Punchbowl is a suburb in the south-western
Sydney region, 17 kilometres west of the Sydney
central business district, in the state of New
South Wales, Australia. At the 2011 census,
Punchbowl had a population of 18,429.
Punchbowl has a relatively small shopping
centre, although the selection is diverse. It
thrived until the advent of Roselands and
Bankstown Square in the late 1960s and its
bisection by the upgrading of Punchbowl
Road in the 1970s. It is centred on Punchbowl
railway station, along The Boulevarde and
Punchbowl Road. Local businesses and clubs
reflect the diversity of the population. The
largest shop is an IGA Supermarket. Punchbowl
RSL was located on The Boulevarde until it
closed in 2010 and The Mirage Hotel is on
Punchbowl Road. Lebanese cuisine is well
regarded in the suburb, to the extent that
culinary walking tours of Punchbowl sell out
months ahead.