Giralang, Australian Capital Territory

Giralang Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Population:	3304 (2006 census)
Established:	1974
Postcode:	2617
District:	Belconnen
Assembly Electorate:	Ginninderra
Federal Division:	Fraser
Suburbs around Giralang: Nicholls Crace Giralang McKellar Lawson Kaleen

Giralang (postcode: 2617)is a suburb of Canberra, Australia in the district of Belconnen. The suburb is named after the word in the language of the Wiradhuri Aboriginal tribe of the Central West of New South Wales, meaning star. The suburb name was gazetted on 15 January 1974. Streets in Giralang are named after Aboriginal words for stars, astronomers and constellations seen from the southern hemisphere.

In the suburb is the Giralang District Playing fields and adjacent Giralang Primary School. The suburb is bordered by Baldwin Drive, William Slim Drive and the Barton Highway.

Giralang Primary School was under threat to close in 2006. After completion of the school closure process it was decided that Giralang Primary School will remain open.

Geology

Aerial view from the west

Ordovician age Pittman Formation greywacke and turbidites are found in the far east and northwest including a band of Acton Shale occurring right on the eastern border of the suburb. Next in the center, south and north west of Giralang there are late Silurian sedimentary rocks. From the east to west there are, mudstone, State Circle Shale, and then micaceous Black Mountain Sandstone that contains lenses of shale. In the south west of Giralang is calcareous shale from the Canberra Formation. A long fault heading north west roughly parallel to Ginninderra Creek is marked on the surface by an iron oxide reef. In the south of Giralang this fault separates the Canberra formation from State Circle Shale uplifted on the east side.

See also: Geology of the Australian Capital Territory