63-572: The Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) , located in Penrith , Sydney , New South Wales , Australia , is a rowing and canoe sprint venue built for the 2000 Summer Olympics . It is now a popular sporting venue, with the Head of the River Regatta held annually. The Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) is a 196-hectare outdoor sport and entertainment facility, for both on and off
126-562: A 196-hectare on and off water, outdoor activity centre. It consists of 60-hectares of landscaping, and 98-hectares of water surface making up the 2300m competition lake and 1500m warm up lake with width of 170m and average depth of 5m. Under the freshwater, native aquatic plants totalling over 50,000 were planted. The landscaping includes a 5 km running and cycling loop, and along the track over 30,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted. The competition lake consists of nine competition lanes spanning 13.5m wide. SIRC's island capacity
189-414: A case study for innovative sustainable methods of water management. SIRC's “water quality has been suitable for primary contact 95% of the time since 1996”. This was met for majority of the year with minimum intervention, recurrent budget expenditure and no chemical treatment. As a shallow, freshwater lake with depth of 5m, SIRC is at risk of water contamination by algae and exotic macrophytes . The lakebed
252-592: A combination of its inland location, urban heat island effect (i.e. density of housing and lack of trees) and its position on the footsteps of the Blue Mountains, which trap hot air. Penrith's dry, sunny winters are owed to the Great Dividing Range blocking westerly cold fronts, which turn to foehn winds on the range's leeward side (that includes all of the Sydney metropolitan area). In
315-452: A few degrees warmer than Sydney (Observatory Hill), especially during spring and summer, when the difference in temperature between Penrith and the Sydney area can be quite pronounced. Night-time temperatures are a few degrees cooler than Sydney on most nights of the year. In extreme cases, there could be a temperature differential of 10 degrees Celsius in summer, owing to sea breezes , which affect coastal areas much more than areas further from
378-576: A large venue which is somewhat removed from residences, making the Regatta Centre an ideal location. In May 2012 the second round of the UIM world powerboat championships for Blown Alcohol and 6 Litre boats was held here over 3 days and will return in 2013 It is part of the Penrith Lakes . The site is managed by NSW Sport and Recreation . The Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) is
441-407: A spectator grandstand, architecturally designed by Woods Bagot which seats 1000 spectators undercover. SIRC consists of a 2300m competition lake, a 1500m warm up lake and a 5 km cycling and running loop amongst other prominent features. The regatta centre is utilised for activities such as; rowing, canoeing, triathlons, catch and release fishing competitions, walking/jogging/rollerblading along
504-585: A township at Castlereagh. What is clear is that the origin of the name, Penrith is steeped in mystery. Penrith was possibly named after Penrith in Cumbria by someone who knew the old town and who noted geographical similarities. By 1819, the name Penrith was in use with its first reference in the Sydney Gazette on 8 December 1821 appointing John Proctor as keeper of the new gaol and court house. The lockup at Penrith placed government law and order in
567-681: A wide pathway running for several kilometres for strolls along the riverbank. The eastern bank is also the home of the Nepean Rowing Club. Wallacia Mandi , a Mandaeans mandi (temple) in Wallacia , is located on the west bank of the Nepean River. Water from the Nepean River is pumped into baptismal pools at the mandi for ritual purification . Aboriginal people used the river regularly, and their fish traps could be seen at Yarramundi before sand and gravel mining redirected
630-542: Is Penrith Lakes , a system of flooded quarries that are now recreational lakes. One of these lakes hosted the rowing events of the Sydney 2000 Olympics . This facility is rated as a Level One course which can be used for international events. The course itself is fully buoyed and can be modified to accommodate swimming and kayaking events. North of the rowing lake is the Penrith Whitewater Stadium ,
693-450: Is 719.2mm, which is significantly less than recorded closer to the coast (Sydney Observatory Hill's mean yearly rainfall is 1212.2mm), as coastal showers do not penetrate inland. The highest recorded temperature was 48.9 °C (120.0 °F) on 4 January 2020 (Penrith was also the hottest place on earth that day). The lowest recorded temperature was -1.8 °C (28.7 °F) on 16 July 2018. Penrith's hot temperatures are exacerbated by
