Airport West, Victoria
Airport West is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km (7.5 mi) north-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Moonee Valley local government area. Airport West recorded a population of 8,173 at the 2021 census.[1]
| Airport West Melbourne, Victoria | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hood Street, Airport West | |||||||||||||||
  Airport West | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37.724°S 144.879°E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 8,173 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 2,209/km2 (5,720/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3042 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 78 m (256 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 3.7 km2 (1.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 12 km (7 mi) from Melbourne | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Moonee Valley | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Niddrie | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Maribyrnong | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Bounded by the Calder Freeway to the south, the Tullamarine Freeway to the east, and the Western Ring Road to the north west, Airport West is so named for its position to the west of Essendon Airport, Melbourne's first general airport now used for light planes, charter and freight since the opening in 1970 of Melbourne Airport, located to the north of the suburb.
It has the distinction of being the only locality in Australia which does not itself contain an airport to contain the word "Airport."[2]
History
The present Airport West post office opened on 22 November 1982. The Niddrie North office which opened in 1960 was known as Airport West between 1974 and 1982, before reverting back to Niddrie North.[3]
Demographics
According to the 2016 census:[4]
The most common ancestries in Airport West were Australian 18.3%, English 18.2%, Italian 17.7%, Irish 8.4% and Scottish 5.6%.
In Airport West, 67.2% of people were born in Australia. The most common countries of birth were Italy 7.2%, India 2.6%, England 1.5%, Greece 1.4% and New Zealand 1.1%.
The most common responses for religion in Airport West were Catholic 44.6%, No Religion, so described 21.8%, Not stated 8.7%, Anglican 6.0% and Eastern Orthodox 5.0%. In Airport West, Christianity was the largest religious group reported overall (69.2%) (this figure excludes not stated responses).
In Airport West, 65.9% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Italian 10.8%, Greek 3.0%, Mandarin 1.4%, Maltese 1.1% and Hindi 1.1%.
Transport
Tram route 59 travels from Westfield Airport West (at Matthews Avenue), then runs via Matthews Avenue, Keilor Road, Mount Alexander Road, Fletcher Street, Pascoe Vale Road, Mount Alexander Road, Flemington Road and then terminates at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Street, at Flinders Street station.
The Albion-Jacana freight line passes through Airport West near its north and west boundary. A railway line to Melbourne Airport via Airport West has been proposed under The Greens 2008 People Plan.
The currently congested Tullamarine Freeway and Calder Freeway interchange saw a redevelopment to help traffic flow easier in 2006–2007.
Seven bus routes operated by CDC Melbourne and Kastoria Bus Lines also service the suburb, and a Night Network also operates around the area.
_at_Airport_West_(2).jpg.webp)
Commerce
Westfield Airport West is a shopping centre that was built in the northern corner of the suburb. Opening in 1976 and undergoing redevelopments in 1982 and 1999, it includes Target, Kmart, Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and a Village Cinemas complex. Other shopping areas in the suburb are also located on McNamara Avenue. The suburb contains much light industrial, manufacturing, and freight businesses due to its proximity to Essendon Airport, Melbourne Airport and to the recently built DFO.
Educational facilities
Airport West has one government primary school (Niddrie PS), a Catholic primary school (St. Christopher's PS) and a secondary school (Niddrie Campus, Essendon Keilor College). There is also the Bravissimi Italian Language School.[5]
Sport
Airport West Football Club, an Australian Rules football team, competes in the Essendon District Football League.[6]
North West Wolves play rugby league in NRL Victoria.
Notable people
- Ben Carroll, Victorian politician
- Brian Mannix, singer and musician [7]
- Mark Thompson, VFL/AFL player and coach
See also
- City of Keilor – Airport West was previously within this former local government area.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Airport West (Suburbs and Localities)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- Australia Post (8 December 2006). "Postcode Search". Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2006.
- Phoenix Auctions History, Post Office List, retrieved 13 April 2021
- "2016 Census QuickStats". Australian Bureau if Statistics. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 4.0 International License. - "Italian Language School For Kids - Bravissimi". Bravissimi. educational materials. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
- Full Points Footy, Airport West, archived from the original on 27 December 2008, retrieved 15 April 2009
- "Lunch with Brian Mannix". 20 April 2012.