By the year 1816 however, the Dharug people had been decimated by clashes with settlers and contracting diseases brought to the area by Europeans.

As time passed, the traditional culture declined, as it did across the entire continent and they became increasingly dependent on the settlers for their survival.

The owner Thomas Shepherd developed an irrigation system utilizing water from Eastern Creek and a large portion of the area was covered with Camelia orchards.

The Geographical Names Board of New South Wales eventually made the decision in late 1981 to divide the area into two separate suburbs named St Clair and Erskine Park, rather than call the whole area Erskine Park as many people had desired.

Its population has soared since 1981 and is now a well established suburb with modern facilities with close access to the M4 Motorway and shopping centre.

Considerable parklands provide open space for recreational activities and St Clair is renowned for having a family oriented atmosphere.

It contains medical facilities including X-ray, pathology and optometrist, food outlets, news, fashion and jewelry, electronics, the local library, and a petrol station.

Two local schools border the shopping centre to the west and south, as do soccer fields to the north containing a recently constructed skate bowl.

The Blue Cattle Dog Hotel is the only pub located in St Clair or Erskine Park.