Brenan Park

Brenan Park
Brenan Park entrance sign
Location of Brenan Park
Type	Urban park, sports ground, nature reserve
Location	Smithfield
Coordinates	33°51′29″S 150°55′48″E / 33.8581°S 150.9300°E / -33.8581; 150.9300Coordinates: 33°51′29″S 150°55′48″E / 33.8581°S 150.9300°E / -33.8581; 150.9300
Area	20 hectares (49.42 acres)
Opened	1981
Operated by	Fairfield City Council
Status	Open all year

Brenan Park is an urban park situated in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.^[1] Primarily categorised as a sports field, the reserve contains an open grassland, bushland and recreational areas within the vicinity of native plants, such as eucalyptus trees. It is named after John Ryan Brenan, who founded the suburb of Smithfield in 1836. Artificially terraced, Brenan Park was established in the early 1980s and it is one of the largest reserves in the City of Fairfield.^[2]

History

Brenan Park is seen in this aerial view of south-western Sydney, thanks to its conspicuous triangular shaped design.

The shape of Brenan Park appears on the first survey design, in 1838, of the market town sketched for John Ryan Brenan.^[3] Brenan Park was planned to be a housing subdivision and a market area in 1938, with its triangular shape fashioned to take advantage of the topography and views of the surrounding district. The housing subdivision was never constructed. The site was used as a sewage disposal depot and landfill until 1980, where it was proclaimed as unhealthy building land in 1981. Subsequently, it was re-landscaped and eventually developed into a reserve.^[4]

Geography

The reserve is located in the suburb of Smithfield, and is bordered by Cumberland Highway, Brenan and Bourke Streets, which provide good passive surveillance opportunities from close residences and contiguous roads. The park's surrounds are mainly single-story houses.^[5] Brenan Park is in an elevated and weather-exposed location, with the highest areas being 44 metres above sea level and those near the Cumberland highway at 32 metres. The elevated regions in the park are situated alongside Bourke Street, where they would provide a panoramic view of the Greater Western Sydney area and even Sydney CBD.^[6]

Ecology

Indigenous trees and shrubs are abundant in the park, with dominant vegetation species being Melaleuca quinquenervia (near the tennis courts), Eucalyptus moluccana (near the car park in Brenan Street), Casuarina glauca, Callistemon viminalis, Paperbark, Acacia, Lomandra and Eucalyptus bosistoana, most of which whom have large canopies that provide shade for visitors.^[7]

The boundary along the top part of Bourke Street and near Cumberland Highway is thickly planted with an avenue of trees and shrubs, which provide a sense of entry to the park. The park is predominantly made up of sod and it lies on residual soils that are 1000mm deep. Its trees represent a link to the Cumberland Plains Woodland that covered most of Fairfield LGA before European settlement.^[8]

Pigeons, Australian ravens, Australian magpies, galahs and crested pigeons are common sightings in the park, and can be seen in flocks feeding off ground food, most especially pigeons and ravens. Bird feeding is not encouraged in the park.^[9]

Features

The vastly open fields of Brenan Park.

The park features six tennis courts, nine soccer fields (six which are full-sized), three cricket pitches, baseball and softball diamonds, three children's playgrounds, picnic areas (with barbeque), an outdoor gym and a 2km long walking track (shared with cycling) that circuits the park. The park has a tremendous open space, which can be used for kiting and other activities when they are not being used for sport.^[10] The park is floodlit and can be used at nights. Amenity blocks include a community hall, toilet facilities, kiosks and change rooms. The sports fields and the community hall are hired to a number of community groups, schools and clubs.^[11]

Clubs

The sports fields are hired by these sporting groups:

Smithfield RSL Cricket Club
Smithfield RSL Soccer Club
Fairfield Patrician Brothers Soccer Club
Smithfield RSL Baseball Club

References

↑ King Michael & Associates (1997) Recreation Needs Assessment Study prepared for Fairfield City Council
↑ Fairfield City Council (February 1999) Know your suburb – Smithfield Fairfield City Council
↑ George V (1991) Fairfield – A History of the District – second edition Fairfield City Council
↑ Clouston (1999) Fairfield Open Space Strategy prepared for Fairfield City Council
↑ Fairfield City Council (1999) Strategic Plan for Fairfield City 1999-2010 Fairfield City Council
↑ Fairfield City Council (1994) Local Environment Plan Fairfield City Council
↑ Woodward Clyde Environmental Consultants (1992 and 1997) Environmental reports in Brenan Park Property Files for Fairfield City Council
↑ Fairfield City Council (1999) Management Plan for Fairfield City 1999-2003 Fairfield City Council
↑ Fairley A and Moore P (1995) Native Plants of Sydney District – an identifcation guide Kangaroo Press, Sydney
↑ King M & Associates (1997) Recreation Needs Assessment Study prepared for Fairfield City Council
↑ Fairfield City Council (December 1999) Vision for Fairfield Fairfield City Council

