Austral, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids AustralSydney, New South Wales |
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| Population | 3,024 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1891 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2179 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 78 m (256 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 42 km (26 mi) south-west of Sydney CBD | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Liverpool | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Leppington | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Werriwa | ||||||||||||||
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Austral is a suburb located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 42 kilometers southwest of the main Sydney central business district. Austral is part of the City of Liverpool local government area.
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How Austral Got Its Name
The area known as Austral today was once a piece of land in West Hoxton. A company called Austral Banking and Land Proprietary bought this land.
In 1891, people in the Hoxton Park area wanted a second public school. The Austral Banking and Land company gave 3 acres (about 12,000 square meters) of their land for the school. In return, the school was named Austral Public School.
The name of the school soon became the common name for the whole area. However, it wasn't officially recognized as "Austral" until 1972. The Austral Post Office opened even earlier, on February 7, 1894.
Austral's Location and Layout
Austral has clear boundaries. To the west, it's bordered by Kemps Creek. A Sydney Water supply channel forms its eastern boundary. A straight line marks its northern edge, and Bringelly Road is to the south.
A smaller waterway called Bonds Creek flows through the suburb. It joins Kemps Creek near Fifteenth Avenue. Austral is known for its street design. Its streets are laid out in a grid pattern, like a checkerboard. All the streets running east-west are called 'Avenue' and are numbered from south to north.
Austral is part of the area where the city meets the countryside in Western Sydney. This area stretches from Horsley Park through Badgerys Creek, Rossmore, Austral, and down to Catherine Field.
Who Lives in Austral?
The 2016 census counted 3,024 people living in Austral.
- Most residents, 60.4%, were born in Australia.
- The next largest group, 10.1%, were born in Italy.
- When it comes to languages spoken at home, 52.3% of people spoke only English.
- Other languages spoken included Italian (14.4%) and Arabic (6.9%).
- The most common religious group was Catholic, making up 47.7% of the population.
Places to Visit in Austral
Austral has several important places for its community:
- Craik Park: This park has a sports ground, a youth center, tennis courts, and a skate ramp.
- W V Scott Memorial Park: This park features a pavilion and bowls grounds for games like Petanque.
- Emergency Services: Austral has a Rural Fire Service station.
- Schools: There is a primary school called Austral Primary.
- Care Facilities: You can find Retirement Villages like RSL LifeCare Tobruk Village and Scalabrini Village. There's also a nursing home called John Edmondson VC Gardens.
- Local Shops: A small shopping area includes a post office and telephone services. Another small shopping area is near the corner of Fifteenth Avenue and Edmonson Avenue.
- Community Sites: Austral is home to Camp Austral, a girl guides camp. It also has a Hindu temple and an animal shelter.
Getting Around Austral
- Roads: Bringelly Road is a main road that connects Austral to Liverpool and the Westlink M7 motorway.
- Buses: The Route 853/855 bus service helps people travel. It connects Bringelly to Liverpool. This bus route passes through Rossmore, Austral, Hoxton Park, and Cartwright.
- Trains: In 2015, a train station opened in the nearby suburb of Leppington. This makes it easier for residents to travel by train.
