Ashmont, New South Wales
Ashmont, known originally as "J.J. Salmon's Estate" is a south-western suburb of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. The suburb is named after the Salmon family's original homestead that was located where the suburb now stands.
| Ashmont Wagga Wagga, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ashmont Mall | |||||||||||||||
  Ashmont | |||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°7′37.66″S 147°19′55.48″E | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 3,828 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2650 | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Wagga Wagga | ||||||||||||||
| County | Wynyard | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | South Wagga Wagga | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Wagga Wagga | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Riverina | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Ashmont was first urbanised in the late 1950s, and during the 1970s large areas were developed by the then State Housing Commission (now known as Housing NSW).[2] As of 2019, 21% of dwellings in Ashmont are owned by a federal or state housing authority.[3] The suburb has a high rate of social disadvantage and crime, with crime rates significantly higher compared to state-wide averages.[4]
A small shopping centre, the New South Wales State Emergency Service Murrumbidgee Region and New South Wales Rural Fire Service Riverina Zone Headquarters are located within the suburb.
The Carmelite Monastery, a community of monastic, contemplative nuns, is situated on Morsehead Street.[5]
Demographics
At the 2016 census, the median age in Ashmont is 33, younger than the national average of 38. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people constitute 18.0% of the population, significantly higher than the national average of 2.8%.
85.1% of residents were born in Australia, substantially higher than the national average of 66.7%. The most common responses for religion were Catholic 28.4%, No Religion 24.5%, Anglican 21.8%, and Presbyterian and Reformed 4.4%. 9.7% of respondents did not answer the question. Christianity was the largest religious group reported overall, at 71.1% (excluding not stated responses).
12.8% of residents reported being unemployed, nearly double the national average. Median incomes in the suburb were notably lower than average. The median weekly personal income reported was $505, compared to $662 nationally. The median weekly household income was $876, compared to $1,438 nationally. A plurality of families with children, 27.3% had neither parent working.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ashmont (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- Morris, S (1999). Wagga Wagga, a history. Bobby Graham Publishers, Wagga Wagga. ISBN 1-875247-12-2
- https://www.microburbs.com.au/heat-map/public-housing#147.38966051123043:-35.12763004534665:12
- "Is Ashmont Wagga's Struggle Street?". Daily Advertiser. Wagga Wagga. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
- http://www.carmelwagga.org.au/
