In the heart of Sydney’s southwest, where the name “Claymore” once whispered tales of hardship and despair, a remarkable transformation is underway.
But amid the construction cranes and freshly laid foundations, it’s the stories of the people that truly capture the essence of this community’s journey.
Samantha Campbell, a self-made businesswoman who once walked these very streets as a child, recently returned to her old stomping ground.
Her heart heavy with memories, she shared a raw and unfiltered glimpse into a childhood shaped by poverty, violence, and the ever-present shadow of disadvantage.
In a poignant Facebook video, Campbell painted a vivid picture of life in Claymore, a suburb where dreams seemed as distant as the glittering skyline of Sydney’s CBD.
Images of burnt-out cars, rubbish-strewn yards, and dilapidated homes served as a stark backdrop to her heartfelt reflections.
“This is what you saw on a regular basis,” Campbell recounted, her voice tinged with a mix of sadness and resilience.
“Sometimes there were children that would be burned in a house fire – so sad.”
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Samantha Campbell, a self-made businesswoman, relives some of her childhood memories of growing up in Claymore in a facebook video. Source: Facebook
The video shows empty and rubbish-filled houses and yes, even a burned out boat. Source: Facebook
Claymore has long been regarded as Sydney’s worst public housing estate. Source: ABC
The area is slowly being revitalised but some residents refuse to leave. Source: Google image
For a child growing up in Claymore, such scenes were not anomalies, but the very fabric of everyday life.
“Imagine, when you’re a kid – eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve – and this is your normal,” she continued.
“And then people say, ‘Do you have dreams? What are your dreams?’ Like, who teaches you to have dreams, you know? Who teaches you that you can have more than just this?”
Campbell’s life took a dramatic turn when she fell pregnant at the tender age of 14.
Faced with the responsibility of caring for another human being, she made a conscious decision to break free from the cycle of disadvantage that had defined her own upbringing.
“I knew I didn’t want to see a child to see this as his forever normal,” she declared, her voice filled with unwavering determination.
“I had to change. I had to give him more, and without even knowing it, I changed the trajectory of our whole lives.”
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Fourteen-year-old Samantha Campbell knew she wanted a better life for her son when she fell pregnant. Source: Facebook
Claymore has long been known as a hot crime zone with many empty houses damaged by bored teens and criminal gangs. Source: Spanian/YouTube
Online videos also show many back and front yards littered with rubbish. Source: Spanian/YouTube
Other homes are boarded up. Source: ABC
For decades, Claymore has been a symbol of concentrated disadvantage, a place where families battled against seemingly insurmountable odds.
Originally designed in the 1970s as a sprawling public housing estate, it became a repository for low-income families, often isolated from essential services and opportunities.
The suburb’s reputation reached its lowest point in 2012, when a Four Corners episode exposed the grim realities faced by children growing up in poverty.
But now, a new narrative is being written in Claymore’s story.
The Claymore Urban Renewal Project aims to replace 948 ageing public housing homes with 1600 new residences, including 100 seniors’ housing units.
This shift will result in a 70 per cent private, 30 per cent social housing mix, fostering a more integrated and sustainable community – and the transformation is already visible.
Google images reveal that the south-western end of Claymore has undergone significant changes, with a number of new homes and parcels of land now up for grabs.
According to PropTrack, homes in the area are selling for a median of $940,000, driven by upgraded transport services, revitalised parks, and improved shopping amenities.
But the renewal project is not without its challenges.
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Claymore residents have mixed feelings about plans to knock down and rebuild the public housing estate.
However, the suburb’s revitalisation is well underway with a large number of new homes now dotting the south-western corner of Claymore. Source: REA
A concept image of Claymore’s urban renewal project show a vibrant new neighbourhood.
Claymore’s median house prices is nearing $1m. Picture: Dylan Robinson
Some long-term residents have welcomed the opportunity to escape dilapidated housing and the stigma associated with Claymore, while others, particularly older tenants, face the daunting prospect of relocation.
Staged relocations, lengthy waits for transfers, and confusion about timing have been recurring concerns.
It means many homes are now sitting empty and have become a haven for vandalism and gang activity.
Claymore even grabbed the attention of rapper and content creator Anthony Lees, better known as Spanian, who visited the suburb about a year ago as part of his video series Into The Hood, which explores some of the world’s most dangerous neighbourhoods.
The video explores a number of empty and trashed houses with Lees appearing shocked by the state of the suburbs on numerous occasions.
“The first time I drove through here was four years ago and I was shocked, absolutely shocked and I grew up around the hoods. I didn’t think something like this in Australia could exist,” he tells his followers.
“This is honestly shocking. This is the type of thing that you see in like, when you watch docos of Detroit and it’s just suburbs of (empty houses).”
Yet, amid the disruption and uncertainty, there is a palpable sense of optimism.
Authorities believe that the new social mix will help break cycles of disadvantage, while advocates remain committed to ensuring that the community’s most vulnerable members are not left behind.
English (US) · 