Miranda, New South Wales facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miranda Sydney, New South Wales
Westfield shopping centre prior to renovations, Miranda
Population	15,284 (2016 census)
Postcode(s)	2228
Elevation	46 m (151 ft)
Location	24 km (15 mi) south of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Sutherland Shire
State electorate(s)	Miranda Cronulla
Federal Division(s)	Cook
Suburbs around Miranda: Sylvania Sylvania Sylvania Waters Gymea Miranda Caringbah Gymea Bay Yowie Bay Caringbah

Miranda (/mɪˈrændə/) is a busy suburb located in southern Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia. It's known as a major shopping and business area for the southern parts of Sydney. Miranda is about 24 kilometres south of the main city centre of Sydney, and it's part of the Sutherland Shire.

History of Miranda

How Miranda Got Its Name

A long time ago, a man named Thomas Holt owned a huge piece of land that stretched from Sutherland all the way to Cronulla. James Murphy, who managed Holt's land, decided to name this area. He chose the name "Miranda" after a character in a famous play called The Tempest by William Shakespeare.

In 1921, James Murphy wrote a letter explaining his choice. He said he thought "Miranda" was a "soft, euphonious, musical and appropriate name for a beautiful place." People believe that the character in Shakespeare's play was named after Miranda de Ebro, a town in Spain.

Early Days and Development

In 1918, a special monument called the Miranda War Memorial was built. It was placed on the grounds of the Miranda Public School, which is now part of the Westfield Miranda shopping centre.

By the 1920s, steam trams were running between Cronulla and Sutherland, passing through Miranda. A trip from Miranda to Sutherland took about fifteen minutes and cost a small amount of money. In 1923, Miranda had five shops, including a post office and a butcher. These shops were located where the main road from Sutherland met Port Hacking Road.

At this time, many soldiers who had returned from World War I had settled in Miranda. The area was known for being great for growing fruit and raising chickens.

In 1955, the Miranda Library opened, giving people a place to read and learn. Later, in 1968, the war memorial was moved to a new spot at the end of Central Road.

Shopping and Business in Miranda

The Kingsway, a main road in Miranda

Miranda is the biggest shopping and business hub in the Sutherland Shire. You'll find shops and businesses on both sides of the railway line.

Westfield Miranda

Westfield Miranda is a very large shopping centre right in the middle of the suburb. It used to be called Miranda Fair. It's located next to the Miranda railway station, making it easy to get to.

Other Shopping Areas

There are also two smaller shopping centres nearby. One is called Lederer Shopping Centre Miranda, which was once known as Parkside Plaza. The other is The Kiora Centre. Miranda also has a street with many shops along Kingsway and Kiora Road. Many other businesses are located on these roads and the streets around them.

Industrial Area and Hotel

In the northern part of Miranda, there's a light industrial area. This is where businesses that make or store goods are located, on Port Hacking and Box Roads.

The Miranda Hotel is also on Kingsway. It was originally designed in the 1950s and was once known as the Miranda Rex.

Getting Around Miranda

Apartments along Kingsway in Miranda

Main Roads

The main roads that go through Miranda are Kingsway, Port Hacking Road, The Boulevarde, and Kiora Road. For a long time, there was a big roundabout where The Boulevard, Kiora Road, and Port Hacking Road met. This roundabout was known for having many small accidents.

To make it safer, a big project was completed in 2002. The roundabout was removed, and traffic lights were put in its place. After this change, the number of accidents at the intersection dropped a lot, from 222 in 2002 to just 13 in 2003!

Train and Bus Services

Miranda railway station is on the Cronulla branch of the Illawarra railway line. This is part of the Sydney Trains network. The train station makes it quick and easy to get to Cronulla Beach.

Several bus companies also provide services to Miranda. These include Maianbar Bundeena Bus Service, Transit Systems, and U-Go Mobility. You can find more details about bus routes at the Miranda station information.

Who Lives in Miranda?

According to the 2016 census, there were 15,284 people living in Miranda. Most people, about 68.3%, were born in Australia. Other common countries of birth included England (3.6%), China (3.0%), New Zealand (2.3%), India (1.5%), and the Philippines (1.2%).

When it comes to languages spoken at home, 73.8% of people spoke only English. Other languages included Mandarin (3.0%), Greek (2.2%), Cantonese (1.6%), Italian (1.4%), and Spanish (1.3%). For religion, the most common answers were Catholic (28.8%), No Religion (23.6%), and Anglican (17.7%).

Sports Teams in Miranda

Miranda is home to several local sports teams, including:

• Miranda Magpies FC (Soccer)
• Miranda Magpies Cricket Club (Cricket)
• Miranda Magpies Netball Club (Netball)
• Miranda Magpies AFC (Australian Rules Football)
• Miranda Magpies Football Club (Rugby League)

Images for kids

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  Miranda Hotel

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  Parkside Plaza

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  Miranda War Memorial, Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda, circa 2006

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  Central Road, Miranda