Giralang, Australian Capital Territory

Giralang (/ˈɡɪrəlæŋ/) is a suburb of the Belconnen district of Canberra, located within the Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

Giralang
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Giralang Primary
Giralang
Coordinates35°12′43″S 149°05′50″E
Population3,316 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density1,382/km2 (3,580/sq mi)
Established1974
Postcode(s)2617
Area2.4 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
DistrictBelconnen
Territory electorate(s)Yerrabi
Federal Division(s)Canberra
Suburbs around Giralang:
Nicholls Crace
Giralang
McKellar Lawson Kaleen

The suburb is named after the word in the language of the Wiradhuri Aboriginal tribe of the Central West of New South Wales, meaning star. The suburb name was gazetted on 15 January 1974. Streets in Giralang are named after Aboriginal words for stars, astronomers and constellations seen from the southern hemisphere.[2]

In the suburb is the Giralang District Playing fields and adjacent Giralang Primary School. The suburb is bordered by Baldwin Drive, William Slim Drive and the Barton Highway.

Educational facilities

Giralang Primary School was under threat to close in 2006. After completion of the school closure process it was decided that Giralang Primary School will remain open.

In 2011, a Jewish mikvah opened in Giralang. An early childhood education and care facility for Jewish children opened in 2013 in the refurbished former Giralang Preschool building.

Geology
Aerial view of Giralang, from the west.
Main article: Geology of the Australian Capital Territory

Ordovician age Pittman Formation greywacke and turbidites are found in the far east and northwest including a band of Acton Shale occurring right on the eastern border of the suburb. Next in the center, south and north west of Giralang there are late Silurian sedimentary rocks. From the east to west there are, mudstone, State Circle Shale, and then micaceous Black Mountain Sandstone that contains lenses of shale. In the south west of Giralang is calcareous shale from the Canberra Formation. A long fault heading north west roughly parallel to Ginninderra Creek is marked on the surface by an iron oxide reef. In the south of Giralang this fault separates the Canberra formation from State Circle Shale uplifted on the east side.[3]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Giralang (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  2. "Suburb Name search results". ACT Environment and Sustainable Development. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  3. Henderson G A M and Matveev G, Geology of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Environs 1:50000 1980.
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