SECTION 10
#1732780718150756-670: Is a major railway station on the Main Western railway line . It has frequent services to and from the city and is also a stop on the intercity Blue Mountains Line . Penrith railway station is served by a bus interchange and by the Nightride Bus route 70. Between 1940 and 1950, the Log Cabin Hotel in Penrith was served by its own station. Log Cabin railway station was accessible to the public and used by patrons of
819-474: Is at 20,000 people, and overall venue capacity is at 30,000. However, SIRC can host up to 50,000 people upon approval of an application. Within the Pavilion and Boatshed facilities located on the island there are 4 conference rooms equipped with audio and visual equipment, as well as a Lakeside function room. Furthermore, the grandstand and pavilion seats 1000 people. Parking at SIRC provides for 2000 cars and
882-492: Is considered its newspaper of record, and produces a weekly print edition as well as 24/7 online coverage. The current FM radio station "the edge" 96.1 FM evolved from the former (original) 2KA station founded by Frank Kelly. With the sale of Vintage FM, and My88 leaving the 88.0 band to go online, Penrith is no longer served by a local radio station. In 2001 the Penrith Museum of Printing opened. Its collection represents
945-428: Is planted with over 50,000 native aquatic plants such as ribbon-weed ( Vallisneria Americana ) and was introduced with bass ( Macquaria novemaculeata ) fingerlings “to establish a ‘balanced aquatic ecosystem’ with a healthy aquatic plant assemblage, capable of out-competing nuisance algae and ‘exotic’ macrophytes.” The growth of blue-green algae ( Oscillatoria ) along the base of the ribbon-weed at SIRC resulted in
1008-676: Is situated off of Old Castlereagh Road . The concept to convert the gravel and sand quarries of Penrith into recreational lakes was initially conceived in 1968. In conjunction with the NSW Government's facilitation, land holding companies merged their quarrying operations and acreage establishing a joint venture forming the Penrith Lakes Development Corporation (PLDC) in 1980. Under the Environment Planning and Assessment Act they passed
1071-716: Is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Penrith . The Geographical Names Board of New South Wales acknowledges Penrith as one of only four cities within the Greater Sydney metropolitan area. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, the Penrith area was home to the Mulgoa tribe of the Darug people . They lived in makeshift huts called gunyahs , hunted native animals such as kangaroos, fished in
1134-624: Is the largest in the world, which also incorporates teams from the Blue Mountains, Blacktown and Windsor/Richmond areas. Penrith Stadium was also home to the Penrith Nepean United FC soccer club. The team had a 2–1 win against Sydney FC in a home game friendly match in front of 5000 fans on 17 August 2007. There are also many other sporting associations, including cricket clubs, AFL clubs, Penrith City Outlaws gridiron team, Panthers Triathlon club, Penrith Emus Rugby , swimming , and soccer clubs. Just west of Cranebrook
1197-501: The 2021 census , Penrith recorded a population of 17,966 people. Of these: Penrith is twinned with: Nepean River The Nepean River ( Darug : Yandhai ), is a major perennial river , located in the south-west and west of Sydney , New South Wales , Australia. The Nepean River, and, continuing by its downstream name, the Hawkesbury River , almost encircles the metropolitan region of Sydney. The headwaters of
1260-607: The Geographical Names Board of New South Wales as to the boundaries of Penrith the suburb. The Board includes in its official description the area of Kingswood Park, Lemongrove and North Penrith, which the Council considers separate suburbs. Penrith has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cfa/Cwa ) with long, hot summers, mild to cool short winters with cold nights, and pleasant spring and autumn. The daytime temperatures are generally
1323-472: The Lady Penrhyn . There is no historical evidence to prove Macquarie's hand in naming the depot, especially considering he often endowed and recorded benefactors with that favour. Furthermore, Macquarie would have ensured that a plan of the town would have been drawn up. No documentary evidence has shed any light on Macquarie's reasoning for the placement of this depot and its connection with his vision for
SECTION 20
