Alfords Point

Alfords Point Federal division(s)		Hughes
Suburbs around Alfords Point: Picnic Point Revesby Heights Padstow Heights Padstow Alfords Point Lugarno Menai Illawong Illawong

Alfords Point is a

.

Alfords Point is on the southern bank of the Georges River. The suburb is nearly completely surrounded by bushland from the Georges River nature Reserve and with Alfords Point Road within its eastern border running south to north onto the Alfords Point Road Bridge across the Georges River towards Padstow. Brushwood Drive is the only road to enter and exit Alfords Point.

History

Jane Alford, widow of John Alford Senior owned 50 acres (200,000 m²) of land near here in 1828. Alford was originally the name given to an area of public reserve on the bank of the Georges River.^[2]

When the Sutherland Shire was officially formed in 1906, the western boundary extended to what is today called

Modern Alfords Point began to develop alongside the Menai Town Centre initiative in the late 1970s-1980s with large plots of bushland divided for housing development.

The Alfords Point Bridge was built across the Georges River connecting the Sutherland Shire with Canterbury-Bankstown. This connected the suburbs of Alfords Point and Padstow Heights. The first bridge opened on 7 September 1973, which only accommodated three lanes. The second bridge was built next to it, opening on 22 August 2008, making it three lanes north and three lanes south.

Alfords Point residents have been victim to bushfires, perhaps the most infamous being those of the

which claimed many homes in the area, particularly those directly neighbouring the Georges River National Park. Other recent bushfires in the area occurred in Summer 1997–98 and Summer 2001–2002, however, damage to property was limited due to improved bush prevention as a result of the 1993–94 disaster.

Demographics

According to the

Commercial area

Alfords Point has a small group of shops on Brushwood Drive adjacent to Alfords Point Public School. Shops include a hair salon, pharmacy, convenience store, Charcoal Chicken & Pizza take-away and the Menai Dance Centre.

Sport and recreation

Alfords Point contains two sporting ovals, one named Casuarina Road Oval positioned on Casuarina Road and the other named Narina Park positioned on Coachwood Crescent, which are used for

Sutherland Shire Council

. Natural bushland is abundant in this area, as Alfords Point is positioned on the shores of the Georges River and National Park, with many walking tracks and firetrails popular amongst locals in summer.

Education

Alfords Point Primary school K-6 is a community-oriented school that often hosts community events and functions.[4] Alfords Point Pre-School Kindergarten, an early learning centre, is located opposite the shops.^[5]

Street names

The street theme of Alfords Point is types of flora; trees and shrubs. Examples include: Brushwood Drive, Lavender Place, Eucalyptus Street.^[6]

Notable residents

• Steve Waugh - Former Australian cricket captain^[7]
• Steve Smith (cricketer) - Australian international cricketer

References

33°59′05″S 151°01′17″E / 33.98480°S 151.02142°E / -33.98480; 151.02142