Airport West, Victoria
Encyclopedia
Airport West is a suburb 14 km north-west of Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley
. At the 2006 Census, Airport West had a population of 6660.
Bounded by the Calder Freeway
to the south, the Tullamarine Freeway
to the east, and the Western Ring Road to the north west, Airport West is so named for its position to the west of Essendon Airport
, Melbourne's first general airport now used for light planes, charter and freight since the opening in 1970 of Melbourne Airport
located to the north of the suburb.
It has the distinction of being the only locality in Australia which does not itself contain an airport to contain the word "Airport."
travels from Westfield Airport West
(at Matthews Avenue), then runs via Matthews Avenue, Keilor Road, Mount Alexander Road, Fletcher Street, Pascoe Vale Road, Mount Alexander Road, Flemington Road
and then terminates at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street, Flinders Street Station
. A train line to Melbourne Airport would pass through Airport West. Proposals for a railway in Airport West have been seen in The Greens 2008 People plan and others.
The currently congested Tullamarine Freeway
and Calder Freeway
interchange saw a redevelopment to help traffic flow easier in 2006-2007.
Seven bus routes also service the suburb, and a Nightrider Bus Service also operate around the area
was built in the northern corner of the suburb. Opening in 1976 and undergoing redevelopments in 1982 and 1999, it includes a Village cinema complex. Other shopping areas in the suburb include on McNamara Avenue. The suburb contains much light industrial, manufacturing, and freight businesses due to its proximity to Essendon Airport
, Melbourne Airport
and to the recently built Direct Factory Outlets (DFO).
The Good Guys is based in Airport West.
, an Australian Rules football team, competes in the Essendon District Football League
.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley
City of Moonee Valley
The City of Moonee Valley is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the north-western suburbs between 3 and 13 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre...
. At the 2006 Census, Airport West had a population of 6660.
Bounded by the Calder Freeway
Calder Freeway
Calder Freeway is a freeway linking Melbourne to Ravenswood South in Victoria, Australia, superseding stretches of the Calder Highway. Originally just a short spur of the Tullamarine Freeway linking to the Calder Highway in Keilor in suburban Melbourne, it has been extended in phases to Ravenswood...
to the south, the Tullamarine Freeway
Tullamarine Freeway
The Tullamarine Freeway is an urban freeway in Melbourne, Australia, linking Melbourne Airport to the central business district.-History:Tullamarine Freeway is one of the oldest freeways in Melbourne, originally constructed in 1968-1970...
to the east, and the Western Ring Road to the north west, Airport West is so named for its position to the west of Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
, Melbourne's first general airport now used for light planes, charter and freight since the opening in 1970 of Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the...
located to the north of the suburb.
It has the distinction of being the only locality in Australia which does not itself contain an airport to contain the word "Airport."
History
The present Airport West Post Office opened on 22 November 1982. The Niddrie North office which opened in 1960 was known as Airport West between 1974 and 1982, before reverting to Niddrie North.Transport
Tram route 59Melbourne tram route 59
Tram route 59 is a public transport service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from the intersection of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street in the city centre to Airport West in the north western suburbs....
travels from Westfield Airport West
Westfield Airport West
Westfield Airport West is a shopping centre in the suburb of Airport West in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The centre hosts eight major stores, approximately 160 specialty stores including Village Cinemas. It is located on Louis Street, close to the Essendon Airport...
(at Matthews Avenue), then runs via Matthews Avenue, Keilor Road, Mount Alexander Road, Fletcher Street, Pascoe Vale Road, Mount Alexander Road, Flemington Road
Flemington Road, Melbourne
Flemington Road is a major thoroughfare in the inner suburbs of North Melbourne and Parkville in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from the north end of Elizabeth Street to the south end of Mount Alexander Road, Flemington, and provides a main connection between the Melbourne CBD and the...
and then terminates at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street, Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is the central railway station of the suburban railway network of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets next to the Yarra River in the heart of the city, stretching from Swanston Street to Queen Street and covering two city...
