Camden (pop. 73,578) is a town in southeastern New South Wales, Australia. It lies 32 miles (51 kilometers) southwest of Sydney on the Nepean River. Coal mining, from deposits 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Camden, employs many Camden residents. Camden is known for its many historic buildings, many of which date from the colonial era. The town is named for British Colonial Secretary Lord Camden.
Several Aboriginal tribes lived in the Camden area before British settlers arrived in Australia in 1788. In January of that year, a group of convicts, guards, officials, and other settlers established a settlement that became the city of Sydney. This group of settlers became known as the First Fleet. In 1795, a group of cattle that had gone missing from that settlement were rumored to have been seen in the Camden area. New South Wales Governor John Hunter organized a search and found that the few lost cattle had become a sizeable herd. He called the place Cowpastures Plains. Lord Camden allowed wool pioneer John Macarthur to establish a sheep farm in the district in the early 1800’s. In 1840, land in the area was offered for sale, and the town of Camden was formed. It was formally incorporated in 1889.
