhism]] and 9.3% not stated.<ref name="ABS"/>

The median weekly household income in Bankstown was $1,531, and the median weekly family income was $2,436.<ref name="ABS"/>

==Notable people==
The following people are residents or former residents of Bankstown:

* [[Bryan Brown|Brian Brown]], actor, producer, author
* [[Jack Cogger]], former [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]] player
* [[Glenn Coleman (rugby league)|Glenn Coleman]], former [[Cronulla Sharks]] player and chairman
* [[Patti Crocker]], actress and author of ''Radio Days''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120873446 |title=Reliving the golden days of radio in Australia |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=20 January 1990 |access-date=12 January 2020 |page=20 |via=Trove }}</ref>
* [[Paulini Curuenavuli]], finalist from the first ''Australian Idol''
* [[Isaac De Gois]], former rugby league player 
* [[Casey Donovan (singer)|Casey Donovan]], winner of the second ''[[Australian Idol]]''
* [[Brett Emerton]], former [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroo]]
* [[Blake Ferguson (rugby league)|Blake Ferguson]], former rugby league player
* [[Ashleigh Gardner]], Australian cricketer<ref>{{cite news |first=Brittany |last=Carter|date=9 November 2021 |title=How the pandemic helped cricketer Ashleigh Gardner build a deeper connection with her Indigenous identity |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-09/australian-cricketer-ashleigh-gardner-indigenous-identity/100557592 |work=ABC |access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref>
* [[Brett Holman]], former [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroo]]
* [[Paul Keating]], 24th [[Prime Minister of Australia]]
* [[John Konrads|John]] and [[Ilsa Konrads]], siblings and world record-breaking swimmers
* [[Lonnie Lee]], Australian pop musician – East Bankstown now ''[[Greenacre]]'' 1956–1959
* [[Jordan Mailata]], Current starting left tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. Two time Pro Bowl alternate (2023, 2024)
* [[Peter Mata'utia]], current [[Castleford Tigers]] player
* [[Melanie Roche]], Olympic medallist in softball
* [[Andrew Scipione]], former Commissioner of the [[New South Wales Police Force]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnews%2Fnsw%2Fandrew-scipione-the-top-cop-with-a-big-heart%2Fnews-story%2F13b5130f5674f993f61bfebfdb5d502f&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium |title=Andrew Scipione - the top cop with a big heart |publisher= News Pty Ltd.|access-date=4 December 2019}}{{subscription required|s}}</ref>
* [[Mark Waugh]] and [[Steve Waugh]], Australian Test cricketing twins.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Bankstown commercial area.jpg|Bankstown Civic Tower
File:Bankstown court.jpg|Bankstown Court House
File:Pkparkbtown2.jpg|Paul Keating Park 
File:Bankstownabodes1.jpg|Contemporary apartments in South Terrace, Bankstown
File:Bankstown Airport Hangars and Terminal.jpg|[[Bankstown Airport]]
File:Bankstown Reservoir.jpg|[[Bankstown Reservoir]] is a heritage item managed by [[Sydney Water]]
File:Bankstown plaza 11.jpg|Old Town Centre Plaza, Bankstown
File:Foundation Stone from Bankstowns first Town Hall (optimized).jpg|Foundation Stone from first Bankstown Town hall
Image:Mcleodreservewell.JPG|McLeod Reserve
File:Bankstown Synagogue.png|1914 founding of the Bankstown Synagogue
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Sue Rosen (1996), ''Bankstown, a Sense of Identity''.

==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092431/http://www.id.com.au/bankstown/CommProfile/default.asp?id=101&gid=10&pg=1&bhcp=1 Community Profile]
* [https://archive.today/20011007003220/http://www.gws.org.au/cgi-bin/local_government.pl?form_type=showitem&documentid=990824999 Local Government Areas, Bankstown]

{{City of Canterbury-Bankstown topics |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Bankstown, New South Wales| ]]
[[Category:Suburbs of Sydney]]