. A train line to Melbourne Airport would pass through Airport West. Proposals for a railway in Airport West have been seen in The Greens 2008 People plan and others.
The currently congested Tullamarine Freeway
Tullamarine Freeway
The Tullamarine Freeway is an urban freeway in Melbourne, Australia, linking Melbourne Airport to the central business district.-History:Tullamarine Freeway is one of the oldest freeways in Melbourne, originally constructed in 1968-1970...
and Calder Freeway
Calder Freeway
Calder Freeway is a freeway linking Melbourne to Ravenswood South in Victoria, Australia, superseding stretches of the Calder Highway. Originally just a short spur of the Tullamarine Freeway linking to the Calder Highway in Keilor in suburban Melbourne, it has been extended in phases to Ravenswood...
interchange saw a redevelopment to help traffic flow easier in 2006-2007.
Seven bus routes also service the suburb, and a Nightrider Bus Service also operate around the area
Commerce
Westfield Airport WestWestfield Airport West
Westfield Airport West is a shopping centre in the suburb of Airport West in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The centre hosts eight major stores, approximately 160 specialty stores including Village Cinemas. It is located on Louis Street, close to the Essendon Airport...
was built in the northern corner of the suburb. Opening in 1976 and undergoing redevelopments in 1982 and 1999, it includes a Village cinema complex. Other shopping areas in the suburb include on McNamara Avenue. The suburb contains much light industrial, manufacturing, and freight businesses due to its proximity to Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
, Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport , also known as Tullamarine Airport, is the primary airport serving the city of Melbourne and the second busiest in Australia. It was opened in 1970 to replace the nearby Essendon Airport. Melbourne Airport is the sole international airport of the four airports serving the...
and to the recently built Direct Factory Outlets (DFO).
The Good Guys is based in Airport West.
Educational facilities
Airport West has one government primary school (Niddrie PS), a Catholic primary school (St. Christopher's PS) and a secondary school (Niddrie Campus, Essendon Keilor College).Sport
Airport West Football ClubAirport West Football Club
Airport West Football Club is an Australian rules football club, located 14 km north west of Melbourne in the suburb of Airport West. Established in 1961, the club affiliated with the Essendon District Football League in 1962....
, an Australian Rules football team, competes in the Essendon District Football League
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
.
Notable people
- James BirrellJames BirrellJames Birrell is a retired architect responsible for the design of significant buildings in Queensland, Australia. James Birrell practiced from 1951 to 1986.-Personal life:...
, architect
- Hayden KennedyHayden KennedyHayden Daniel Kennedy is an Australian rules football field umpire in the Australian Football League and is also a teacher at St Bernard's College Essendon...
, AFL upmire
- Simon MaddenSimon MaddenSimon Madden was an Australian rules footballer for the Essendon Football Club from 1974 until 1992. He was also president of the AFL Players Association from 1985 until 1989....
, VFL player
- Justin MaddenJustin MaddenMadden was 206 cm tall, and one of the tallest men ever to play Australian Rules football, and his potential in this area was fully utilized by Carlton, who used him as their main ruckman. Over the next fifteen seasons, Madden became a mainstay of the Carlton side, and one of the most...
, Victorian State Minister and VFL/AFL player
- Ashley NaylorAshley NaylorAshley Naylor is an Australian musician, best known for his guitar and vocals in Melbourne-based band Even.In 1987 at the age seventeen, Naylor fronted an indie rock band called The Swarm. He occasionally played guitar with Melbourne band Pray TV on studio recordings and also live...
, musician
- Hana Shahkhan, prominent Melbourne lawyer
- Mark 'Bomber' Thompson, VFL/AFL player and coach
See also
- City of KeilorCity of KeilorThe City of Keilor was a Local Government Area located about northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1863 until 1994.-History:...
- the former local government area of which Airport West was a part.