Listing Inspection

About Elderslie

Elderslie lies on the southern end of the Camden Municipality, 62 km southwest of Sydney, on the rural-urban fringe. It is bordered by the Nepean River to the west, Narellan Creek to the north, Camden By-Pass to the south, and Studley Park Golf Course to the east. The population at the 2001 census was 2,638. Elderslie provides a predominantly residential environment with agricultural activities occurring on the flood plain. The residential character of Elderslie is derived primarily from the combination of built forms and mature street trees. These elements combine to provide attractive and diverse streetscapes.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the growth of coal mining contributed to local population growth and demand for residential land releases on farmland adjacent to the floodplain. This created a need for education facilities and led to establishment of Mawarra Primary School (1972) and Elderslie High School (1976). Elderslie was also identified as part of the growth area for Greater Sydney, initially as part of the Macarthur Growth Centre Plan (1973), then the Metropolitan Strategy (1988) and most recently in the Cities for the 21st Century plan (1995).

In the most recent Elderslie land releases, developers have commodified the rural mythology and imagery of 'the country town' and associated rural vistas, with names like 'Camden Acres', 'The Ridges' and 'Vantage Point'. These values have attracted 'outsiders' to the area in the hope of finding places where 'the country still looks like the country'. Part of this imagery is found in Elderslie's older residential streets, which are a picture in November when the Jacarandas provide a colourful show of purple and mauve.