It may now have a modern library on it, but once upon a time the site used to produce a huge roar from 20,000 truck racing fans.
Oran Park raceway was a petrol head’s altar to motor racing for many years, hosting regular Australian touring car championship meetings and superbike races.
But there was a special place for truck racing in the hearts of fans across Macarthur and indeed the South West Sydney region.
But all good things come to an end and the activity on the site now is almost the opposite of a motor racing venue – a library being a quiet place where visitors read books or sit in front of a computer to navigate the digital world.
The Oran Park library, an impressive architectural design, was opened a year ago.
To celebrate the milestone, Camden Council is throwing Oran Park Library a first birthday party on Saturday, June 29.
“This library was built on the original grounds of the Oran Park Race Track, which was home to touring car championships, truck racing and superbikes and is a large part of the history of Oran Park,” says Camden mayor Theresa Fedeli.
“The award winning facility has a number of important sustainability initiatives, including gas fired heating to reduce power usage, rainwater reuse for toilets and high-efficiency LED lighting and movement sensors.
“The technology incorporated into the building is also state-of-the-art. The library has interactive whiteboards, smart ID cards and mobile device security access, Wi-Fi access throughout the building and externally and so much more.
“The feedback from our community on this space continues to be overwhelmingly positive. It’s not just a library, but a friendly and welcoming gathering and community space also,” the mayor said.
All residents are invited to come down to the library on Saturday, June 29 between 10am and 2pm, to enjoy a number of exciting activities for all ages, including:
Mini go-karts for children, jumping castles, face painting, library bag painting and demonstrations of the library facilities.
Oran Park Library offers residents a number of free regular services, programs and activities, including:
- Babies into Books and Storytime, fun, 30-minute sessions of stories, songs, rhymes and craft for babies from birth to two years and their carers, and for children aged 2-5 years (respectively);
- Code Club, where students have the opportunity to create and code simple programs and games;
- 3D Printer Workshops, an after-school session where attendees learn the basics of how to use a 3D printer;
- Legal Matters Talks, a series of workshops designed to discuss legal issues relating to residents of all ages and life stages;
- Tech Savvy Seniors, a series of technology training sessions for residents aged 60 years and over; and
- A number of exciting school holiday events and activities.
For more information, including the dates and times of the above activities, visit library.camden.nsw.gov.au