#17327807181501386-690: The M5 motorway and run west of the current M7 motorway. Penrith Public School and Penrith High School are two public schools in High Street. Jamison High School is in South Penrith . St Nicholas of Myra is a Catholic primary school, which is part of Catholic Education, Diocese of Parramatta , is located in Higgins Street. The Penrith campus of Nepean College of TAFE is located in the centre of town on Henry Street. The Penrith campus of
1449-644: The Nepean Gorge . Near Wallacia it is joined by the dammed Warragamba River ; and north of Penrith, near Yarramundi , at its confluence with the Grose River , the Nepean becomes the Hawkesbury River. The river supplies water to Sydney's five million people as well as supplying agricultural production. This, combined with increased pressures from land use change for urban development, means
1512-525: The University of Western Sydney is located in nearby Werrington . The University of Sydney has a campus near Nepean Hospital in Kingswood, for research into the basic biomedical sciences and educating medical students at the hospital. Penrith has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Other items of interest include: The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Complex is in High Street next to
1575-419: The 5 km track surrounding the course, scuba diving lessons and corporate events and functions. The Sydney International Regatta Centre averages over 50 000 visitors a month, resulting in over half a million international and domestic visitors annually. Defqon.1 Weekend Festival Australia was also held at SIRC; as a newly established and reasonably popular hard dance music event Defqon.1 Festival requires
1638-635: The Blue Mountains, access is best obtained by the Great Western Highway. Access from the south can be obtained by The Northern Road and Mulgoa Road, north from Castlereagh road or Richmond road, or from north and south via Westlink M7 and the M4 Western Motorway. The NSW Government announced funding for the construction of the M9 in the 2014 state budget to connect Camden, Penrith and Windsor. The proposed motorway will start from
1701-704: The Council Chambers. Named after opera singer Joan Sutherland , the building was designed by architect Philip Cox and opened in 1990. It incorporates the Penrith Conservatorium of Music and the Q Theatre (Penrith) , which had been operating in Station Street for 30 years before moving to the complex in 2006. Penrith Stadium is the home of the Penrith Panthers NRL team. Penrith's Junior Rugby League competition
1764-506: The Hawkesbury/Nepean remains an important and popular wild bass fishery. The luscious banks of the Nepean River provide a natural haven for local flora and fauna and a quiet location for local residents to relax. At Emu Plains , the western bank of the river provides a location for outdoor theatre productions on warm summer nights. The eastern bank at Penrith provides barbecue facilities and children's play equipment, as well as
1827-639: The Home Office and a close personal friend of Arthur Phillip. It took about three years to realise that the Nepean flowed into the Hawkesbury. Nepean river was also one of the pivotal sites of the Hawkesbury and Nepean Wars , fought between the Kingdom of Great Britain and local aboriginal clans in the late 1700s and early 1800s. During the 1820s, the Nepean district's most famous early settler,
1890-407: The Nepean River 40,000 to 50,000 years ago, according to repeated, revised and corroborated radiocarbon and thermoluminescence dating. At first when these results were new they were controversial. More recently in 1987 and 2003 dating of the same sediments strata has revised and corroborated these dates. A great many more artefacts made by people have been found in the region dating back to within
1953-437: The Nepean River estimated to have reached 13.4 metres (44 ft) in the river, and 27.47 metres (90.1 ft) AHD . This flood carried away the approaches to the recently built Victoria Bridge . Emu Plains, Castlereagh, and the lower parts of Penrith were all under flood, causing immense loss of property. Many houses were carried into the river by landslides. Many residents were forced to take refuge in public buildings such as
Sydney International Regatta Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-491: The Nepean River rise near Robertson , about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of Sydney and about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the Tasman Sea . The river flows north in an unpopulated water catchment area into Nepean Reservoir , which supplies potable water for Sydney. North of the dam, the river forms the western edge of Sydney, flowing past the town of Camden and the city of Penrith , south of which flowing through
