Airds, New South Wales
| Airds Sydney, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Briar Road Public School | |||||||||||||||
| Population | 3,507 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2560 | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 56 km (35 mi) south-west of Sydney | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Campbelltown | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Macarthur Region | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Campbelltown | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Macarthur | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Airds is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Airds is 56 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region.[2]
Airds is a predominantly residential area and the majority of houses within the suburb are owned by Housing NSW.
History
Governor Lachlan Macquarie named the region Airds, after the Scottish family estate of his wife Elizabeth Campbell.[3]
Airds appeared in land grant lists, and referred to almost the entire area between Glenfield and Gilead. The name fell into disuse as Campbelltown and other settlements along the valley floor came to be known by their individual names after the 1820s.[4]
In January 1975, tenders for the first homes in the Housing Commission's 'Kentlyn' subdivision were called but the name Airds was not approved until May 1976. [5] Like many public housing estates in Sydney, Airds was constructed on American Radburn principles designed to separate traffic from pedestrians. As a result, houses in the suburb did not face roads, which was later found to create enormous problems relating to crime and passive surveillance in the suburb. It is one of the most socially disadvantaged suburbs of Sydney.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census of population, there were 3,507 residents in Airds. 74.5% of residents were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were New Zealand 3.5%, Samoa 2.7% and England 1.7%. 77.2% of residents spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Samoan 5.9%, Arabic 2.5% and Spanish 1.3%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Catholic 26.2%, Anglican 25.1% and No Religion 17.0%. Single parent families accounted for 56.4% of all families in the suburb, more than three times the national average (16.3%).[1]
Schools
Schools in the suburb include:
- John Warby Public School
- Briar Road Public School
- Airds High School
Urban planning and renewal
The Airds Bradbury Renewal Project environmental assessment report says the project will make the suburbs "a great place to live, a place with good services and facilities in a socially mixed community offering opportunities for residents to realise their goals".
This will involve taking the area from 94 per cent public housing to only 30 per cent.
"As a result of this concentration of disadvantage, the community of Airds Bradbury experiences a range of social issues including high unemployment and poor health, low income, high percentage of single parent families, a lack of access to educational opportunities and other services and high crime rates," the report says.
The report concludes that planned changes to the neighbourhood will have many positive social impacts.
More than 500 houses will be demolished, a 1000 new homes and 52 seniors housing units will be built, new roads will go in and community facilities, public areas and parks will get a makeover.
The environmental assessment will be on public exhibition until Monday, 18 July, during regular business hours at Campbelltown Civic Centre, HJ Daley Library, Airds Bradbury Central and on the Campbelltown Council website. Submissions must be sent to Campbelltown Council by Monday, 18 July 2011 http://static.lifeislocal.com.au/multimedia/images/full/1295025.jpg
Services based in Airds
Airds Bradbury Renewal Project
- Airds contains the Reiby Juvenile Detention Center
Airds/Bradbury Men's Shed
The men's shed supports the community by creating a space providing "activitiy, identity and meaning" for its members.
WorkVentures Connect Centre at Airds
WorkVentures Connect Centre at Airds runs free training and skills programs and support in finding employment for local residents. The Centre offers free access to computers and the internet, and access to free legal and tenancy advice for Housing NSW residents.
The Connect Centre at Airds is one of two centres run by WorkVentures in the Campbelltown area.
Master-Plan Group
Meets to try to make sure that Housing N.S.W's relocation works for tenants
A B Central
A hub for community renewal projects and activities. The Housing N.S.W Airds Bradbury renewal team is based here as well.
References
- 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Airds (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
- ↑ Gregory's Sydney Street Directory, Gregory's Publishing Company, 2007
- ↑ "Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society". Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- ↑ Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon (Angus and Robertson) 1990, p.2
- ↑ Airds History
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Coordinates: 34°05′30″S 150°49′30″E / 34.0916°S 150.8249°E