Argenton, New South Wales
| Argenton Lake Macquarie, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,370 (2011 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 856/km2 (2,220/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 1838 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 2284 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 1.6 km2 (0.6 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 16 km (10 mi) W of Newcastle | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Parish | Kahibah | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Lake Macquarie | ||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Charlton | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Argenton is a suburb of the city of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia 16 kilometres (10 mi) west of the Newcastle's central business district in Lake Macquarie's West Ward.
History
Lead smelting commenced in the area in 1898. A public school opened in 1897, but was closed six years later. Another school opened in 1953. The Newcastle Mines Rescue Station opened in 1927. The Waratah Golf Club was formed in 1901 and is the oldest golf club in Newcastle. The Pasminco Lead and Zinc smelter was confirmed to begin disassembly in 2005 for the cost of approx $6 mil. In 2009 it was nearing the end of demolition with clearing and replanting of land.
Local interests
Argenton is a small suburb of Lake Macquarie commonly recognised for its BMX Club, Soccer Club and longstanding Bakery which under initial ownership claimed to have the best meat pie in Australia. With the opening of Glendale Supercentre within the boundaries of Argenton, the area has seen rapid growth in visitors travelling through the suburb. The demolition of the Pasminco Smelter saw 360 people losing their employment although it caused much pollution to the surrounding areas. Much controversy surrounded the Pasminco and many saw both positive and negative factors in its closing.
References
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Argenton (SSC)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
