West Albury, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
West Albury is a suburb of the city of Albury, New South Wales
, located 4 kilometres (2 mi) west of the Albury Central Business District
. At the 2006 census
, West Albury had a population of 4,115.
West Albury covers the slopes of Nail Can Hill on the Murray River
floodplain
, and is bordered by Central Albury
to the east, Splitters Creek
to the west, Glenroy
to the north, and the Murray River and Victoria to the south.
West Albury is mostly residential, and features include the Albury Wodonga Private Hospital, Padman Park and Albury West Public School.
country, and was known as Bungambrawatha.
The first European settlement was in the late 19th century in Padman Park. The small (19 house) settlement were on mining licences for the Monument Hill quarry. Padman Park was cleared, the area on the river known as McKenzies flat was grazed and several fruit orchards were grown. The houses were eventually abandoned, the last one being bulldozed in the 1970s.
At the same time, most of modern West Albury was partially cleared. Well after many of the other suburbs had been established, the area slowly began to be residentialised from the east. By the 1990s Pemberton Park, a housing estate on the east side of West Albury, was begun.
The Private Hospital was built in 1979, at the time well away from the rest of the suburb. Albury West Public School and also been built by then, only taking around 100 students.
Native plant life includes the River Red Gum and Red Box
eucalypt
s, which dominate. Blackberry
is a major problem in Horseshoe Lagoon/Padman Park, as are introduced grasses and other weeds.
Nail Can Hill is home to a rare orchid species called the Crimson Spider Orchid, and is the only place in New South Wales where it can be found.
On Monument Hill is the War Memorial, Albury's most visible landmark.
The War Memorial was built at the end of Dean Street on Monument Hill on Anzac Day
, 1925, and remains the most visible landmark in the city. It was designed by architect Louis Harrison.
Monument Hill remains a nature reserve, linking to Nail Can Hill via the Roper Street Wildlife Corridor.
At the 2006 Census, 9.6% of the population of West Albury was born overseas, primarily from England and New Zealand. The most common religion was Catholic
, followed by Anglican, and the average weekly household income was $973, behind the Australian average of $1027. The median age was 38.
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
, located 4 kilometres (2 mi) west of the Albury Central Business District
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, West Albury had a population of 4,115.
West Albury covers the slopes of Nail Can Hill on the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
, and is bordered by Central Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
to the east, Splitters Creek
Splitters Creek, New South Wales
Splitters Creek is a suburb of the city of Albury, New South Wales, located west of the Albury Central Business District.As its name suggests, Splitters Creek lies in the Splitters Creek valley in the hills of Nail Can Hill/Black Range on the Murray River floodplain...
to the west, Glenroy
Glenroy, New South Wales
Glenroy is a suburb of the city of Albury, New South Wales, located north-west of the Albury Central Business District and west of Lavington At the 2006 census, Glenroy had a population of 2659, although the area covered in the Census is considerably different to the actual area of the...
to the north, and the Murray River and Victoria to the south.
West Albury is mostly residential, and features include the Albury Wodonga Private Hospital, Padman Park and Albury West Public School.
History
Like the rest of Albury, the area is part of traditional WiradjuriWiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
country, and was known as Bungambrawatha.
The first European settlement was in the late 19th century in Padman Park. The small (19 house) settlement were on mining licences for the Monument Hill quarry. Padman Park was cleared, the area on the river known as McKenzies flat was grazed and several fruit orchards were grown. The houses were eventually abandoned, the last one being bulldozed in the 1970s.
At the same time, most of modern West Albury was partially cleared. Well after many of the other suburbs had been established, the area slowly began to be residentialised from the east. By the 1990s Pemberton Park, a housing estate on the east side of West Albury, was begun.
The Private Hospital was built in 1979, at the time well away from the rest of the suburb. Albury West Public School and also been built by then, only taking around 100 students.
Geography
West Albury is located on slopes between Nail Can Hill, Pemberton Hill, Monument Hill and the Murray River. The southern parts (Horseshoe Lagoon and Padman Park) are mostly wetlands and riparian bushland, and Nail Can Hill & Monument Hill are both dry bushland. Many bike trails have been built through Padman Park, Monument Hill, and Nail Can Hill (as part of the annual Nail Can Hill Run).Native plant life includes the River Red Gum and Red Box
Eucalyptus polyanthemos
Eucalyptus polyanthemos is a small to medium sized tree,native to New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria in Australia...
eucalypt
Eucalypt
Eucalypts are woody plants belonging to three closely related genera:Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora.In 1995 new evidence, largely genetic, indicated that some prominent Eucalyptus species were actually more closely related to Angophora than to the other eucalypts; they were split off into the...
s, which dominate. Blackberry
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
is a major problem in Horseshoe Lagoon/Padman Park, as are introduced grasses and other weeds.
Nail Can Hill is home to a rare orchid species called the Crimson Spider Orchid, and is the only place in New South Wales where it can be found.
On Monument Hill is the War Memorial, Albury's most visible landmark.
The War Memorial was built at the end of Dean Street on Monument Hill on Anzac Day
ANZAC Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
, 1925, and remains the most visible landmark in the city. It was designed by architect Louis Harrison.
Monument Hill remains a nature reserve, linking to Nail Can Hill via the Roper Street Wildlife Corridor.
Residents
West Albury is one of Albury's fastest-growing suburbs, increasing from 3350 in 1996 to 4115 in 2006 (a growth rate of 15% in 10 years).At the 2006 Census, 9.6% of the population of West Albury was born overseas, primarily from England and New Zealand. The most common religion was Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, followed by Anglican, and the average weekly household income was $973, behind the Australian average of $1027. The median age was 38.