Sydney landmarks
Buildings / structures	Admiralty House Archibald Fountain Australia Square Cadmans Cottage The Cenotaph Chifley Tower Citigroup Centre International Convention Centre Deutsche Bank Place Dr Chau Chak Wing Building El Alamein Fountain Finger Wharf General Post Office (No. 1 Martin Place) Government House Governor Phillip Tower Hong Kong House Harbour Bridge Hyde Park Barracks King Street Wharf Kirribilli House Long Bay Macquarie Lighthouse Mint Observatory Old Government House Opera House Overseas Passenger Terminal Parliament House Parramatta Gaol Regimental Square Queen Victoria Building St Andrew's Cathedral St Mary's Cathedral Sydney Tower The Toaster Town Hall War Memorial Warragamba Dam White Bay Cruise Terminal World Square World Tower
Precincts	Barangaroo Bays Precinct Central Park Chatswood Chinatown Crows Nest Darling Harbour Green Square Kings Cross Martin Place North Sydney Parramatta Pitt Street Mall Railway Square The Rocks Sydney Olympic Park Waterloo
Parks and nature	Auburn Botanic Gardens Balls Head Reserve Berowra Valley National Park Bicentennial Park Blue Mountains National Park Botany Bay National Park Brenan Park Centennial Parklands Central Gardens Nature Reserve Chinese Garden of Friendship Chipping Norton Lake Cronulla sand dunes Farm Cove Field of Mars Reserve Fred Hollows Reserve Garigal National Park Garawarra Conservation Area Georges River National Park Heathcote National Park Hyde Park Ku-ring-gai Chase Lake Parramatta Lane Cove National Park Macquarie Place Prospect Hill Prospect Reservoir Rosford Street Reserve Royal Botanic Garden Royal National Park Sydney Harbour National Park Sydney Park The Domain Western Sydney Parklands Wetherill Park Nature Reserve
Cultural institutions	Art Gallery of New South Wales Australian Museum Australian National Maritime Museum Harry's Cafe de Wheels Manly Art Gallery and Museum Museum of Contemporary Art Museum of Sydney Powerhouse Museum Sea Life Sydney Aquarium State Library Sydney Conservatorium of Music Taronga Zoo
Sport	Canterbury Park Racecourse Dunc Gray Velodrome NSW Tennis Centre Parramatta Stadium Randwick Racecourse Rosehill Gardens Racecourse Royal Sydney Golf Club Stadium Australia State Sports Centre Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Football Stadium Sydney International Aquatic Centre Sydney International Regatta Centre Sydney Motorsport Park Sydney Olympic Park Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre Sydney Showground Stadium The Australian Golf Club The Lakes Golf Club Valvoline Raceway Warwick Farm Racecourse Wentworth Park Western Sydney International Dragway
Transportation	Anzac Bridge Bradfield Highway Broadway Cahill Expressway Captain Cook Bridge Central station Circular Quay City Circle Cross City Tunnel Devonshire Street Tunnel Eastern Distributor George Street Gladesville Bridge Gore Hill Freeway Liverpool–Parramatta T-way M2 Hills Motorway M4 Western Motorway M5 Motorway Macquarie Street North-West T-way Norton Street Opal card Oxford Street Pacific Highway Parramatta Road Pitt Street Princes Highway Pyrmont Bridge Roseville Bridge Southern Cross Drive Spit Bridge Sydney Airport State Transit Authority Sydney Ferries Sydney Harbour Bridge Sydney Harbour Tunnel Sydney Light Rail Sydney Metro (proposed) Sydney Trains Tom Uglys Bridge Warringah Freeway Westlink M7 William Street
Entertainment	Casula Powerhouse Capitol Theatre Entertainment Quarter Fox Studios Australia Luna Park Sydney Lyric Plaza Theatre The Star State Theatre Sydney Super Dome Sydney Theatre Theatre Royal Wet'n'Wild
Beaches	Avalon Bondi & North Bondi Bronte Clovelly Coogee Cronulla Manly Maroubra Newport Palm Beach Tamarama
Islands	Bare Clark Cockatoo Fort Denison Garden Goat Rodd Shark Snapper Spectacle

