Boolaroo, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BoolarooNewcastle, New South Wales |
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 Boolaroo
Location in the Hunter-Central Coast Region
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| Population | 1,636 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 399/km2 (1,030/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2284 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 4.1 km2 (1.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Kahibah | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Shortland | ||||||||||||||
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Boolaroo is a suburb located in the city of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia. It used to be a town.
Contents
Where is Boolaroo Located?
Boolaroo is about 166 kilometres (103 mi) from Sydney. It is also about 18 kilometres (11 mi) southwest of Newcastle's main city area.
This suburb is close to other well-known places in the Lake Macquarie area. These include Warners Bay and Speers Point. A small part of Boolaroo even touches Lake Macquarie itself.
Boolaroo's Past: A Quick Look
Early Days and Name Meaning
The first people to live in this area were the Awabakal Aboriginal people. They have lived on this land for a very long time.
The name Boolaroo comes from an Aboriginal word. It means 'place of many flies' or 'place of may flies'.
From Village to Town
Boolaroo started as a small village in 1829. It grew and was officially named a town in 1896.
For many years, the Boolaroo Jockey Club held horse races here. These races took place from 1907 until 1931.
The 1989 Newcastle Earthquake
Boolaroo was the main spot where the 1989 Newcastle earthquake happened. This was a big earthquake that affected the area.
The exact borders of the suburb were set on May 31, 1991. They were changed a little bit on September 10, 2001. It's not clear when Boolaroo changed from being called a town to a suburb.
Who Lives in Boolaroo?
We can learn about the people living in Boolaroo from official counts called censuses.
Census 2016
In 2016, there were 1,039 people living in Boolaroo.
- About 50.5% were female and 49.5% were male.
- The average age was 42 years old. This was a bit older than the national average of 38.
- Most people (88.0%) were born in Australia.
- Other countries of birth included England (1.9%) and New Zealand (1.7%).
- Most people (94.0%) spoke only English at home.
Census 2021
By 2021, the population of Boolaroo had grown to 1,636 people.
- About 52.0% were female and 48.0% were male.
- The average age was 39 years old, which was still a bit older than the national average of 38.
- Most people (85.6%) were born in Australia.
- Other countries of birth included England (2.4%) and New Zealand (1.3%).
- Most people (90.5%) spoke only English at home.
What Can You Find in Boolaroo?
Boolaroo has several useful places and services for its residents.
Past Industry
Boolaroo used to have a large factory called a lead/zinc smelter. This factory processed metals. It was owned by a company called Pasminco. The smelter stopped working on September 12, 2003. The site has since been cleaned up.
Local Facilities
Today, Boolaroo is home to different churches. It also has the Boolaroo Public School for students. There is a local library where you can borrow books.
Boolaroo also had a cinema, which was partly damaged during the 1989 Newcastle earthquake. You can find various shops in the suburb, including a small supermarket.
Getting Around Boolaroo
Boolaroo has a train station called Cockle Creek railway station. This is a small station on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. This line connects Boolaroo to other towns and cities.
