Lawson, Australian Capital Territory

Lawson (postcode: 2617) is a suburb in the Belconnen district of Canberra, located within the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The suburb is surrounded by Baldwin Drive, William Slim Drive and Ginninderra Drive. It lies next to the suburbs of McKellar, Giralang, Kaleen, Bruce and Belconnen.

Lawson
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Lawson
Coordinates35°13′30″S 149°05′17″E
Population148 (2016 census)[1]
 • Density47.7/km2 (123.7/sq mi)
Postcode(s)2617
Area3.1 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
DistrictBelconnen
Territory electorate(s)Ginninderra
Federal Division(s)Canberra
Suburbs around Lawson:
McKellar Giralang Kaleen
McKellar Lawson Kaleen
Belconnen Bruce Bruce

Two intersections were built in 2012 that lead into the suburb's grasslands, prepared for future development on the suburb, one leading off Ginninderra Drive, and another off Baldwin Drive. However, neither intersection continued on further than a few metres. Development was delayed by about two years by Commonwealth environmental clearance processes due to the presence of golden sun moth and native grassland. Construction of roads have commenced and the first residential land was sold on 3 December 2013.[2]

The suburb derives its name from Henry Lawson, short story writer and poet. The streets in Lawson are named after aspects of Australia appearing in his writing.[3] A bicycle path runs alongside Ginninderra Drive, another along the shore of the lake.

In June 2020, Defence Housing Australia (DHA) announced the proposed master development plan for Lawson North into a vibrant and connected community for Defence families and the local community. Lawson North is now in the planning and design stage, with stage one civil works planned for early-mid 2021, and completion anticipated for 2023.[4]

Political representation

For the purposes of Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives, Lawson is in the Division of Canberra.[5]

For the purposes of Australian Capital Territory elections for the ACT Legislative Assembly, Lawson is in the Ginninderra electorate.[6]

Geology
Aerial view of Lawson, from the west.
Early settlement in Lawson
Main article: Geology of the Australian Capital Territory

The rocks in Lawson are from Ordovician and Silurian ages. The Ordovician age greywacke from the Pittman Formation is in the far south and east of Lawson, including a band of black Acton Shale. Greywacke is formed by underwater landslides of mud settling out on the ocean floor. The black shale was formed in the deep ocean when the water had no oxygen. Then in the north west there are late Silurian sedimentary rocks. From the center of Lawson there is mudstone, State Circle Shale, and then Black Mountain Sandstone that contains mica lenses of shale. On the west side of lake Ginninderra there is calcareous shale from the Canberra Formation in the north, Glebe Farm Adamellite intrusion in the center and a porphyry of Green-grey Dacitic intrusive containing large white Feldspar crystals in the south. A long fault that follows the east bank of the Lake Ginninderra, and Ginninderra Creek passes through Lawson in the north north west direction. It is likely that this fault has determined the location of the creek. The late Silurian sediments are to the east of the fault.[7]

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Lawson (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  2. "Lawson blocks snapped up at top price". The Canberra Times. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  3. "Suburb Name search results". ACT Environment and Sustainable Development. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  4. "Defence Housing Australia (DHA) Lawson North Canberra". Lawson North. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  5. "Profile of the electoral division of Canberra (ACT)". Current federal electoral divisions. Australian Electoral Commission. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  6. "Electoral Boundaries Redistribution 2019" (PDF). Augmented ACT Electoral Commission. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  7. Henderson G A M and Matveev G, Geology of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Environs 1:50000 1980.
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