Richardson, Australian Capital Territory

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Richardson
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Population: 3,344 (2001 census)
Established: 1981
Postcode: 2905
Property Value: AUD AU$278,000 (2005)[1]
LGA: Tuggeranong
Assembly Electorate: Brindabella
Federal Division: Canberra
Suburbs around Richardson:
Monash Gowrie Chisholm
Isabella Plains Richardson Canberra Nature Park
Calwell Calwell Theodore
Charles Bean and his wife, Effie, in the grounds of Tuggeranong Station between 1919 - 1925.
Charles Bean and his wife, Effie, in the grounds of Tuggeranong Station between 1919 - 1925.

Richardson is a suburb in the Canberra, Australia district of Tuggeranong. The postcode is 2905. The suburb is named after author Ethel Richardson (1870-1946). It was gazetted on 5 May 1975. Streets are named after writers, especially female writers. It is next to the suburbs of Calwell, Isabella Plains, Gowrie and Chisholm. It is bounded by Johnson Drive, Ashley Drive and Isabella Drive.

Contents

[edit] Demographics

There were 3344 people living in Richardson on Census night 2001. The median age of people in Richardson was 29 years, compared to a median age of 32 Canberra. Unemployment in Richardson was half a percent lower than the Canberra average. The median weekly individual income for Richardson in 2001 was $400–$499, compared to $500–$599 for Canberra, while the median weekly household income was $800–$999. In 2001 the median monthly housing loan repayment in Richardson was $800–$999. [1] [2]

The residents of Richardson are predominantly Australian born, with 77.8% being born in Australia. The three main countries of birth for those born overseas were United Kingdom, 4.7%, New Zealand, 1.6% and China, 0.8%. The most popular religious affiliations in descending order are Catholic, Anglican, no religion, Uniting and Presbyterian.

[edit] Suburb amenities and places of interest

Richardson Primary school, located on May Gibbs Close, opened in 1984; the school has a major focus on information and communications technology in education. Richardson Primary School was the first school within Australia to install Interactive Whiteboards.[3]. Richardson Preschool is also located on May Gibbs Close[4].

The Tuggeranong Homestead heritage site is accessed off Ashley Drive and hosts the Tuggeranong Homestead markets on the first Sunday of each month. The Richardson local centre and Richardson Oval are located on May Gibbs Close. Richardson also has a scout hall on Clift Crescent.

Several ACTION bus routes service Richardson. Routes 65, 66 and 67 run between the Tuggeranong and Woden Interchanges every 20 to 60 minutes between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The additional services 265 and 267, following the same routes through Richardson as 65 and 67 respectively, run during peak hour from the Tuggeranong Interchange to City West. Flexibus service 966 leaves the Tuggeranong Interchange every hour from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and the Erindale Shops every hour from 8:00pm to 11:00 p.m., and services the suburbs of Richardson, Chisholm, and Gilmore[5].

[edit] Politics

2004 ACT Election[6]
  Labor 45%
  Liberal 42%
  Greens 6%
  Christian Democratic Party 2%
2004 Federal Election[7]
  Labor 52%
  Liberal 37%
  Greens 8%
  Democrats 3%

Richardson is located within the federal electorate of Canberra. The electorate is currently represented in the House of Representatives by Annette Ellis. Canberra is considered a safe Labor seat[8]. The 2004 Federal election saw a swing of 3.7% towards the Greens, 3.0% towards both the Liberals and Labor, 4.1% away from the Democrats and 4.6% away from One Nation. [9].

In the ACT Legislative Assembly, Richardson is in the electorate of Brindabella, which is currently represented by three Labor and two Liberal members [10][11]. The 2004 ACT election saw a swing of 12.5% towards the Liberals, 1.32% towards the Greens, 3.5% away from Labor and 4.3% away from the Democrats. [12][13].

Polling place statistics are shown above for the Richardson polling place in the 2004 Federal and ACT elections.

[edit] Geology

Quaternary alluvium covers the whole suburb. This would have formed by erosion of the surrounding Deakin Volcanics in Chisholm and the hills to the east. Deep underneath are volcanic rocks from the Silurian age at 414 Mya. [14]

See also: Geology of the Australian Capital Territory

[edit] References

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (19 November 2002). Community Profile Series : Richardson (Statistical Local Area). 2001 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved on 2006-06-25.
  2. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (19 November 2002). Community Profile Series : Canberra (Statistical Division). 2001 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved on 2006-06-25.
  3. ^ Richardson Primary School (2002) About Us, retrieved 11 July 2006
  4. ^ ACT Department of Education and Training (2006) ACT Department of Education and Training - Preschools, retrieved 11 July 2006
  5. ^ ACTION Buses (2006) ACTION Buses, retrieved 11 July 2006
  6. ^ ACT Electoral Commission (2005)FirstPref04, retrieved 25 June 2006
  7. ^ Australian Electoral Commission (2005) Polling Place Results, retrieved 25 June
  8. ^ Australian Electoral Commission (2005) Canberra, retrieved 24 June 2006
  9. ^ Australian Electoral Commission (2005) Polling Place Results, retrieved 25 June 2006
  10. ^ ACT Electoral Commission (2001) List of Localities, retrieved 24 June 2006
  11. ^ ACT Electoral Commission (2005) ACT Electoral Commission - 2004 Election, retrieved 24 June 2006
  12. ^ ACT Electoral Commission (2005)FirstPref04, retrieved 25 June 2006
  13. ^ ACT Electoral Commission (2005)FirstPref01, retrieved 25 June 2006
  14. ^ Henderson G A M and Matveev G, Geology of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Environs 1:50000 1980.

[1] Coordinates: 35°26′00″S, 149°07′00″E