Bankstown in New South Wales is a vibrant suburb with a rich history and diverse community. Located around 16-17 kilometres southwest of the central business district, the suburb of Bankstown falls under the City of Canterbury-Bankstown. Among other things, the suburb is known for its ethnically diverse population. It was named after Joseph Banks, a traveller and colonial botanist who visited Australia in 1770. Bankstown’s population, as of 2021 was 34,933, making it one of the most populated suburbs in the region. Here are some other interesting facts about Bankstown:

Also, check out the top Things to Do in Bankstown

Bankstown is located about 16 kilometres southwest of the Sydney CBD.

It is famous as a multicultural suburb encompassing citizens from multiple cultural backgrounds and hosting events and festivals depicting various cultures around the year.

The population of Bankstown, as of 2021, was 34,933.

Bankstown is the most populous suburb within the City of Canterbury-Bankstown.

Its postcode is 2200.

The Hume Highway and the M5 Motorway are two major roads connecting Bankstown with other major suburbs in the region.

Some popular educational institutions in and around Bankstown include the Bankstown Campus of the University of Western Sydney and TAFE NSW South Western Sydney Institute.

Bankstown was officially established in 1795 by John Hunter, the second Governor of New South Wales.

The area that is now Bankstown was once part of Cumberland Plains woodland and was covered by Turpentine ironbark forest.

It was originally home to the Bediagal and Gadigal Aboriginal tribes.

The European settlement in the region started in the late 18th century, with the first settlers largely engaging in farming and timber cutting.

Bankstown Airport was established in 1940 and was used as a base for the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. It has now been renamed to the Sydney Metropolitan Airport and is a major transport centre and business hub.

Over the years, Bankstown has evolved into a vibrant commercial and retail hub, featuring shopping malls, business headquarters, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Bankstown Reservoir, a heritage-protected water tower in the suburb, was built in 1920 and still serves a large area of South-Western Sydney.

Mayor Ines Peter Miller opened the first town hall in Bankstown on 22 Oct 1898.

Top things to see, visit and do include The Bankstown Sports Club, Bankstown Arts Centre, the Bankstown Bunker, The Bankstown Steam Locomotive Society, Bankstown City Gardens, Bankstown Sports Club, Bankstown Station, Ruse Park, Bryan Brown Theatre, the Bankstown Town Hall, Bankstown City Plaza and Paul Keating Park. The Bankstown Arts Centre hosts various cultural events and exhibitions throughout the year. Platform One at Greenfield Station Bistro, a fine dining restaurant in a train carriage, is a popular attraction and eatery.

The Bankstown Bunker is a historical attraction and was originally called Air Defence Headquarters Sydney (ADHQ Sydney). It was used as a RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) operations facility between 1945 and 1947.

Bankstown is renowned for its cultural diversity, particularly the influence of the Arab and Vietnamese cultures. A significant population of the suburb’s residents come from various ethnic backgrounds, including Arab, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, and more.

The population of Bankstown, as of 2021, was 34,933, of which 36.1% were born in Australia. The remaining were born in Vietnam (15.6%), Lebanon (6.0%), China (4.8%), Pakistan (3.2%) and Bangladesh (3.1%).

The people of this suburb are known to speak over 60 different languages, the most common of which include English, Vietnamese, Arabic, Urdu, Mandarin and Bengali. Islam, Christianity and Buddhism were among the most common religions followed by locals.