Penrith

Penrith, city, east-central New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the Nepean River, a section of the Hawkesbury River.

Founded in 1815, it was known as Evan and Castlereagh before being renamed for Penrith in Cumberland (now in Cumbria), England. It was declared a municipality in 1871 and a city in 1959. A suburb of Sydney (30 miles [50 km] east), to which it is linked by rail and the Great Western Highway, Penrith is also a resort and agricultural centre (dairying, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and flowers). A major economic activity is the slaughter of livestock (poultry and cattle). Industries include the manufacture of aluminum products, concrete and building materials, plastics, textiles, pharmaceutical products, and engineering and electrical products. Penrith is home to a number of cultural institutions, including galleries, museums, and the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, named for Dame Joan Sutherland, the Australian soprano and Sydney native. Pop. (2006) local government area, 172,140; (2011) local government area, 178,467.