Good suburbs to live in - ACT

[SuperHans]

Hi All,

I'm moving to ACT and would like to know which suburbs are good (which will be safe for my precious VW lol), and perhaps which ones to avoid.

I'll be working in the city and my partner will be going to ANU.

I like the looks of Lyneham or anywhere in the north close to the city, but I've heard about some dodgy people living the public housing of Northbourne ave.
Also around Griffith seems nice (without being too expensive).

I've also seen some well priced rentals at Kambah - is that too far to commute if I can't drive into the city?

Any tips?


(PS there are lot of GTI's down here!)

[djorkboy]

I haven't lived in Canberra for some time but my simple rule was nowhere south of Hindmarsh Drive, nowhere west of Dryandra Street and nowhere north of Barton Highway.

I lived around Forrest, Deakin, Red Hill, Kingston and Griffith and loved it. If I was moving back there now, and I wish I could, I would be wanting to find a place in Narrabundah or Campbell, but I would be wishing I could afford a place in Griffith or Deakin.

I wouldn't want to live in Tuggeranong or Belconnen but Gungahlin is supposed to be quite nice.

Another option I would seriously consider is one of the small country towns within easy commuting distance of Canberra, like Bungendore, Murrumbateman, Gundaroo, Collector, Tarago etc. I reckon a quick blast along the highway into town every morning would be quite relaxing.

[Water Boy]

I really like Canberra as a place and wounldnt mind working/living there at some stage in my life.

If I was a mountain biker living in some where like Duffy ot Curtin would be ace to access Mt Stromlo. I have family living around the D'ickson Ainsle area and ok once a year the place is full of ferals (im on of them) for summer nats its a very quiet leafy area that I dont think would cost too much.

TBO I wouldnt be too concerned about distance as to me amd im sure many other everything in Canberra seems so close.

[valgamesh]

If I was moving back there now, and I wish I could, I would be wanting to find a place in Narrabundah or Campbell

Narrabundah is nice, but you need to find the right spot and you'd want a garage to put your car in, I refused to stay at my gfs if I couldnt park my mk2 out in the backyard behind the fence. Campbell is a great place, the housing there is decent and from memory it doesn't cost to much to rent, dont quote me though.

Ainslie is terrible houses but so close to civic they charge you an arm and both legs. Lyneham again you need to find the right spot and Gungahlin is good, quick build, mainly small apartment styled houses.

South side, dont know much

[sports racer]

Compared to Sydney anywhere in Canberra is good as long as you have a garage. Even the farthest out suburbs are within easy commuting distance to Civic and the roads are good. If you're crazy like me then get an old country house in Braidwood and do the 90 k commute each morning and night. It's a great drive through the country and for the price of a small, cramped house in Canberra I've got a 6000 sq metre block with a fantastic 150 year old country homestead with 11 foot ceilings and log fireplaces. Can't beat sitting out on the verandah on a summer afternoon watching the world go by.

[Smead]

As a Resident of Canberra I say - Go North young man! Seriously Gunghalin is pretty good affordability and availability wise.
Belconnen or its sorounds arn't to bad eitherf

[djorkboy]

Compared to Sydney anywhere in Canberra is good as long as you have a garage. Even the farthest out suburbs are within easy commuting distance to Civic and the roads are good. If you're crazy like me then get an old country house in Braidwood and do the 90 k commute each morning and night. It's a great drive through the country and for the price of a small, cramped house in Canberra I've got a 6000 sq metre block with a fantastic 150 year old country homestead with 11 foot ceilings and log fireplaces. Can't beat sitting out on the verandah on a summer afternoon watching the world go by.

I would really like to live in Braidwood if I get a job back in Canberra but had assumed it was too far for a reasonable commute. How long does it take to drive to Canberra?

[ffoff]

I've been in Canberra all my life, so like 19 years haha. My boss lives in Curtin and I have to say it's got to be one of the best locations, its fairly quiet and still only 10-15mins out from the city, belconnen and woden.

If I was buying a house I'd probably be looking northside, stay away from charnwood and Macgregor.

I do a lot of work in Macgregor and all the houses out there are built in 45 days and to a quality that is just shocking. Also I'd be wary of houses in the new gungahlin suburbs. All the new developments have very small blocks and you can barely walk up the side of your house.

[bombsquad21]

none....it's too cold!

[Banzai]

I'll be working in the city and my partner will be going to ANU.

Braddon. You live and work on the North side, your partner goes to uni on that side you so may as well live on that side. Braddon will be in walking/easy cycling distance.
Somewhere near Gorman House would be good (but not closer to the City as that is too close to Reid) rather than just off Commonwealth Ave. There are also some nice newish units around Wakefield Ave near the ABC studios.

[Blitzen]

I moved to Canberra from Townsville this year, and I have to say that I am loving it. I live in Dikson (add a c in front of the k, but the parental censor is set to 'Extreme' on this forum, so you can't say words like **** or **** or ****...), and have a single bedroom unit to myself with secure parking under ground... I love the cold weather, and having lived in places like Darwin and Townsville, when it's cold, you can always dress up to be warm!!
I think Dikson is just about the perfect spot for me... I'm 10min from work (absolute max), and 5min from Civic, but the rent is quite high (thank Christ for subsidised rent!!).

[sports racer]

I would really like to live in Braidwood if I get a job back in Canberra but had assumed it was too far for a reasonable commute. How long does it take to drive to Canberra?

It's an hour commute at legal speeds which easily compares to trying to get anywhere in Sydney but you don't have 50 traffic lights to drive through.

I reckon it's worth it when I get to live here for less than almost anything in Canberra





Am I bragging? You bet! We've even got a windmill.

[djorkboy]

OK, now I really want to get a job in Canberra and move to Braidwood!!

[SuperHans]

thats awesome info guys, thanks very much
its pretty much spot on with what I've seen so far - been driving around to various rental properties to get a feel for the suburbs over the last few days.(if you saw a guy that looks lost in a csg gti with qld plates - that was me lol)

LOL sports racer - I want a windmill
I'd love to live out there, but we'd most likely need another car - i guess racing each other into town each morning could be fun....

so far really enjoying canberra - one of the major factors for moving was that Brissy was getting way too hot - it feels like its 10 months of summer some of the last few years, as well as it was getting a bit too busy on the roads - too many people i guess. (not as bad as sydney but not too far off either)

we certainly got what we asked for though : 6 degrees in the morning, and peak hr goes for about 10 minutes

[Kid Danny]

wow, that Braidwood joint looks good!

Metropolitan Apartments around new Acton would be good (right behind ANU), but they are pretty pricey...Around 400 a week I believe. Bruce is about 10 mins from the city and right next to the hospital, gym etc as well. O'Connor is pretty close as well.

No doubt you would have heard about that murder in those Northbourne flats a couple of weeks ago. The problem is that Braddon is just across the road, so at times they will wonder in that area as well as O'Connor.