Nature reserves of New South Wales, Australia
Central NSW	Abercrombie Caves Arakoola Avisford Barton Binnaway Boomi Boomi West Borenore Caves Boronga Brigalow Park Budelah Careunga Coolbaggie Copperhannia Dapper Donnybrook Dural Eugowra Freemantle Gamilaroi Girralang Jenolan Caves Kemps Creek Kirramingly Koorawatha Kuma Macquarie Marshes Midkin Munghorn Gap Narran Lake Pilliga Planchonella The Rock Tollingo Turallo Wambool Weetalibah Winburndale Woggoon Wongarbon Yaegl Yarringully
Hunter and Mid North Coast	Awabakal Baalijin Back River Bagul Waajaarr Bandicoot Island Bird Island Bollanolla Boonanghi Boondelbah Boorganna Bowraville Bretti Brimbin Bugan Burning Mountain Bushy Island Camels Hump Camerons Gorge Cedar Brush Coocumbac Island Coolongolook Cooperabung Creek Coramba Corrie Island Coxcomb Darawank Fifes Knob Fishermans Bend Gads Sugarloaf Ganay Garby Goonook Hexham Swamp Jaaningga Jagun Jasper John Gould Juugawaarri Karuah Kattang Khappinghat Khatambuhl Killabakh Killarney Kooragang Koorebang Kororo Lake Innes Limeburners Creek Little Broughton Island Macquarie Mernot Mills Island Moffats Swamp Monkerai Monkeycot Moon Island Moonee Beach Mount Seaview Muttonbird Island Ngambaa North Rock One Tree Island Pambalong Pee Dee Pulbah Island Queens Lake Rawdon Creek Regatta Island Running Creek Seaham Swamp Seal Rocks Skillion Snapper Island Stormpetrel Talawahl The Castles The Glen Tilligerry Tingira Heights Tomalla Towibakh Valla Wallabadah Wallamba Wallaroo Wallis Island Weelah Willi Willi Caves Wingen Maid Wingham Brush Worimi Yahoo Island Yarravel Yessabah
New England Tablelands	Aberbaldie Ashford Caves Bluff River Bolivia Hill Booroolong Burnt-Down Scrub Deer Vale Demon Duval Georges Creek Gibraltar Guy Fawkes River Imbota Ironbark Jobs Mountain Linton Little Llangothlin Mann River Melville Range Mother Of Ducks Lagoon Mount Hyland Mount Mackenzie Mount Yarrowyck Muldiva Ngulin Serpentine Severn River Stony Batter Creek The Basin Tuggolo Creek Watsons Creek Yina
Northern Rivers	Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Ballina Banyabba Billinudgel Boatharbour Booyong Broken Head Brunswick Heads Bungabbee Byrnes Scrub Captains Creek Chambigne Chapmans Peak Clarence Estuary Cook Island Couchy Creek Cudgen Cumbebin Swamp Davis Scrub Flaggy Creek Gumbaynggirr SCA Hattons Bluff Hayters Hill Hogarth Range Hortons Creek Iluka Inner Pocket Julian Rocks Koukandowie Limpinwood Little Pimlico Island Marshalls Creek Moore Park Mororo Creek Mount Neville Mount Nullum Muckleewee Mountain Munro Island North-West Solitary Island North Obelisk North Solitary Island Numinbah Richmond River Sherwood Snows Gully South West Solitary Island Split Solitary Island Stotts Island Susan Island Tabbimoble Swamp Tallawudjah Tuckean Tucki Tucki Tweed Estuary Tyagarah Ukerebagh Uralba Victoria Park Waragai Creek Wilson Wilsons Peak Woodford Island Wooyung
Outback NSW	Big Bush Boginderra Hills Buddigower Cocopara Goonawarra Gubbata Ingalba Jerilderie Kajuligah Kemendok Lake Urana Langtree Ledknapper Loughnan Morrisons Lake Mutawintji Narrandera Nearie Lake Nocoleche Nombinnie Pucawan Pulletop Quanda Round Hill Tarawi The Charcoal Tank Yanga Yathong
South Coast and Highlands	Araluen Badja Swamps Bamarang Barren Grounds Barrengarry Bees Nest Bell Bird Creek Belowla Island Bermaguee Bimberi Binjura Black Andrew Black Ash Bobundara Bogandyera Bondi Gulf Bournda Broulee Island Brundee Swamp Brush Island Burnt School Burra Creek Burrinjuck Cambewarra Range Cecil Hoskins Clarkes Hill Comerong Island Coolumbooka Coornartha Courabyra Cullendulla Creek Cuumbeun Dananbilla Dangelong Devils Glen Downfall Eagles Claw Egan Peaks Ellerslie Five Islands Flagstaff Memorial Good Good Goorooyarroo Gungewalla Hattons Corner Illawong Illunie Ironmungy Jerralong Jingellic Joadja Kangaroo River Kybeyan Meringo Merriangaah Montague Island Mount Clifford Mount Dowling Mudjarn Mullengandra Mundoonen Myalla Nadgee Nadgigomar Narrawallee Creek Nest Hill Ngadang Nimmo Numeralla Oak Creek Parma Creek Paupong Queanbeyan Quidong Razorback Robertson Rodway Saltwater Swamp Scabby Range Scott Stony Creek Strike-a-Light Tabletop Tapitallee Tinderry Tollgate Islands Triplarina Ulandra Undoo Wadjan Wanna Wanna Wee Jasper Wiesners Swamp Wogamia Wollondilly River Woollamia Worrigee Wullwye Yanununbeyan Yaouk Yatteyattah
Sydney and surrounds	Agnes Banks Berkeley Bird Island Castlereagh Central Gardens Brenan Park Chipping Norton Lake Cockle Bay Dalrymple-Hay Dharawal Evans Crown Gulguer Lion Island Lake Parramatta Long Island Manobalai Mulgoa Muogamarra Newington Pelican Island Pitt Town Prospect Reservoir Prospect Hill Rileys Island Rosford Street Reserve Royal National Park Spectacle Island Towra Point Wallumatta Wamberal Lagoon Wambina Wetherill Park Nature Reserve Windsor Downs
Protected areas of New South Wales

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