Laverton, Victoria
| Laverton Melbourne, Victoria | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Aviation Road, main street of Laverton | |||||||||||||
  Laverton | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°51′29″S 144°46′23″E / 37.858°S 144.773°ECoordinates: 37°51′29″S 144°46′23″E / 37.858°S 144.773°E | ||||||||||||
| Population | 4,065 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||
| • Density | 598/km2 (1,548/sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 3028 | ||||||||||||
| Area | 6.8 km2 (2.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Location | 17.5 km (11 mi) from Melbourne | ||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | |||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Altona | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lalor | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Laverton is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km south-west of Melbourne's central business district. Its local government areas are the City of Hobsons Bay and the City of Wyndham. At the 2011 Census, Laverton had a population of 4,065.
Laverton is known for being a considerably hot suburb during Melbourne's summer, with it and Altona generally recording temperatures hotter than the city itself.
Laverton is home to the state baseball stadium, which hosts several national events each year.
Laverton is connected to the Werribee railway line at Laverton station and Aircraft station.
Laverton is serviced by a network of primary and secondary state arterial roads, including major arterials such as the Princes Freeway, where there is an entry ramp via Point Cook Road (Aviation Road).
History
Laverton's history starts in 1886, when sale of land in the suburb was promoted by Staples Wise and Company. The first station to be opened beyond Newport on the way to Geelong was Laverton Station, in the same year. Laverton Post Office opened on 9 April 1888.[2] Today Aircraft station is nearby, named from the Williams RAAF base, opened in 1921, seven years after a base was established at Point Cook.
In the 1950s a second primary school was built in Laverton, having over 900 students in 1966. Two more primary schools and a high school were established around this time. There is a police station near Laverton railway station.
Demographics
In the 2011 census the population of Laverton was 4,065, approximately 47.4% female and 52.6% male. The median/average age of the people in Laverton is 31 years of age.
47.1% of people living in the suburb of Laverton were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were 14.0% India, 4.7% Burma , 2.6% Philippines, 2.4% New Zealand, 2.4% England, 2.3% Thailand, 1.6% China , 1.5% Vietnam, 0.8% Scotland, 0.5% Nepal, 0.5% Cambodia, 0.5% Sudan, 0.5% Italy, 0.5% Ethiopia.
51.7% of people living in Laverton speak English only. The other top languages spoken are 12.7% Other, 7.9% Punjabi, 5.5% Language spoken at home not stated, 2.8% Hindi, 1.9% Arabic, 1.8% Other, 1.8% Vietnamese, 1.4% Mandarin, 1.3% Spanish.
The religious makeup of Laverton is 22.8% Catholic, 17.9% No religion, 8.5% Anglican, 8.3% Religious affiliation not stated, 7.7% Other Religious Groups, 7.6% Baptist, 6.8% Hinduism, 3.7% Islam, 3.2% Buddhism, 2.8% Eastern Orthodox.
Royal Australian Air Force bases
Laverton was the home to RAAF Base Laverton. The base is no longer used for operational flying. In 2008 the base became part of the new suburb of Williams Landing. For administrative purposes it is now merged with the former RAAF Base Point Cook as RAAF Base Williams. Point Cook is home to the RAAF Museum, where visitors can see many different types of historical RAAF aircraft. RAAF Williams is also home to the Laverton depot of the Australian Army Reserves 8/7 Battalion of the Royal Victorian Regiment.
Scouts
Laverton is home to the 1st Laverton Air Scout group which began in approximately 1952. In the past, it was an active 'Air Scout' Group given the local RAAF base. The group currently has Joey Scouts, Cub Scouts and Scouts. It meets in a hall on railway land near the Laverton Railway Station. This hall is also used by local sports clubs and gets hired out for parties.
Laverton also has the 2nd Laverton Scout group, this group includes gardening for children as part of it activities.
Sport
The suburb has an Australian rules football team competing in the Western Region Football League.[3]
Golfers play at the course of the RAAF Williams Golf Club.[4]
References
- ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Laverton (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ↑ Premier Postal History, Post Office List, retrieved 11 April 2008
- ↑ Full Points Footy, Laverton, retrieved 15 April 2009
- ↑ Golf Select, RAAF Williams, retrieved 11 May 2009