| About Blaxland |
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The Federal electorate of Blaxland stretches from Cabramatta to Punchbowl and north to Guildford West. Suburbs include Bankstown, Bass Hill, Birrong, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Carramar, Chester Hill, Chullora, Fairfield East, Georges Hall, Greenacre, Guildford West, Landsdowne, Lansvale, Mt. Lewis, Old Guildford, Punchbowl, Sefton, Villawood, Woodpark, Yagoona and Yennora.
Approximately 143,000 people live in Blaxland. It is one of the most culturally diverse electorates in Australia, with 44.5% of the population born overseas. Apart from English, the main languages spoken in the home are Arabic (19%) and Vietnamese (14%). A variety of religions are also represented with 27% of residents identifying as Catholic, 16% as Buddhist and 15% as Islamic. Since Blaxland was proclaimed in 1949, it has been continuously represented in Federal Parliament by a member of the Australian Labor Party. Blaxland was once represented by former Prime Minister Paul Keating. He was first elected the Member for Blaxland in 1969, at the age of 25. He was the Prime Minister of Australia from 20 December 1991 to 11 March 1996. MPs who have represented Blaxland:
The electorate is named after pioneer farmer and explorer, Gregory Blaxland (1778-1853). In 1813, he led the first known European expedition across the Blue Mountains, along with William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth. |
View a larger map of Blaxland with Legends About Blaxland
‘Blaxland is an important part of the great Australian story. The traditional custodians of the land are the Dharug, Dharawal and Eora people. Rock paintings dating back 3,000 years can still be found along the Georges River. Matthew Flinders was the first European to explore and chart its waterways. Almost 100 years later Sir Henry Parkes settled on its banks. They are two men whose public service helped shape a nation. One gave Australia its name and the other inspired its Federation.In the years between Flinders and Parkes, bushrangers plied their trade along Dog Trap Road and convicts built the historic Lansdowne Bridge. When the railway came to town 100 years ago, it brought with it a land boom. Paddocks were subdivided and suburbs were born. After the Second World War, when Australia opened its arms to the people of the world, many settled here.
Blaxland is now one of the most culturally diverse places in Australia. Working people from 130 different countries, speaking more than 60 different languages, call it home. It is a place of churches, mosques and temples, where different languages grace our shops and where our homes welcome everyone, no matter where they were born, how they worship or what language they speak. This is where the new Australia is being forged-a courageous, cosmopolitan, cohesive Australia, where being Australian is not about where you come from but about where you are going.'
Jason Clare, Member for Blaxland
First speech to Parliament, 18 February 2008
