Population 3,602 (2011 census) Postcode(s) 2615 Territory electorate(s) Ginninderra Area 2.7 km² Postal code 2615 | Established 1971 District Belconnen Latham Florey Founded 1971 Federal division Division of Fenner | |
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Latham is a residential suburb in the Belconnen district of Canberra, located within the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. The suburb is named for John Latham, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1935 to 1952. Streets in Latham have the names of Australian judges.
Contents
Map of Latham ACT 2615, Australia
Location and features
It is next to the suburbs of Charnwood, Flynn, Florey, Higgins, Holt and Macgregor. It is surrounded by Ginninderra Drive on the north, Florey Drive on the west, Southern Cross Drive on the south, and Kingsford Smith Drive on the east.
Latham has a primary school and neighbourhood oval. It also has an ACTEW substation. Ginninderra creek runs through Latham, and there are open areas of grassland nearby, such as the Umbagong district park.
From the mid-1970s Latham did have a shopping centre (supermarket, butcher, Chinese restaurant, chemist (later a school uniform/limited sportswear store), hair dresser, bakery, newsagent, doctor's surgery (later physiotherapist) and post office), and a petrol/service centre (closed in early 1993).
The shopping centre wound down between 1996 and 1998 due to a fire that destroyed the supermarket and caused roof damage to the rest of the centre, with the post office closing just after the fire and moving to the abandoned petrol station site. The uniform shop followed suit not long after, with the post office authorised to limited "corner store" duties from early 1998. The butcher, restaurant and physiotherapist left 12–18 months after the fire, with the restaurant the last to leave and the complex finally fenced off in May 1998. The complex no longer exists, with a townhouse development with a small corner store now occupying the site with the store located at the corner of the complex at the corner of Onslow Street and Dalley Crescent. The former Petrol Station/Uniform Shop has now been demolished and now has additional housing in the townhouse development. The Uniform Shop has moved to the neighbouring suburb of Holt. It is located in Luke Street, near the Kippax Fair shopping centre, likewise the Physiotherapist has been moved to the same street.
Political representation
For the purposes of Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives, Latham is in the Fenner.
For the purposes of Australian Capital Territory elections for the ACT Legislative Assembly, Latham is in the Ginninderra electorate.
Geology
Most of Latham is covered by the upper Silurian Deakin Volcanics. From the north east of Latham to the south west, the following stratigraphic layers of volcanics are passed:
Upper Silurian Laidlaw Volcanics grey tuff form a wedge over the top of the Deakin Volcanics.