The lack of a clear definition for Western Sydney is undermining efforts to tackle inequality and segregation across Australia’s largest urban region and Australia’s third largest economy, a new study from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning warns – with government borders and associated resource allocations failing to reflect the lived experience of residents. 

Where in the world is Western Sydney? reveals that Western Sydney - the area experiencing the most development and highest population growth in Sydney - is far from a fixed or agreed-upon region, and the way its boundaries are drawn can obscure policymakers’ understanding of urban inequality and impact delivery of services.

 “Multiple ‘Western Sydneys’ exist with significant variations in the space they cover across metropolitan Sydney,” said lead researcher and Masters student at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, Jodie Vo.  

“The report found that while the term ‘Western Sydney’ is widely used, there is no clear agreement on what it means. Some people include suburbs like Strathfield, while others see it stretching much further west to places like Campbelltown or even the Blue Mountains. Different government agencies, health services, and planning documents all use different maps and definitions, adding to the confusion.“

Ms Vo, who lives in Western Sydney continued: “When severe disadvantage is hidden within well-resourced areas, it risks being overlooked – making it harder to tackle inequality where it’s most urgent.” 

Blurry borders, real consequences 

Governments have poured billions into infrastructure and economic initiatives to ‘lift up’ Western Sydney with the aim of enhancing both the economic and social profile of the region. 

 The study compared official boundary definitions with public perceptions across 33 Local Government Areas (LGAs). A primary survey invited Sydney residents to draw their own maps and answer questions about what Western Sydney means to them. 

 Over two months, around 800 survey responses revealed a rich, multi-layered public definition of Western Sydney – one that better reflected lived inequalities and segregation than official boundaries. The study also found that definitions varied across different government and stakeholder institutions. 

Public views on Western Sydney boundaries

Survey responses revealed just how varied and deeply personal people’s definitions of Western Sydney can be. For some, the boundaries are tied to transport lines – “Auburn to me is Western Sydney but Epping is not, even though it’s on a northwest line.” Others drew on childhood memories: “There was no Inner West when I was growing up, it was just Western Sydney, which was west of the Harbour Bridge.”

Different perspectives also reflected shifting cultural and geographic identities. As one resident explained, “To me, Western Sydney doesn’t extend down past Campbelltown.” 

Another noted, “The true boundary is cultural and fluid and can’t be boxed with administrative borders.” Some even saw change over time: “Parramatta… I think used to be Western Sydney. Now, I wouldn’t say that it’s so firmly Western Sydney anymore.” 

This lack of consistency creates problems said Ms Vo: “A community that sees itself as part of Western Sydney might be left out of important programs simply because it falls outside a certain map.  

“To plan better and address inequality, the report says we need a clearer, shared understanding of what ‘Western Sydney’ actually includes. 

 “Residents describe the region as multicultural, urban and diverse, but also as marginalised, stigmatised, and situated on the wrong side of the so-called ‘latte line’ in terms of socio-economic opportunity.” 

What the study found 

The research also surveyed residents across the whole Greater Sydney region, revealing that: 

• A large portion of Greater Sydney residents don’t socialise with those in ‘Western Sydney’. 

• Residents see Western Sydney’s boundaries as constantly shifting – shaped by development, affordability, and exclusion. 

• In many cases, the lived reality of inequality is more accurate than what is defined by government-defined boundaries. 

“Residents see Western Sydney as a dynamic, evolving place,” said Associate Professor Somwrita Sarkar, who supervised Ms Vo’s dissertation, and is a resident of Western Sydney.

 “But the map must evolve with the territory to address real on-the-ground inequalities. That means identifying and prioritising the pockets of extreme disadvantage within the broader Western Sydney region.” 

Why it matters 

Greater Sydney is home to more than five million people and is one of the fastest growth areas in metropolitan Sydney, often being described as its‘third largest economy. Yet if governments and institutions can’t agree on where the region begins or ends, investments risk being misaligned with need. 

The study highlights how inconsistent boundaries can leave disadvantaged communities overlooked. For instance, Burwood was included in the NSW Government’s WestInvest funding definition of ‘Western Sydney’, despite many residents and institutions not considering it part of the region. While Burwood does face some socio-economic challenges, it is less disadvantaged than neighbouring areas. In contrast, Fairfield - consistently recognised as part of Western Sydney and ranking much higher on disadvantage indices - received disproportionately less funding under the same program. 

The report urges a rethink of how regions like Western Sydney are defined not just on paper, but in policy, services and funding, and residents’ sense of identity and place. 

“Clearer, more consistent definitions could help target resources more effectively,” said Ms Vo.  

“We need boundaries that reflect lived experience, not just administrative convenience. Currently, resource distribution is often based on fixed spatial boundaries rather than dynamic, data-driven metrics that could better identify where support is truly needed.” 

About the study 

Where in the world is Western Sydney? forms part of a broader research effort to understand how spatial definitions shape urban life and equity in Australian cities. 

 “This research challenges how we think about place, power and planning in Australia,” said Associate Professor Sarkar.  

“When boundaries don’t reflect lived experience, policies risk missing the mark. We need more sophisticated approaches to urban inequality – and this work is a step in that direction.”