Weetangera, Australian Capital Territory
Weetangera Canberra, Australian Capital Territory | |||||||||||||
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Weetangera is in the centre of this aerial photo. | |||||||||||||
Weetangera, shaded in pink. | |||||||||||||
Coordinates | 35°15′00″S 149°02′56″E / 35.250°S 149.049°ECoordinates: 35°15′00″S 149°02′56″E / 35.250°S 149.049°E | ||||||||||||
Population | 2,608 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
• Density | 1,630/km2 (4,220/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
Gazetted | 22 August 1968[2] | ||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 2614 | ||||||||||||
Area | 1.6 km2 (0.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
District | Belconnen | ||||||||||||
Territory electorate(s) | Ginninderra | ||||||||||||
Federal Division(s) | Fraser | ||||||||||||
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Weetangera (postcode: 2614) is a suburb in the Belconnen district of Canberra, located within the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The suburb covers an area of approximately 158 hectares (390 acres). Located approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-west of the city, Weetangera is bounded by Springvale Drive to the south and west, Coulter Drive to the east and Belconnen Way to the north. The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, a Canberra Nature Park is adjacent to the south of the suburb, across Springvale Drive.
Europeans first settled the area in the 1800s, and it was named Weetangera after the property "Spring Vale", which in turn had been given a name of Aboriginal origin (it is also called Weetangerra and Weetangara in early documents). A school was first built in the area in 1875.[3]
The modern suburb of Weetangera was officially gazetted by the ACT Government in 1968, with a street theme: 'Pioneers of the Australian Capital Territory'.[4] After the gazetting, the first modern settlers moved into the suburb in 1970 and the first students moved into the Weetangera Primary School, located about a kilometre from the old Weetangera Primary School, in 1973.[3][4] Today, the suburb is home to over 2500 people.
Name
Weetangera is named after the property "Spring Vale", which in turn had been given a name of Aboriginal origin,[5] due to a spring near the site of the original Public School called "Wittanjirra" in the local Aboriginal dialect, meaning "to suck, to drink greedily".[6] Samuel Shumack lived at "Spring Vale" between 1866 and 1915. Shumack and his father had taken up the land for farming when Samuel was eight years old. Samuel Shumack lived on the property with his family until it was claimed as land for the nation's capital in 1915.[7]
Weetangera was also the name for the Weetangera parish, which included the land from Ginninderra Creek to the Molonglo River. The Southwell family were significant to this property, and various members of the family are buried in the Weetangera Cemetery and former Methodist Church now sited to the west of the adjoining suburb, Hawker.
Political representation
For the purposes of Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives, Weetangera is in the Division of Fraser.[8]
For the purposes of Australian Capital Territory elections for the ACT Legislative Assembly, Weetangera is in the Ginninderra electorate.[9]
Demographics
People who live in Weetangera are called Weetangerans.[10] On Census night 2011, Weetangera had a population of 2,608 people.[1] The census shows that Weetangera residents have a median age of 40 which is slightly older compared to an ACT median of 34 and an Australian median of 37. The median weekly household income was A$2,446, $526 more than the ACT median and nearly double the median Australian household income of $1,234.
Weetangera's population is predominantly Australian-born; 73.5 per cent on census night 2011. The second most common birthplace was England at 5.1 per cent. The most common religion is 'no religion', with nearly a third of the population reporting they were not religious.
In Weetangera 32.0 per cent of people were attending an educational institution. Of these, 34.0 per cent were in primary school, 22.0 per cent in secondary school and 27.6 per cent in a tertiary or technical institution.
Of occupied private dwellings in Weetangera, 48.1 per cent were owned outright, 36.1 per cent were owned with a mortgage and 14.0 per cent were rented.
Suburb amenities
Weetangera has a small shopping centre containing a bakery, beauty salon, jewellery shop and a publishing company.
The suburb is also home to the Weetangera Neighbourhood Oval. The ACT Government announced restoration plans for the oval in June 2012, committing $4 million to three ovals, including the Weetangera oval, over a three-year period. The money is for the installation of irrigation systems, synthetic cricket wickets and practice nets, floodlights and a small pavilion and toilet block.[11]
Educational institutions
Both Weetangera Primary School (1973–present)[12] and Weetangera Preschool are located on Southwell Street, Weetangera.
Historic Public School
The first Public School (pre-High School) was sited on land of the original farming property, and opened on 27 April 1875, with 27 students. The first teacher was Mr Ewan Cameron, a member of the Weetangera community and a parent of a student.
The site is between (beside) the present Belconnen Way (north) and Smith and Kinleyside Streets (south). It now a park, with children's play area, with several lines of pine trees that were planted by students of the original school in about 1919 and 1928/9 (Arbor Day).
People honoured in the streets of Weetangera
The street names in Weetangera are predominantly named for ACT pioneers:
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References
- 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Weetangera (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ↑ ACT Territory and Municipal Services (9 September 2009). "Suburbs & their names" (PDF). ACT Territory and Municipal Services. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
- 1 2 "Weetangera Primary School: Our History". 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
- 1 2 Brian Rhynehart (27 February 2008). "Belconnen history timeline". Belconnen Community. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Place Names: Australian Capital Territory". Australia For Everyone. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ ACT Government sign
- ↑ "OBITUARY. Mr. Samuel Shumack". The Canberra Times. 10 April 1940. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ↑ "Profile of the electoral division of Fraser (ACT)". Current federal electoral divisions. Australian Electoral Commission. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ↑ "Electorates 2012 election". Electorates. ACT Electoral Commission. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ↑ Pettit, Philip (3 July 1988). "Fogs clear over Weetangera". The Canberra Times. My Suburb, Cycling, Business. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ↑ "ACT Labor delivers $13.5 million in upgrades to local sporting facilities". ACT Government. 2 June 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ Weetangera Primary School
- ↑ "Abernethy Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Bambridge Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Belconnen Way". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Coppin Place". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ Colin McAlister (November 2007). "Twelve Historic Sites in the Glenburn and Burbong" (PDF). National Parks Association of the ACT Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Coulter Drive". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Crace Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Darmody Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Davis Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "De Salis Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Gibbes Place". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Gillespie Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Harcourt Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Jones Place". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Kilby Crescent". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Kinleyside Crescent". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Line Place". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Mathieson Crescent". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Mayo Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "McKeahnie Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "McKeahnie Major". Geocaching. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
- ↑ Charles Duncan McKeahnie, The Monaro Pioneers, archived from the original on 16 July 2014
- ↑ "McLachlan Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Morton Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Mowle Place". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "O'Rourke Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Packer Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Plummer Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Shumack Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Smith Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Southwell Street". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Weetangera Cemetery" (PDF). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Springvale Drive". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Vest Place". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ↑ "Webb Place". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ↑ "Weetangera Place". ACT Planning and Land Authority. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
External links
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