The
Shire of Sutherland,
NSW Australiashireofsutherland.com
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The Sutherland Shire, is a Local Government Area in the Southern Sydney region of Sydney, Australia. Geographically, it is the area to the south of Botany Bay and the Georges River. The administrative centre of the local government is located in the suburb of Sutherland, with council chambers located in Eton Street. The Sutherland Shire is also known simply as "The Shire"
About the Shire
The Sutherland Shire also includes the village of Kurnell, close to the first landing site of James Cook, Sydney's oil refinery and Towra Point Nature Reserve, a wetland of international importance. The Sutherland Shire is also where Australia's first and only nuclear facility is based, at Lucas Heights. The reactor, run by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) does not produce electricity but is used for the production of radiopharmaceuticals, for research and irradiation.
There are three national parks partially within the Sutherland Shire: Botany Bay National Park, Heathcote National Park and the Royal National Park. The isolated bay side suburbs of Bundeena and Maianbar are situated between the northern edge of the Royal National park and Port Hacking. They are only accessible through the park or by the ferry from Cronulla (see above).
Population growth in the shire has been limited by approval of residential development. The population increased from 193,000 in 1996 to over 202,000 in 2001. Recent growth has occurred largely in the Barden Ridge and Menai areas (where the new releases of land for urban development have been) and around the main railway stations. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the population of the Shire has been largely static over the past two years, falling slightly by 0.04% in 2003 and 0.07% in 2004. The age structure of the shire is described as being an "urban mix", with a broad range of different age groups.
38.6% of employed residents work within the Shire, whilst 61.4% work outside the Shire, especially in the Sydney Central business district (CBD) (16.8%). Of those employed within the Shire, 74.1% were residents. The largest occupations included clerical, sales and service workers, professionals and tradespersons. The unemployment rate in Sutherland Shire was lower than the Sydney Statistical Division in 2001 (3.5% compared to 6.1%). The reason for the lower rate in Sutherland Shire includes a comparatively smaller share of the population aged 18-24, who often have higher unemployment rates than older workers (25-59).
Sutherland Shire has a smaller proportion of overseas-born residents and less diversity in the range of countries of birth, relative to other parts of Sydney. About 80% of Sutherland Shire residents are born in Australia, followed by those born in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and South Africa. The percentage of residents claiming Australian ancestry is among the highest in Sydney.
Whilst the overseas population is growing, it is growing at a significantly slower rate than the rest of Sydney. One possible explanation for this slower rate is that the Shire's population is not highly mobile and overseas-born residents of Australia prefer to settle in areas with other expatriates. A comparison of the top 5 nationalities in the Sutherland Shire with the Sydney Statistical Division in 2001 shows the major difference was a lower share of the population of Chinese ancestry. More than three-quarters of the population professed a religion in 2001. Like many areas across Australia, the top five religions in Sutherland Shire in 2001 were all forms of Christianity, with the largest groups including Catholics, Anglicans and Uniting Church adherents. Sutherland Shire also noted very little change in the share of persons with non-Christian beliefs between 1996 and 2001, which was against the broader pattern of growth.
2005 Riots In December 2005, violent incidents occurred on Shire beaches, particularly Cronulla Beach, culminating in a gang bashing of a White Australian lifeguard by Lebanese Australian Youth, and subsequent gang bashing of another White Australian 3 days later at Cronulla. An anonymous message was sent out by SMS, that was publicised by all major media outlets in Australia, that everyone should gather at Cronulla beach on the following Sunday and attack "wogs and lebs". In the days that followed, a series of riots and counter riots broke out in Cronulla and other beach side suburbs in Sydney's east which saw numerous assaults and gang bashings. There was only minor property damage, and one non fatal stabbing, although there were many people arrested and extensive national and international media interest.
Commercial Miranda is the commercial centre of the Shire with two other major shopping centres, Kiora Mall and Miranda Marketplace along with Miranda Fair. Westfield Miranda, known locally as Miranda Fair, has several department stores and many specialist stores. The centre is the fourth largest shopping centre in Sydney. Other suburban shopping centres are in Engadine, Caringbah and Sylvania.
Major neighbourhood shopping centres have also developed at Bangor, Illawong and Menai together with a small centre at Alfords Point. Southgate is a popular shopping complex in Sylvania. Gymea Shopping Village attracts many people, with a regional arts centre, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre, and a cafe and restaurant scene.
Sutherland Shire, NSW, Australia. |
  Where is Sutherland?  Port Hacking  North Cronulla Beach  South Cronulla Beach There are 40 suburbs
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