Jesmond, New South Wales


Jesmond is a suburb of the City of Newcastle LGA, located about west of the Newcastle CBD in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is both a commercial centre and dormitory suburb of Newcastle. Residents include Australian and international students attending the University of Newcastle in adjacent Callaghan. The suburb also has numerous aged housing facilities. The suburb is very multicultural due to many international university students. According to the 2006 Census there were 2,442 people in 1,144 dwellings.

History

Originally known as "Dark Creek", Jesmond was the location of orchards and steam saw-mills. A village was established in the area by 1883 with around 600 residents. A soap works was established in the area in the 1880s. There is some contradiction as to the source of "Jesmond" as the suburb's name with different sources attributing it to the Tyneside town in the North of England and "Jesmond Dene", a park in Jesmond.

Schools

Jesmond has access to a number of schools including, Heaton Primary, Jesmond Primary and the Jesmond Campus of Callaghan College.

Shopping and transport

Jesmond's commercial centre is situated on Blue Gum Road. There are a number of mixed businesses as well as a large shopping mall. The area serves Newcastle with a district centre function and as a transport junction with main roads in east-west and northern directions.
Jesmond Central shopping centre is on Blue Gum Road, approximately west-north-west of the Newcastle CBD. The centre includes major stores such as Woolworths, Aldi and Big W, as well as over 60 specialty stores. The centre has parking for over 900 cars.

Recreation and sport

Jesmond Park and Heaton Park are Jesmond's two main public parks for sport events, complemented by the facilities at Callaghan Campus. Jesmond Park, situated with a bushland setting to its southern boundary, is a popular destination for family barbecues and wedding photography given its extensive rose garden.
Jesmond Football Club, "The Rams", are the local soccer team based at Jesmond Park. The club was founded in 1928 and has a long and proud history. Heaton Park also features an oval-shaped concrete skateboarding bowl.