2079-664: The Nepean River, and gathered local fruits and vegetables such as yams. They lived under an elaborate system of law which had its origins in the Dreamtime . Most of the Mulgoa were killed by smallpox or galgala shortly after the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Early British explorers such as Watkin Tench described them as friendly, saying, "they bade us adieu, in unabated friendship and good humour". The recorded history of Penrith began on 26 June 1789. Eighteen months after
2142-492: The Penrith Hospital and the public schools. A major flood such as that of 1867 would cause inundation of over 16,000 dwellings and damage costing approximately A$ 1.4 billion . There have been other notable floods since, particularly that of July 1900 and March 1914. Again there was much flooding of streets and loss of houses and property along the river. 1974 was another significant La Niña flood event. During
2205-600: The Reverend Henry Fulton, John McHenry and a military officer from the regiment stationed there. In 1814, William Cox constructed a road across the Blue Mountains which passed through Woodriff's land at Penrith. Initial settlement in the area was unplanned but substantial enough for a courthouse to be established in 1817. The post office was established in 1828, the Anglican church, St Stephens,
2268-700: The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the Regatta Centre held the rowing events and the canoe sprint events. Penrith, New South Wales Penrith is a city in New South Wales , Australia , located in Greater Western Sydney , 55 kilometres (31 mi) west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Nepean River , on the outskirts of the Cumberland Plain . Its elevation is 32 metres (105 ft). Penrith
2331-508: The Sydney regional Environmental Plan No.11. The NSW Government unveiled the 2000-hectares of aquatic based entertainment facility in 1986. The 196-hectare Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) was completed in 1995 via the Penrith Lakes Scheme consisting of 2000-hectares of former quarrying land. Woods Bagot , Blue Scope Steel (Formally known as BHP Steel), North Shore Paving Co Pty Ltd, and Conybeare Morrison were among
2394-469: The area to settlers in 1804 with Captain Daniel Woodriff 's 1,000 acres (4.0 km ) on the banks of the river the first land grant in the area. The first government building in the district was the military depot built (at the present Penrith police station) by William Cox , in mid-1815 near the new Road ( Great Western Road ) on unassigned Crown land, set well back from the river. It represented
2457-562: The banks of a river, nearly as broad as the Thames at Putney and apparently of great depth'. Phillip later named the river after Evan Nepean , the under-secretary of state in the Home Office, who had been largely responsible for the organisation of the First Fleet. From this point, European settlement began in earnest, firstly on the Hawkesbury River, and later southward up the Nepean. Governor Phillip Gidley King began granting land in
2520-464: The centre of the Evan district. This group of buildings became the point of contact for local administration for anything ranging from issuing publican's licences, holding inquests and church services. Although a magistrate had been appointed to Castlereagh in 1811, the Penrith lockup increased in importance with its promotion to a court house in 1817. A bench of magistrates was appointed: Sir John Jamison ,
2583-646: The colony's finest Georgian mansion, Regentville House, near Penrith, on a ridge overlooking the Nepean River. Sir John established an agricultural estate at Regentville and became a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council . His grave can be seen in St Stephen's graveyard. Regentville House burned down in 1868 but most of its stonework was salvaged and used for building projects in and around Penrith. The first bridge, financed by local businessman James Tobias (Toby) Ryan
Sydney International Regatta Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-412: The companies which contributed to the creation of the facilities present on the regatta centre. The goal of the Penrith Lakes Scheme was to turn the area into a recreational space for the local community. SIRC was staged first for its use in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) draws a significant amount of water from the Nepean River system. It has been used as
2709-589: The current concrete weir was built at the beginning of the Nepean Gorge, an anticendant entrenched meander caused by the slow uplift during the Blue Mountains orogeny carved down through the fifty-million-year-old Hawkesbury sandstone . In the 1950s, the building of the Warragamba Dam across the steep gorge of the Warragamba River , the Nepean's major tributary, intercepted the flow of
