St Marys at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Council | Penrith City Council |
| Postcode | 2760 |
| Typical homes | Wartime and post-war cottages, 1950s Housing Commission homes, later brick veneer, townhouses near the station |
| History | 1940s munitions filling factory and worker housing in North St Marys |
| Watch for | South Creek and Byrnes Creek flood controls, asbestos in fibro, reactive clay |
How the munitions factory shaped St Marys
Between 1941 and 1943 the Commonwealth acquired about 4,500 acres north of the railway for one of Australia's largest munitions filling factories. Worker housing followed, including a small North St Marys estate designed by architect Walter Bunning with houses facing a shared garden, and hundreds of temporary cottages. In the late 1950s the NSW Housing Commission built a larger estate in North St Marys.
As a result, many homes in and around St Marys are fibro or weatherboard cottages from the 1940s and 50s, alongside later brick-veneer houses. Fibro sheeting from that era very often contains asbestos, so testing and licensed removal are part of many renovation and demolition quotes. See asbestos removal costs.
Flood controls along South Creek and Byrnes Creek
Penrith City Council adopted the South Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan in April 2020, covering suburbs including St Marys and Oxley Park, and the St Marys (Byrnes Creek) plan in March 2020, covering land between the M4, the St Marys levee and South Creek. A separate Little Creek plan covers Colyton, Oxley Park, St Marys and North St Marys.
If a flood study shows your land is below the flood planning level, the Section 10.7 certificate carries a flood notation. Check it before you plan a granny flat, extension or rebuild, as floor levels and materials can be controlled.
- Older homes on lower ground may sit below current flood planning levels, which matters if you are raising floors, adding rooms or rebuilding after water damage.
- Damp walls in older brick homes on low ground are worth investigating before replastering. See rising damp signs and treatment.
Renovation priorities for St Marys homes
- Bathrooms and kitchens in post-war cottages, often with timber floors on piers that need checking for rot and termites first.
- Re-roofing older tile or iron roofs and replacing gutters. See roof restoration or replacement.
- Extensions and granny flats on larger blocks, subject to flood controls.
- Crack repairs and underpinning assessments where clay has moved older footings.
- Fences and driveways where townhouse developments now sit beside original homes.
Streets near the station and Queen Street shops get busy, and a skip bin on the road can need a council permit, so plan where materials and waste will go.
Popular jobs in St Marys
Bathroom renovations
Plan a bathroom around layout, water management, ventilation and finishes before comparing prices.
Get quotesHouse demolition
Plan demolition around approvals, service disconnections, hazardous materials and site access.
Get quotesHome extensions
Plan additional space around your existing structure, household needs and site constraints.
Get quotesRoof restoration
Understand whether repairing and restoring your existing roof is a sensible alternative to replacement.
Get quotesUnderpinning
Investigate footing movement and obtain a repair scope based on qualified assessment.
Get quotesFence installation
Define the boundary, purpose and installation scope before choosing a fence.
Get quotesLocal service guides
Common questions
Who is the council for St Marys?
Penrith City Council covers St Marys, North St Marys, Oxley Park and Colyton. Mount Druitt and the suburbs east of Ropes Creek are in Blacktown City Council. For flood questions on a St Marys property, start with the Section 10.7 certificate and Penrith Council's floodplain management information.
Does my fibro house in St Marys contain asbestos?
If it was built or renovated before 1990 it may, and fibro sheeting from the 1940s to the early 1980s very often does. Don't drill, cut, sand or water-blast it. Have a sample tested. In NSW, removing more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos needs a licensed removalist.
Is a knock-down rebuild worth it in St Marys?
On a larger block with an old fibro cottage, a rebuild or duplex can make sense, but flood controls, asbestos removal and demolition approval all affect the numbers. Compare renovating, rebuilding and selling before you commit. See house demolition costs and knock-down rebuild vs renovate.