Airds, New South Wales

Airds is a predominantly residential suburb of Sydney. Houses within the suburb are owned by Housing NSW.

Airds
Sydney, New South Wales
Briar Road Public School
Population2,926 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)2560
Elevation141 m (463 ft)
Location56 km (35 mi) south-west of Sydney
LGA(s)City of Campbelltown
RegionMacarthur Region
State electorate(s)Campbelltown
Federal division(s)Macarthur
Suburbs around Airds:
Campbelltown Ruse Kentlyn
Bradbury Airds Holsworthy
Bradbury St Helens Park Holsworthy

History

Governor Lachlan Macquarie named the region Airds, after the Scottish family estate of his wife Elizabeth.[2]

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.[3]

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. [4] 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 2016 census of the population, there were 2,926 residents in Airds.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 17.5% of the population.
  • 71.1% of people were born in Australia.
  • 73.6% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Samoan, spoken by 4.6% of residents.
  • The most common responses for religion were No Religion 27.5%, Catholic 21.4% and Anglican 17.5%.
  • Single parent families accounted for 54.9% of all families in the suburb, more than three times the national average (16.0%).[1]

Schools

Schools in the suburb include:

  • John Warby Public School
  • Briar Road Public School
  • Airds High School

Urban planning and renewal

The Airds 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 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, 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.

Services based in Airds

Airds Bradbury Renewal Project
  • Airds contains the Reiby Juvenile Detention Center[5]

Airds/Bradbury Men's Shed

The men's shed supports the community by creating a space providing "activity, 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. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Airds (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. "Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society". Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  3. Book of Sydney Suburbs, Frances Pollon (Angus and Robertson) 1990, p. 2
  4. "Airds History". Archived from the original on 30 July 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2007.
  5. "Fact Sheet - Airds Bradbury Renewal Project" (PDF). housing.nsw.gov.au. March 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2012.
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