the location of wagga wagga's central business district was already well established by the late 1800s and remains focused around the commercial and recreational grid bounded by best and tarcutta streets and the murrumbidgee river and the sturt highway. the main shopping street of wagga wagga is baylis street which becomes fitzmaurice street at the northern end. the wollundry lagoon is the water focus of the city centre and has been a key element in the development and separation of the north (older) and south (newer) parts of the city centre. most residential growth in wagga wagga has been on the higher ground to the south of the city centre, with the only residential areas north of the murrumbidgee being the flood prone suburb of north wagga wagga and the university suburb of estella. major industrial areas of wagga wagga include the northern suburb of bomen and the eastern suburb of east wagga wagga.