West Albury, New South Wales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West AlburyAlbury, New South Wales |
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 West Albury
Location in New South Wales
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| Population | 3,851 (2016 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 481/km2 (1,250/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2640 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 8 km2 (3.1 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Albury | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Albury | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Farrer | ||||||||||||||
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West Albury is a suburb in the city of Albury, New South Wales. It is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) west of Albury's main city area. In 2016, about 3,851 people lived there.
West Albury sits on the slopes of Nail Can Hill, near the Murray River. It is surrounded by other areas: Central Albury to the east, Splitters Creek to the west, Glenroy to the north, and the Murray River and Victoria to the south. It is mostly a place where people live. Important places in West Albury include the Albury Wodonga Private Hospital, Padman Park, and Albury West Public School.
Contents
History of West Albury
Early Settlement and Growth
The land where West Albury is now was traditionally part of the Wiradjuri people's country. They called this area Bungambrawatha.
The first European settlers arrived in the late 1800s. They built a small village of about 19 houses in an area now known as Padman Park. These homes were built for people working at the Monument Hill quarry. The land near the river, called McKenzies Flat, was used for grazing animals. People also grew fruit in orchards. Over time, these early houses were left empty. The last one was removed in the 1970s.
Most of West Albury was slowly cleared of trees. Unlike many other suburbs that grew quickly, West Albury developed more slowly. People started building homes from the east side of the area. By the 1990s, a new housing area called Pemberton Park began to be built on the eastern side of West Albury.
Important Buildings
The Private Hospital was built in 1979. At that time, it was quite far from the main part of the suburb. Albury West Public School was also built around then. It started with only about 100 students.
Geography and Nature
Hills and Waterways
West Albury is located on slopes between several hills: Nail Can Hill, Pemberton Hill, and Monument Hill. It is also close to the Murray River. The southern parts of West Albury, like Horseshoe Lagoon and Padman Park, are mostly wetlands and natural bushland near the river. Nail Can Hill and Monument Hill are dry bushland areas.
Many bike trails have been created through Padman Park, Monument Hill, and Nail Can Hill. These trails are also used for the yearly Nail Can Hill Run event.
Plants and Wildlife
The native trees in West Albury include the River Red Gum and Red Box eucalypts. These are the most common types of trees. However, some plants like Blackberry are a big problem in Horseshoe Lagoon and Padman Park. Other introduced grasses and weeds also cause issues.
Nail Can Hill is special because it is home to a rare type of orchid called the Crimson Spider Orchid. This is the only place in New South Wales where this particular orchid can be found.
Monument Hill Landmark
On Monument Hill, you can find the War Memorial. This memorial is Albury's most famous landmark and can be seen from many parts of the city. The War Memorial was built on Anzac Day in 1925, at the end of Dean Street. It was designed by an architect named Louis Harrison.
Monument Hill is still a nature reserve today. It connects to Nail Can Hill through a special area called the Roper Street Wildlife Corridor, which helps animals move between the two hills.
People of West Albury
In 2016, the population of West Albury was 3,851 people. This was a bit less than in 2006, when 4,115 people lived there.
When asked about their beliefs, most people in West Albury said they had no religion. The next most common belief was Catholic. The average money earned by households each week was $1,138. This was less than the average for all of Australia, which was $1,438. The average age of people living in West Albury was 47 years old, which is older than the national average of 38.
