Shortland, New South Wales

Shortland is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located 12 kilometres (7 mi) from Newcastle's central business district. It is part of the City of Newcastle local government area and was named after Lt. John Shortland, master's mate of the Sirius, the escorting vessel to the First Fleet.^[1] The area is restricted in development growth due to surrounding wetlands.^[2]

Education

There are two primary schools in Shortland, Shortland Public School and Our Lady of Victories Catholic School, both located on Sandgate Road. Shortland Pre-School and Hunter School for Children with Autism are located next to Shortland Public School.

Margaret Jurd College, a Ministry of the Uniting Church in Australia, is a registered Non-Government Secondary Special School established to support young people excluded from mainstream school.

The adjoining suburb Callaghan contains the main campus of the University of Newcastle.

Hunter Wetlands Centre

The Hunter Wetlands Centre, established in 1984, is situated on 45 hectares of rehabilitated wetlands between Shortland and Hexham Swamp. The Shortland Wetlands are part of the Ramsar Convention recognised Hunter Estuary Wetlands providing habitat for many species of birds and wildlife along with recreational and educational facilities for visitors. ^[3] Several unconfirmed yowie sightings have occurred in this area at the Wetlands and nearby Marton Street.

Local Landmarks

• The Hunter Valley Private Hospital, the oldest working private hospital in the Hunter area. It was established in 1965, purchased by the Hunter Valley Private Hospital in 1985. ^[4]
• Newcastle Sikh Association (Gurdwara) on Marton Street.
• Shortland RSL Memorial Grove on Conmurra Circuit.

Sport and Recreation Facilities

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. ^[5]

Transport

Sandgate Road is the main transport thoroughfare. Sandgate Road overpasses the Shortland to Sandgate section of the Newcastle 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 endangered Green and Golden Bell Frog. ^[6]

Shortland is serviced by the following bus routes operated by Newcastle Buses: 106, 107, 230. ^[7] The closest railway stations are Sandgate railway station and Warabrook railway station (University), on NSW TrainLink's Hunter Line.

References

Coordinates: 32°52′55″S 151°41′06″E / 32.882°S 151.685°E / -32.882; 151.685