Balga, Western Australia
Encyclopedia
Balga is a suburb of Perth
, the capital city of Western Australia
, and is located 13 kilometres (8 mi) north of Perth's central business district
(CBD). Its Local Government Area
is the City of Stirling.
The name "Balga" was adopted in 1954 and is the Noongar
(Aboriginal) word for the indigenous grass tree
Xanthorrhoea preissii. It was designed by the State Housing Commission along with Nollamara
and Westminster
as part of the "Mirrabooka Project", and the laying of streets and building of homes commenced in the 1960s.
to the west, Reid Highway
to the south, Mirrabooka Avenue to the east and Beach Road
to the north.
Balga residents had a median age of 34, and median incomes were well below average for the Perth metropolitan area and the region — $347 per week compared with $513 per week in Perth, and $526 in the North Metropolitan statistical region. The population of Balga was more ethnically diverse than the Perth average, with 57.7% born in Australia and significant minorities from Sudan
, Italy
, Macedonia, Vietnam and Burma identified in the 2006 census. At the 2006 census, 4.49% of residents identified as Indigenous Australians
.
which opened in 1970; three state primary schools, Balga (1965), North Balga (1968) and Warriapendi (1970); one special school, the Gladys Newton School; and one private school, Majella Catholic Primary School (1971). Additionally, a campus of Polytechnic West (formerly known as Swan TAFE) is located in the southeast of the suburb.
Balga Senior High School includes an Intensive English Centre for newly arrived refugee students as well a program for teenage parents and a sports-based education program for indigenous students, and an emphasis on literacy, numeracy, health and careers through all levels of the school. It is one of the few high schools in Western Australia not to offer a Tertiary Entrance Exam
(TEE) program, although several students each year complete a university preparation course conducted by Edith Cowan University
.
bus routes operated by Path Transit
. The 372 (Mirrabooka-Marangaroo) covers Marangaroo Drive and inner portions of the Suburb, the 346 (Perth–Wanneroo) covers Wanneroo Road, and the 363, 373 and 374 (Perth–Marangaroo) routes along with various routes from Mirrabooka bus station cover other parts of the suburb.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, the capital city of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and is located 13 kilometres (8 mi) north of Perth's central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
(CBD). Its Local Government Area
Local Government Areas of Western Australia
The Australian state of Western Australia is divided into 141 local government areas...
is the City of Stirling.
The name "Balga" was adopted in 1954 and is the Noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
(Aboriginal) word for the indigenous grass tree
Xanthorrhoea
Xanthorrhoea is a genus of flowering plants native to Australia and a member of family Xanthorrhoeaceae, being the only member of subfamily Xanthorrhoeoideae. The Xanthorrhoeaceae are monocots, part of order Asparagales. There are 28 species and five subspecies of Xanthorrhoea.-Description:All are...
Xanthorrhoea preissii. It was designed by the State Housing Commission along with Nollamara
Nollamara, Western Australia
Nollamara is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.The name "Nollamara" is the Aboriginal word for the plant known as the Black Kangaroo Paw.-Transport:...
and Westminster
Westminster, Western Australia
Westminster is a northern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.Westminster was formerly the southern part of Balga but was renamed in 1994 at the request of residents. This was the name of the original estate that existed before residential subdivision...
as part of the "Mirrabooka Project", and the laying of streets and building of homes commenced in the 1960s.
Geography
Balga is located 13 kilometres (8 mi) north of Perth, and is bounded by Wanneroo RoadWanneroo Road
Wanneroo Road is an important arterial road in Perth, Australia. It is about 75 kilometres long. It links Perth with the City of Wanneroo, and the Towns of Yanchep and Lancelin...
to the west, Reid Highway
Reid Highway
Reid Highway is a major arterial highway in Perth, Western Australia. It is allocated Route 3, and runs between Marmion Avenue, North Beach, and West Swan Road, West Swan, a distance of...
to the south, Mirrabooka Avenue to the east and Beach Road
Beach Road, Perth
Beach Road is a major east-west road in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, connecting Perth's inner northern beachside suburbs and inland state housing areas with shopping and public transport facilities at Warwick and the Malaga industrial area...
to the north.
Demographics
At the 2006 census, Balga had a population of 8,494.Balga residents had a median age of 34, and median incomes were well below average for the Perth metropolitan area and the region — $347 per week compared with $513 per week in Perth, and $526 in the North Metropolitan statistical region. The population of Balga was more ethnically diverse than the Perth average, with 57.7% born in Australia and significant minorities from Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Italy
Italian Australians
-Characteristics :The 2006 Census counted 199,124 persons who were born in Italy. However, 852,417 persons identified themselves as having Italian ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry . Italian is the fifth most identified ancestry in Australia behind 'Australian',...
, Macedonia, Vietnam and Burma identified in the 2006 census. At the 2006 census, 4.49% of residents identified as Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
.
Education
Balga contains a state high school, Balga Senior High SchoolBalga Senior High School
Balga Senior High School is a public co-educational high school in Western Australia. The school is located on Markham Way in the suburb of Balga.Established in 1970, the school caters for students in Year 8 to 12....
which opened in 1970; three state primary schools, Balga (1965), North Balga (1968) and Warriapendi (1970); one special school, the Gladys Newton School; and one private school, Majella Catholic Primary School (1971). Additionally, a campus of Polytechnic West (formerly known as Swan TAFE) is located in the southeast of the suburb.
Balga Senior High School includes an Intensive English Centre for newly arrived refugee students as well a program for teenage parents and a sports-based education program for indigenous students, and an emphasis on literacy, numeracy, health and careers through all levels of the school. It is one of the few high schools in Western Australia not to offer a Tertiary Entrance Exam
Tertiary Entrance Exam
For the new examination and curriculum system that has replaced the Tertiary Entrance Exam , see WACE ....
(TEE) program, although several students each year complete a university preparation course conducted by Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University
Edith Cowan University is located in Perth, Western Australia. It was named after the first woman to be elected to an Australian Parliament, Edith Cowan, and is the only Australian university named after a woman....
.
Transport
The suburb is served by a number of TransperthTransperth
Transperth is the brand name of the public transport system in Perth, Western Australia. It is operated by the Public Transport Authority.-History:...
bus routes operated by Path Transit
Path Transit
Path Transit is a transport company operating 320 buses in Perth, Australia since 1996.It has depots in :* Bayswater* MalagaPath Transit also provides rental of vehicles for private functions.-Vehicles:...
. The 372 (Mirrabooka-Marangaroo) covers Marangaroo Drive and inner portions of the Suburb, the 346 (Perth–Wanneroo) covers Wanneroo Road, and the 363, 373 and 374 (Perth–Marangaroo) routes along with various routes from Mirrabooka bus station cover other parts of the suburb.