2772-697: The defoliation of 1997. Additional causes include; low dissolved oxygen levels, increased turbidity, rising water levels and stratification. To physically remove the floating foliage on the surface of the water, ribbon-weed aquatic weed harvesters were implemented. The Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) was developed with a focus on Economically Sustainable Development (ESD) specifically in regard to flora and fauna, people, construction, energy, water, air, soil and waste management. Ways in which they promoted this focus are: The Sydney International Regatta Centre has hosted various recreational and sporting activities since its completion in 1995. Events include: During
2835-423: The effective western and south-western boundary of the metropolitan region of Sydney for its entire length, there are very few fixed crossings of the Nepean River. Going upstream, these comprise: The first flood on record - apparently a small occurrence - was in 1795. Others followed in 1799, March & October 1806 and 1809. In 1810, after a series of major floods on the Hawkesbury, Governor Macquarie proclaimed
2898-443: The formalisation of law and order in the district. Its placement seems to have been a practical decision by Cox, placing it on flood-free Crown land on the new road to Parramatta, just east of Woodriff's Rodley Farm. Governor Lachlan Macquarie paid Cox £200 for 'erecting a Depot for Provisions, Guard House, erecting necessary Enclosures for cattle and Garden Ground, Frame for a Well ... on the new near Emu Ford'. At this time, Emu Ford
2961-402: The great bulk of its waters and diverted them to meet the needs of the growing Sydney metropolitan area, reducing the river to a shadow of its former self. These dams and weirs have had a potent effect, blocking migratory native fish like Australian bass (also locally commonly known as perch) from much of their former habitat, and reducing floods and freshets needed for spawning. Nevertheless,
3024-445: The history of Australian letterpress printing . Penrith sits on the western edge of the Cumberland Plain , a fairly flat area of Western Sydney, extending to Windsor in the north, Parramatta in the east and Thirlmere in the south. The Nepean River forms the western boundary of the suburb and beyond that, dominating the western skyline, are the Blue Mountains . There is a difference of opinion between Penrith City Council and
3087-602: The hotel from the city. Despite requests by Penrith Council for full integration with Sydney rail services as the western terminus for the suburban network, Log Cabin station was only ever used for special services. Penrith can be accessed from St. Marys and Mount Druitt via the Great Western Highway . Access from further east is best obtained by the M4 Western Motorway using either The Northern Road or Mulgoa Road exits. If travelling east from
3150-521: The landing of the First Fleet , an exploring party led by Captain Watkin Tench set out to further discoveries made by Governor Arthur Phillip earlier in the month. In the daylight hours of 27 June, Tench and his party discovered the broad expanse of the Nepean River . Tench's party became the first Europeans to see the site of what is now the City of Penrith. Tench later wrote 'we found ourselves on
3213-402: The landowner and physician Sir John Jamison (1776–1844), erected a Georgian mansion, called Regentville House, on the model estate which he had established on a rise overlooking the river, not far from the present-day city of Penrith . Jamison is considered one of early Australia's most important political and agricultural pioneers. A fire devastated the house in the 1860s. Despite forming
SECTION 50
#17327807181503276-628: The last 5,000 years. Karskens et al. have made an attempt to recover, integrate and map archaeological data of the area from both published and unpublished reports. When the British colony was established at Sydney in 1788, the Governor, Captain Arthur Phillip, charted the coast 50 km north to the mouth of the Hawkesbury and around 32 km upstream till they were stopped by a waterfall, most likely at Hawkesbury Heights. Phillip named
3339-429: The ocean and do not usually penetrate as far inland as Penrith. Frost occasionally occurs on some winter mornings, mainly due to a mountain breeze and a temperature inversion caused by the proximate mountains. The average summer temperature range is 17.9 °C (64.2 °F) to 29.8 °C (85.6 °F) and in the winter 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) to 18.6 °C (65.5 °F). Mean yearly rainfall in Penrith
