Cumberland County was proclaimed on 4 June 1788, making it the oldest of New South Wales’ 141 cadastral divisions. It covers most of the Sydney metropolitan area and the Cumberland Plain, and is still used for land titles.
Key Facts
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | Greater Sydney and the Cumberland Plain |
| Established | 4 June 1788 |
| Named after | Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn |
| Local government areas today | City of Sydney, City of Parramatta, City of Penrith, City of Liverpool, Hornsby Shire, Sutherland Shire, and many other Sydney councils |
Parishes in Cumberland County
- Alexandria
- Appin
- Bankstown
- Berowra
- Botany
- Bringelly
- Broken Bay
- Bulgo
- Cabramatta
- Castle Hill
- Castlereagh
- Claremont
- Concord
- Cook
- Cornelia
- Cowan
- Eckersley
- Field of Mars
- Frederick
- Gidley
- Gordon
- Ham Common
- Heathcote
- Holsworthy
- Hunters Hill
- Liberty Plains
- Londonderry
- Manly Cove
- Maroota
- Marramarra
- Melville
- Menangle
- Minto
- Mulgoa
- Narellan
- Narrabeen
- Nelson
- North Colah
- Petersham
- Pitt Town
- Prospect
- Rooty Hill
- South Colah
- Southend
- St Andrew
- St George
- St James
- St John
- St Lawrence
- St Luke
- St Matthew
- St Peter
- St Philip
- Sutherland
- Wattamolla
- Wedderburn
- Willoughby
Towns and Localities Today
Cumberland County’s 57 parishes underpin nearly every suburb of Greater Sydney, from the CBD (parish of St James) to Parramatta (Field of Mars area), Liverpool (Holsworthy), and Penrith (Castlereagh). Its boundaries stretch from Broken Bay in the north to the northern suburbs of Wollongong in the south.
Geography
Cumberland County stretches north from Broken Bay, north-west from the Hawkesbury River, west from the Nepean River, and south-west from the Cataract River to the northern suburbs of Wollongong. It takes in the Cumberland Plain, the low sandstone basin on which most of Sydney sits.
History
Governor Arthur Phillip named the county in honour of Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, during celebrations for King George III’s birthday. It was subdivided into parishes from 1835. Between 1945 and 1964 the County of Cumberland Planning Scheme coordinated development across the Sydney region, before state planning bodies took over.
FAQ
Is Cumberland County still used?
Cadastral divisions like Cumberland remain in land titles and property descriptions but have no government function today.
When was Cumberland County established?
Governor Arthur Phillip proclaimed it on 4 June 1788, making it the oldest of the state’s 141 cadastral counties.
What area does Cumberland County cover?
Most of the Sydney metropolitan area and the Cumberland Plain, from Broken Bay to the northern suburbs of Wollongong.