The Fairfield City Council, located in the western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, traces its origins back to the “Municipal District of Smithfield and Fairfield,” established on 8 December 1888. It was later renamed the “Municipality of Fairfield” in 1920, attaining city status in 1979. Encompassing an area of 102 square kilometers (39 sq mi), it boasted a population of 208,475 as of the 2021 census. The current mayor, Cr. Frank Carbone, is the first popularly-elected independent mayor of Fairfield.
Fairfield stands out as one of the most ethnically diverse suburbs in Australia, with a significant Vietnamese and Assyrian population exceeding sixteen times the national average. Linguistic diversity is also prominent, with Vietnamese, Arabic, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, and Cantonese spoken in households at rates far above national averages.
The Smithfield–Wetherill Park Industrial Estate, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, serves as the nucleus of manufacturing and distribution in Greater Western Sydney, hosting over 1,000 manufacturing, wholesale, transport, and service firms.
Historically, European settlement in the area dates back to the early 19th century, with the establishment of the Bland Oak in the 1830s. Railways further supported development, leading to a population boom after World War II, fueled by migration and Housing Commission initiatives. The council underwent various name changes and amalgamations over the years, evolving into the City of Fairfield in 1979.
The city has faced challenges, including a notable political assassination in 2001 and a trial ban on spitting in public in 2006. In April 2024, it experienced its first terrorist attack when an Islamic extremist stabbed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and five others at a Wakeley church, fortunately with all surviving the ordeal.
