Penrith is the commercial and civic hub of far Western Sydney, sitting about 55 km west of the Sydney CBD on the eastern bank of the Nepean River at the foot of the Blue Mountains. Long described as Western Sydney's regional capital, it anchors the area's healthcare and education precincts, a large regional shopping centre and a fast-changing CBD where high-rise apartment towers are now being proposed. It best suits families, first-home buyers and health, education and retail workers who want big-city services with space, river and lakeside recreation nearby.
At a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Region | Western Sydney |
| Council (LGA) | Penrith City Council |
| Postcode | 2750 |
| Distance to Sydney CBD | Around one hour by direct T1 train to Sydney's CBD (Central): typical journeys run about 57-65 minutes. By car… |
| Median house price | ~$820k (mid-2026) |
| Median unit price | ~$615k for units over the past 12 months |
| Typical rent | Houses around $630/week and units around $580/week |
Transport
Penrith station is a major stop on Sydney Trains' T1 North Shore & Western Line, with bus routes radiating from the station across the wider LGA. For drivers, the M4 Western Motorway and Great Western Highway both pass through the suburb. The Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport line (St Marys to Bradfield via the airport) is under construction and, once it opens around 2027, will link the corridor to the new airport and Aerotropolis from nearby St Marys.
Schools
Penrith Selective High School is the district's fully academically selective public co-educational high school, established in 1950 and drawing gifted students from across Western Sydney. Jamison High School is a comprehensive public co-educational high school in neighbouring South Penrith, adjacent to Southlands Shopping Centre. Penrith Christian School is an independent K-12 Christian school serving the Penrith district from a campus in the Orchard Hills area (school website, 2026; Good Schools Guide).
Universities
Western Sydney University's Penrith Campus sits at Second Avenue in the adjoining suburb of Kingswood, roughly one train stop or a short bus ride from Penrith's centre, with a free shuttle from Kingswood station (Western Sydney University, 2026).
Shopping & Amenities
Westfield Penrith (585 High Street) is the retail anchor - a large regional centre with around 286 specialty stores plus Myer, BIG W, Woolworths, ALDI, Hoyts cinemas and Apple, serving a trade area of roughly 546,000 residents. The High Street strip is the civic and dining heart, recently rejuvenated by Penrith City Council, while The Joan (Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre) provides theatre and performing arts nearby. Nepean Hospital, one of NSW's biggest health infrastructure projects, is being redeveloped on the suburb's eastern edge with a new 14-storey tower already delivered under Stage 1 (Nepean News, 2026).
Parks & Outdoors
The Nepean River is Penrith's signature open space: Tench Reserve, a 10-hectare park on the river's eastern bank just south-west of the town centre, reopened after a $13 million revamp with play, fitness and gathering areas. North of the suburb, the Penrith Lakes system of former quarries includes Pondi (Penrith Beach), an artificial swimming beach that returns each summer season, alongside the Sydney International Regatta Centre and Penrith Whitewater Stadium, with the Blue Mountains escarpment rising immediately to the west.
Property Market
The median house price in Penrith was around ~$820k (mid-2026). See our full Sydney property price map for how the suburb compares across the city. Housing stock mixes older brick homes on generous blocks with a growing pipeline of apartments near the station and CBD - a $1.1 billion masterplan at 164 Station Street with 278 apartments in stage one was lodged in late 2025, and a fresh 41-storey, ~400-apartment proposal for 614-632 High Street emerged in February 2026.
New Developments
Nepean Hospital redevelopment: more than $1 billion NSW Government program; Stage 1 (new 14-storey tower) largely delivered and Stage 2 expected to complete in 2026. Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek: testing with a first Jetstar passenger jet in September 2026, with the first commercial passenger flight scheduled for 25 October 2026. Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport line: 23 km, six stations from St Marys to Bradfield via the airport, opening expected around 2027. Penrith CBD high-rise wave: multiple apartment towers and masterplans proposed around the station and High Street, mostly at planning/DA stage as of 2025-26.
Jobs & Local Economy
Nepean Hospital makes healthcare one of Penrith's biggest employment sectors, with the hospital redevelopment one of NSW's largest health infrastructure projects (Nepean News; Aussie, 2025). Other key employers and industries include Western Sydney University's Penrith campus at Kingswood, Westfield Penrith and the broader retail sector, Penrith City Council, and Penrith Panthers as a major sporting and entertainment presence. Western Sydney International Airport, opening for passenger services from late October 2026 at nearby Badgerys Creek, is beginning to add aviation and logistics jobs to the corridor.
Nearby Suburbs
Emu Plains, Jamisontown, South Penrith, Kingswood, Cambridge Park, Cambridge Gardens, Cranebrook, Castlereagh
Sources & method
Researched 4 September 2026 from named public sources — census and government records, transport authorities, council and planning documents — plus published sales data. Where sources disagree on a figure, the guide says so rather than picking one.
Sources cited in this guide:
Corrections are welcome — if something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we will fix it.
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