| Elderslie Sydney, New South Wales |
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| Population: | 2,639 (2001) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode: | 2570 | ||||||||||||
| Location: | 60 km (37 mi) from Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||
| LGA: | Camden Council | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Camden | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Macarthur | ||||||||||||
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Elderslie is a suburb of the Macarthur Region of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia in Camden Council. In addition, it is located on the east side of the Nepean River. It has a small local shop, high school, primary school, netball courts, cricket, AFL, Football (Rugby League) oval, a BMX track and a historic house John Oxley Cottage built in the1890s and converted into the Camden Visitors' centre in 1989. It was named after explorer John Oxley who held an early grant of land in the area.
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The area now known as Elderslie was probably originally home to the Tharawal people, based in the Illawarra region, although the Western Sydney-based Darug people and the Southern Highlands-based Gandangara people were also known to have inhabited the greater Camden area. Very early relations with British settlers were cordial but as farmers started clearing and fencing the land affecting food resources in the area, clashes between the groups arose until 1816 when a number of indigenous people were massacred and the remainder retreated from direct conflict with the settlers.[1]
In 1795, a group of lost cattle was discovered in the area, earning it the name Cowpastures. In 1805, a small hut was built at Elderslie near the ford on the Nepean River to house two constable assigned to keep an eye on the cattle. This was the first house built by British settlers in the Camden region. Later the same year, wool pioneer John Macarthur was granted 5,000 acres (20 km²) at Cowpastures. After the land was cleared, it was used for farming for most of the next 200 years until Sydney's suburban sprawl reached the town of Camden and modern suburbs like Elderslie were subdivided into housing blocks.
In the 2001 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census, the suburb of Elderslie had a population of 2,639 people. Statistically, it is a very homogeneous community with 94% Australian citizens, 95% only speaking English at home, and 89% of dwellings being detached houses. The number of Anglicans (36%) is almost double the national average (21%) while the number of people stating they have no religion (10%) is substantially less than the national average (16%).[2]
Elderslie lies in the south ward of Camden Council, currently represented by Chris Patterson (who is also the Mayor of Camden), Eva Campbell and Fred Whiteman. It sits within the state electorate of Camden, represented by Labor's Geoff Corrigan, the former Mayor of Camden, and the federal electorate of Macarthur, represented by Liberal's Pat Farmer, the former ultra-marathon runner.
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