3402-693: The only pump-powered and artificial whitewater slalom course in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built for the Sydney 2000 Olympics , and it continues to host international competitions on a regular basis. Penrith is home to the Elite Fight Gym. A mixed martial arts training facility established by UFC fighter James Te-Huna . In 2013, James te Huna left EFG to establish a rival MMA centre in St Marys named Bee Stingz (located at Valley Fitness). The first Flip Out trampoline arena
3465-562: The river after Lord Hawkesbury, later titled Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool , President of the Privy Council Standing Committee on Trade. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Watkin Tench set off to walk inland, west of Sydney. About 60 kilometres (37 mi) inland, at the foot of the Blue Mountains , he discovered a large river which he named Nepean after Evan Nepean , the Under Secretary of State at
3528-580: The river has been suffering significant stress. There are eleven weirs located on the Nepean River that significantly regulate its natural flow. The river has been segmented into a series of weir lakes rather than a freely flowing river and is also impacted by dams in the Upper Nepean catchment. The Wallacia Weir was initially built as a wooden weir for the John Blaxland flour mill at Grove Farm. The first Australian fishsteps were built when
3591-675: The river. Charles Darwin also wrote of people at Emu Ford , commenting on their skill with spears, while Watkin Tench of the Royal Marines also noted their use of spears, lines and nets to capture fish. The people of the Nepean region also regularly traded with people of the western plains via a route that Bell followed when he laid down an alternate route over the mountains, now called Bells Line of Road . Near Penrith, since 1971 numerous Aboriginal stone tools were found in Cranebrook Terraces gravel sediments deposited by
3654-523: The water activities. SIRC was built as part of the larger Penrith Lakes Scheme consisting of 2000 hectares of former quarrying land, redesigned to accommodate 6 major lakesincluding the Sydney International Regatta Centre. Its construction was finalised in 1995 prior to the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics . The Sydney International Regatta Centre contains outdoor and undercover exhibition spaces, multiple conference rooms and
3717-638: The ‘Macquarie Towns’ of Windsor , Richmond, Wilberforce , Castlereagh , and Pitt Town in an attempt to ensure that development was restricted to higher ground, free of flooding. The devastation caused by flooding in February 1817 prompted Governor Macquarie to issue a notice exhorting settlers, in the strongest possible terms, to build their residences above the established flood levels. More flooding occurred in 1857 and twice in 1860, both February and May. The most devastating flood occurred in June 1867 with
3780-420: Was one of the few locality names that would indicate the depot's position. In 1816, Cox mentioned the lockup at 'Penryhn', among a list of expenses. There appears little doubt that he was referring to the depot that was later referred to as Penrith. The name for the new depot, Penrhyn, may have simply been misinterpreted by others. Penrhyn was possibly named after the First Fleet ship that carried women convicts,
3843-484: Was opened and consecrated 16 July 1839 followed by the Catholic Church, St Nicholas of Myra, in 1850. Two other prominent Penrith pioneers were Irish-born Thomas Jamison (1752/53-1811), a member of the First Fleet and surgeon-general of New South Wales (after whom Jamisontown is named), and his son, the landowner, physician and constitutional reformer Sir John Jamison (1776–1844). In 1824, Sir John erected
SECTION 60
#17327807181503906-484: Was opened in Penrith in 2012. The franchise has since gained over 60 locations across 6 countries. Penrith Softball Club - Founded in 1975, the Penrith Softball Club has been the driving force behind the sport in the local area. Penrith is home to three local newspapers: The Western Weekender , Nepean News , and Penrith Press , the latter of which no longer produces a print edition. The Weekender
3969-415: Was opened over the Nepean in 1856 and was washed away the following year in a flood. The railway line was extended to Penrith railway station in 1863, a school was established in 1865 and in 1871 the area became a municipality. It officially became a city in 1959. Penrith is one of the major commercial centres in Greater Western Sydney . The suburb contains two shopping centres. Penrith railway station
#149850