Giralang, Australian Capital Territory

Giralang Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Population	3,304 (2011 census)[1]
• Density	1,377/km2 (3,570/sq mi)
Established	1974
Postcode(s)	2617
Area	2.4 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
District	Belconnen
Territory electorate(s)	Yerrabi
Federal Division(s)	Fenner
Suburbs around Giralang: Nicholls Crace Giralang McKellar Lawson Kaleen

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

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.

Political representation

For the purposes of Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives, Giralang is in the Division of Fenner.^[3]

For the purposes of Australian Capital Territory elections for the ACT Legislative Assembly, Giralang is in the Yerrabi electorate.^[4]

Geology

Aerial view of Giralang, from the west.

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.^[5]

References

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Coordinates: 35°12′43″S 149°05′50″E / 35.21194°S 149.09722°E / -35.21194; 149.09722