Alfords Point, New South Wales

Alfords Point Sydney, New South Wales
Alfords Point Bridge over Georges River
Population	3,303 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	2234
Location	28 km (17 mi) S of Sydney CBD
LGA(s)	Sutherland Shire
State electorate(s)	Miranda
Federal Division(s)	Hughes
Suburbs around Alfords Point: Picnic Point Revesby Heights Padstow Heights Holsworthy Alfords Point Lugarno Menai Illawong Illawong

Alfords Point is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Alfords Point is 28 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, within the local government area of the Sutherland Shire. Alfords Point shares the postcode of 2234 with neighbouring suburbs of Menai, Bangor and Illawong.

Alfords Point is on the southern bank of the Georges River. The suburb is nearly completely surrounded by bushland from the Georges River nature Reserve and with Alfords Point Road within its eastern border running south to north onto the Alfords Point Road Bridge across the Georges River towards Padstow. Brushwood Drive is the only road to enter and exit Alfords Point.

History

Jane Alford, widow of John Alford Senior owned 50 acres (200,000 m²) of land near here in 1828. Alford was originally the name given to an area of public reserve on the bank of the Georges River.^[2]

When the Sutherland Shire was officially formed in 1906, the western boundary extended to what is today called Menai (then called Bangor). In 1922, a proclamation was made to allow for an adjustment of the shire boundaries and include the areas which are now Illawong and Alfords Point. The area was formerly attached to the Municipality of Hurstville.^[3] Modern Alfords Point began to develop alongside the Menai Town Centre initiative in the late 1970s-1980s with large plots of bushland divided for housing development.

Alfords Point residents have been victim to bushfires, perhaps the most infamous being those of the 1994 Eastern seaboard fires which claimed many homes in the area, particularly those directly neighbouring the Georges River National Park. Other recent bushfires in the area occurred in Summer 1997/98 and Summer 2001/2002, however, damage to property was limited due to improved bush prevention as a result of the 1993/94 disaster.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census of Population, there were 3,303 residents in Alfords Point. 76.2% of residents were born in Australia. The most common other countries of birth were England 2.5%, Macedonia 2.1% and Greece 1.6%. 71.8% of residents spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Greek 7.4%, Arabic 4.0% and Macedonian 3.1%. The most common responses for religious affiliation were Catholic 34.8%, Anglican 17.6% and Orthodox 16.4%.^[1]

Commercial area

Alfords Point has a small group of shops on Brushwood Drive adjacent to Alfords Point Public School. Shops include a hair salon, pharmacy, convenience store, Charcoal Chicken & Pizza take-away and the Menai Dance Centre.

Sport and recreation

Alfords Point contains two sporting ovals, one named Casuarina Road Oval positioned on Casuarina Road and the other named Narina Park positioned on Coachwood Crescent, which are used for soccer and cricket in local competitions. Narina Park also hosts the Alfords Point Community Centre, which can be hired out from Sutherland Shire Council. Natural bushland is abundant in this area, as Alfords Point is positioned on the shores of the Georges River and National Park, with many walking tracks and firetrails popular amongst locals in summer.

Education

Alfords Point Primary school K-6 is a community-oriented school that often hosts community events and functions.^[4] Alfords Point Pre-School Kindergarten, an early learning centre, is located opposite the shops.^[5]

References

Coordinates: 33°59′05″S 151°01′17″E / 33.98480°S 151.02142°E / -33.98480; 151.02142