Richardson, Australian Capital Territory

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Richardson
city = Canberra
state = Australian Capital Territory

---

lga = Tuggeranong
ACTgov = Brindabella
fedgov = Canberra
est = 1981
postcode = 2905
pop = 3,344 (2001 census)
propval = AU$278,000 (2005) [http://allhomes.com.au/c/ah?a=uisu&i=659]
near-nw = Monash
near-n = Gowrie
near-ne = Chisholm
near-w = Isabella Plains
near-e = "Canberra Nature Park"
near-sw = Calwell
near-s = Calwell
near-se = Theodore

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.

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. [Census 2001 AUS|id=805257289|name=Richardson (Statistical Local Area)|accessdate=2006-06-25] [Census 2001 AUS|id=805|name=Canberra (Statistical Division)|accessdate=2006-06-25]

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.

uburb 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. [Richardson Primary School (2002) [http://www.richardsonps.act.edu.au/about_us.htm About Us] , retrieved 11 July 2006 ] . Richardson Preschool is also located on May Gibbs Close [ACT Department of Education and Training (2006) [http://www.det.act.gov.au/schools/preschools.htm ACT Department of Education and Training - Preschools] , retrieved 11 July 2006 ] .

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 [ ACTION Buses (2006) [http://www.action.act.gov.au/ ACTION Buses] , retrieved 11 July 2006 ] .

Politics

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 [Australian Electoral Commission (2005) [http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/c/canberra.htm Canberra] , retrieved 24 June 2006 ] . 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. [Australian Electoral Commission (2005) [http://results.aec.gov.au/12246/results/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-12246-8786.htm Polling Place Results] , retrieved 25 June 2006 ] .

In the ACT Legislative Assembly, Richardson is in the electorate of Brindabella, which is currently represented by three Labor and two Liberal members [ACT Electoral Commission (2001) [http://www.elections.act.gov.au/adobe/LocalitiesColour.pdf List of Localities] , retrieved 24 June 2006 ] [ACT Electoral Commission (2005) [http://www.elections.act.gov.au/Result04.html ACT Electoral Commission - 2004 Election] , retrieved 24 June 2006 ] . 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. [ ACT Electoral Commission (2005) [http://www.elections.act.gov.au/FirstPref04.xls#BrinPP!A1 FirstPref04] , retrieved 25 June 2006 ] [ ACT Electoral Commission (2005) [http://www.elections.act.gov.au/FirstPref01.xls#BrinPP!A1 FirstPref01] , retrieved 25 June 2006 ] .

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

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. [Henderson G A M and Matveev G, Geology of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Environs 1:50000 1980.]

References

[ [http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/gazm01?placename=Richardson&placetype=R&state=ACT Place names search, Geoscience Australia ] ]