Where does western Sydney really start?

Where does western Sydney begin and end? It’s a question that has perplexed Sydneysiders for generations, and could have endless answers based on who is asked.

Does it begin at Lakemba? Burwood? Sydney Olympic Park? Or further west, at Parramatta?

And if it starts at any of these areas, does that mean the inner west extends that far? Or are there two western Sydneys, an inner and outer western Sydney? Or two inner wests?

Considering one in 10 Australians lives in the region, and that it has grown into a cultural and economic powerhouse, it has become more essential than ever to define it.

And while there have been previous attempts to draw the border, whether it be via the “latte line” or the “Red Rooster line”, the Herald has looked through ABS data to reveal a series of data-backed boundaries that reflect a more updated understanding of our city.

Based on rates of languages spoken at home, median house prices, or ABS statistical level 4 categories, the border could be at three different locations: Ashfield, Lakemba and Auburn, respectively.

Adam Leto, chief executive of the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, says each option also presents a cultural calculation, because of the many “sub-cultures” in the region.

“If you speak to some of these areas, they’ve all got their own views on what they consider to be western Sydney as well,” he said. “Lots of these places, like Lakemba, have their own subculture that is tied to events or activities. The same goes for Parramatta, Penrith, Campbelltown, they all have their own brands and their own sub-identities.

“And it is hard to tie them all neatly around a certain concept or theme. But that is what western Sydney is: mixed.”

But with infrastructure changes due in the next decade, including two metro lines opening, in addition to the Western Sydney International Airport, these borders may change again.

Dr Angela Smith, a lecturer at UNSW in human geography, said that while borders would always be “mobile and dynamic”, defining western Sydney was an important step towards recognising it as the “face of modern Australia”.

“Greater western Sydney is literally half of Sydney, it’s 2½ million people. It’s the third-biggest economy in Australia, and I think western Sydney gets marginalised too much. I think this is a powerful reminder that it’s not small and it’s not insignificant.”

She said the value in deciding on a border was to end the “minoritisation” of people from western Sydney.

“These are statistical reminders about the size of the voting bloc,” she said. “There is value in a greater western Sydney bloc because it is a powerful reminder of just how important the region is.”

Border One: The language line

A defining perception of western Sydney is that it is home to much of Sydney’s migrant population, meaning a higher rate of multilingualism.

Since 2011, the ABS has tracked the rates of which people speak a language other than English at home, with the statewide average sitting at 26.6 per cent in 2021.

But, looking at the rates of multilingualism suburb by suburb, a trend emerges. Moving from east to west, suburbs broadly increase in the rates of people who speak a language other than English at home.

Those rates spike to more than 50 per cent in some areas, around the middle of the city, revealing a border. To the west of Burwood and Canterbury, the rates of multilingualism rise exponentially, placing those suburbs at the edge of this rough border.

Border Two: The house price line

The second option for a border is based on the ABS’s tracking of the median price of established house transfers.

This tracks the median house prices, and an analysis of the dataset shows that house prices suddenly drop around Lakemba, to below $1.4 million.

A line can be drawn through the city based on that figure. To the east of the line, median house sales remain firmly above $1.4 million, dropping off steeply on the western side of the border.

This border cuts out Burwood, Homebush, Canterbury and Hurstville from western Sydney, and has a somewhat jagged shape, but clearly distinguishes between two different housing markets, and two different Sydneys.

Border Three: The ABS Statistical Area

The ABS has itself also marked out western Sydney.

It organises data into different “levels” and statistical areas level 4 includes a naming system that indicates which areas are and are not included in western Sydney.

These are areas named by the ABS to represent specific labour markets and population centres, usually areas with populations above 100,000, and up to 500,000 in cities.

Based on that, the ABS categorises Canterbury-Bankstown as inner south-west, cutting it out of western Sydney and leaving Auburn the furthermost suburb of the region, and where the border with the inner west lies.

This means the inner west is expanded to include areas such as Canterbury, Punchbowl and Bankstown, making it one of the biggest areas in the city.

The Sydney Morning Herald has opened a bureau in Parramatta. Email parramatta@smh.com.au with news tips.