Your essential guide to Canberra’s regions (and who lives there)

Warning: Sweeping generalisations and tongues firmly in cheek ahead. Proceed with sense of humour.

Ah, Canberra. It often gets a bad wrap interstate, huh? Sterile? Boring? Full of politicians?

Wrong, wrong, wrong. WRONG.

The nation’s capital is a melting pot of all sorts of people. But where should you live? 

Thanks to Canberra’s satellite city design, the nation’s capital is clearly divided into regions.

We have conveniently (and sweepingly) characterised them all in this essential list.

Inner south

Kingston cafe Penny University. Photo: Katherine Griffiths

Ah, the inner south, home to Australia’s heart of democracy, Parliament House, and Canberra’s most prestigious suburbs, including the multi-million-dollar-median hotspot, Forrest. Think leafy streets, neat hedges, schmick cars and popular local shops. The inner south offers an eclectic mix of people including public servants looking to avoid paid parking in the Parliamentary Triangle, families who snapped up a house before price tags began making our eyes water (and are enjoying the good life or a luxurious ‘downsize’ now their children have flown the coop) and young professionals who can’t afford to buy a property in the inner south so, are renting apartments in and around trendy Kingston. You’ll also spot the odd politician. If you love water then you’ll love being close to Lake Burley G. It’s no Bondi but I hear the kayaking is fab (just don’t drop your DSLR in the water).

Inner north

Lonsdale Street in Braddon. Photo: Graham Tidy

If you like your food fresh (preferably vegan) and would rather collect your nuts in a brown paper bag than plastic, the inner north might be your calling. Much of the action can be found in ‘hipster’ Braddon (or “Braaahdon”, as many of the locals prefer), which is practically Melbourne. You’ll find the fashionable young types flaunting some cool, unique finds, op-shop clad university students (often in need of a haircut), plenty of cyclists (old-schol bicycles aplenty) and some inner-city public servant types. Other highlights include community gardens, adorable red brick cottages and the towering presence of Mount Ainslie and Black Mountain, depending on which side of Northbourne Avenue you fall. At one end of the spectrum you’ve got those annoyingly lucky gen x-ers whose decade-long home in Ainslie has surged in value in the last couple of years (ka-ching). At the other end are the masses of disenfranchised gen ys looking for the nicest apartment possible within a restricted budget in an attempt to be closer to the action.

Belconnen

An owl sculpture, by Bruce Armstrong, keeps watch over Belconnen. Photo: Graham Tidy

One of the first things every Canberran knows to be true is that northerners (those living north of Lake Burley Griffin) will rarely cross the lake to the southside, unless it is to visit the suburbs of Kingston or Manuka. This resonates with those living in one of Canberra’s biggest suburban hubs (often dubbed ‘Belco pride’). Residents tend to fall into the camps of ‘families’, ‘University of Canberra students’ and ‘first home buyers who have snapped up a townhouse or apartment in the suburb of Bruce’. And public servants, of course. Comes with its own lake, Westfield, penis owl and sick BMX track. Holt and Macgregor are practically NSW.

Gungahlin

An artist’s impression of the Gungahlin interchange of Canberra’s proposed light rail network. Photo: Supplied

One of Canberra’s newest, shiniest town centres (with another lake – win) where the houses are modern and many of the amenities and towers are still under construction. Dubbed ‘Gunners’, Canberra’s fastest-growing region has stolen the ‘nappy valley’ status previously held by Tuggeranong, meaning its citizens get first dibs on light rail if Labor retains power come the October ACT election. It’s home to a range of people, with a spectrum of property prices attracting everyone from tenants to first home buyers to mega upsizers. This includes past Belconnen residents who have sold up in suburbs like Kaleen for a bigger, brand-spanking-new house without breaking the bank. Brace yourself: residents of Canberra’s more established suburbs will turn their noses up at the fact the streets here are more tightly packed and the blocks are not of the traditional, quarter-acre variety we Canberrans pride ourselves on.

Tuggeranong

The Tuggeranong Valley from the top of Mount Taylor. Photo: Karleen Minney

At the opposite end of the territory is Tuggeranong, another major suburban hub. The region’s feeling a little forlorn thanks to an exodus of families to other areas like shiny Gungahlin. But those born in Tuggeranong usually stay in Tuggeranong, even if they make the mistake of moving elsewhere for a short period of time. Residents are loyal to what is one of the more picturesque parts of town thanks to those rolling Brindabellas and another lovely lake (except in summer, when the blue-green algae takes hold and you need to pinch your nose). The region includes those who inhabit the northern suburbs like Kambah and Wanniassa, which are practically a part of Weston Creek and Woden (of course) and those who inhabit the “deep south” (which is practically NSW). Fun fact: one of the town centre’s most pristine, lakeside, commercial locations is inhabited by none other than McDonalds. *Sigh*. Oh, and there’s more public servants.

Woden and Weston Creek

The Westfield shopping centre at the Woden Town Centre. Photo: Graham Tidy

These two regions are roughly Canberra’s geographic centre. Residents of Weston Creek will be unimpressed they’ve been lumped in with Woden and vice versa. Weston Creek can be characterised by some lovely mountain views, solid house price growth and an ageing population, with young families beginning to swoop in. Over in Woden it’s a somewhat similar story but, unlike Weston Creek, you’re less likely to miss out on all the amenities (hello, Westfield), although your town centre is overdue for an upgrade. Woden is also home to some pockets of exclusivity, including O’Malley – you can see how the other half lives without even having to veer off Hindmarsh Drive. More public servants.

Molonglo Valley

The Molonglo suburbs of Coombs and Wright. Photo: Graham Tidy

Canberra’s newest region, also regularly lumped in with Weston Creek. It’s new, it’s shiny. It’s residents will be annoyed that that’s about it from us. TBC.

Queanbeyan

Morty the Snail was Queanbeyan’s 175th birthday present by creator Neil Richards. Photo: Elesa Kurtz

Where Canberrans flock for more affordable housing, including pockets of ‘Greater Queanbeyan’. Residents consider Queanbeyan “practically a suburb of Canberra”. Queanbeyan is not a suburb of Canberra.