Shortland | |||||||||||||
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  Shortland | |||||||||||||
 Interactive map of Shortland | |||||||||||||
| Coordinates:32°52′55″S151°41′06″E / 32.882°S 151.685°E /-32.882; 151.685 | |||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | ||||||||||||
| State | New South Wales | ||||||||||||
| City | Newcastle | ||||||||||||
| LGA | |||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||
| • State electorate | |||||||||||||
| • Federal division | |||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||
• Total | 8.8 km2 (3.4 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||
| • Total | 4,537 (SAL2021)[2] | ||||||||||||
| Postcode | 2307 | ||||||||||||
| Parish | Hexham | ||||||||||||
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Shortland is asuburb ofNewcastle,New South Wales, Australia, located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Newcastle'scentral business district. It is part of theCity of Newcastlelocal government area.
TheAwabakal andWorimi peoples are acknowledged by City of Newcastle the traditional custodians of the land situated within the Newcastle local government area, including wetlands, rivers, creeks, and coastal environments. It is known that their heritage and cultural ties to Newcastle date back tens of thousands of years.[3]
Shortland was named afterLt. John Shortland,master's mate of theSirius, the escorting vessel to theFirst Fleet.[4]
The area is restricted in development growth due to surrounding wetlands.[5]
The Hunter Wetlands Centre, established in 1984, is situated on 45 ha (110 acres) of rehabilitatedwetlands between Shortland and Hexham Swamp. The Shortland Wetlands are part of theRamsar Convention-recognisedHunter Estuary Wetlands, providing habitat for many species of birds and wildlife along with recreational and educational facilities for visitors.[6]
Several unconfirmed "yowie" sightings have occurred in this area at the Wetlands.[7]
There are two primary schools in Shortland, Shortland Public School[9] and Our Lady of Victories Catholic School[10] both located on Sandgate Road.
Margaret Jurd College, originally a Ministry of the Uniting Church, provides students facing challenges in education an alternative secondary school option[11]
TheUniversity of Newcastle moved from Tighes Hill to the edge of the suburb in 1966. The site of the University was later absorbed into the suburb of Callaghan (named for Sir Bede Callaghan, University Chancellor 1977-1988).
Recreational facilities include the Hunter Wetlands Centre, Shortland Waters Golf Course, netball courts, and sporting ovals. Parks and reserves include Tuxford Park, Alister Street Reserve, Northcote Park and Coral Sea Avenue Reserve.[12]
Sandgate Road is the main transport thoroughfare. Sandgate Road overpasses the Shortland to Sandgate section of theNewcastle Inner City Bypass, opened in 2014. Works on the environmentally sensitive Shortland to Sandgate section included a 1.9-kilometre dual carriageway, a 60-metre grade separated interchange, a signalised intersection, two bridges over Deepbridge Creek and two bridges over the Main Northern Railway. The project also included sediment basins to control run-off and provide habitat for the endangeredgreen and golden bell frog.[13]
Shortland is serviced by Newcastle Buses.[14] The closest railway stations areSandgate railway station andWarabrook railway station (University), onNSW TrainLink'sHunter Line.
At the Hunter's River the reports of the natives [sic] would lead us to classify it [the Bunyip] with the carnivorous species.