Woodberry Schools as Community Centres

Woodberry Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) known locally as "Place of Friends" is located in the grounds of Woodberry Public School, NSW, Australia.

We provide information and support to families with young children living in Woodberry and the surrounding communities of Beresfield and Tarro.

 Geographic location:

Woodberry is largely a residential area located on the eastern edge of the Maitland local government area, surrounded by rural and swamp land on the western and northern sides, and separated from other residential areas by the Great Northern Railway Line and the New England Highway. A small shopping center is located centrally within Woodberry while a larger shopping and business center is accessible by road in Beresfield, located in the Newcastle local government area (LGA). Some industries mainly transport and associated activities, such as mechanical repairs, are located in Woodberry.

The Administrative Centre for Maitland is located 17km from Woodberry and Beresfield via rail or highway. Newcastle CBD is 26km away and Raymond Terrace in the Port Stephens LGA is accessible by local roads and has the nearest cinema and major retail center. The rapidly developing Maitland suburb of Thornton is 9km away across swampland. A road links Beresfield and Thornton. Thornton has a new industrial area and central depot for the area's private bus company. Industrial zones are developing around Beresfield and Black Hill and it is expected that this will expand and increase employment opportunities in the region.

 Woodberry's location on the Maitland-Newcastle boundary creates an artificial barrier that affects service provision although services such as community transport are aware of the problem and efforts are being made to improve this situation.

Source: Woodberry Community Development Project – Prepared by Cathy Hurst for Maitland City Council 2005