What makes Canberra's south an attractive place to live?

Canberra traditionally splits itself into communities dedicated to one side of Lake Burley Griffin or the other. Allhomes takes a look at the appeal of the southside.

Mario Sanfrancesco of Blackshaw Manuka says the Inner South has benefited from its early development.

“The very well-established suburbs have grown in appeal over the decades,” he says. “Many buyers are drawn to the presence of schools, workplaces, access to the lake, dining options and much more.”

Sanfrancesco says people who grew up in the Inner South most often sought to continue living in the area in adulthood.

“The Inner South has an aspirational quality, but its real appeal is a sense of a village vibe, a sense of character – all rolled up into a great place to live,” he says.

Brenden Blewitt of Blewitt Properties says the southside region has many features in common with its cross-lake cousins.

“Canberra is extremely well serviced with roads, schools, recreational options, shops and more,” he says. “And the quality and variety of homes, sizes of blocks and the price points are broadly similar.” 

Blewitt says the appeal of the southside comes down to two factors that can be decisive.

“It’s often where you’ve been brought up or maybe to be close to family, friends, perhaps a workplace or schools,” he says.

“And it can be specific to a location – like the Woden Valley, Weston Creek, Tuggeranong and so on. It’s all about community.”

• Gateway: It’s hard to argue the south has better vistas than the north, but there’s no denying the scenic attraction of its big valleys which act as a gateway to the Brindabellas.
• Identity: South of Lake Burley Griffin there’s a series of distinct communities – such as the Inner South, Woden Valley, Weston Creek and Molonglo Valley, and Tuggeranong – where a sense of identity can be further attached to specific suburbs.
• Fun facts: Canberra’s oldest suburb is Kingston, which was established as Eastlake in 1922. Oxley in Tuggeranong is Canberra’s smallest suburb with an area of 1.08 square kilometres.

Check out our top pick of properties in Canberra’s south:

Deakin

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Kerb appeal. You’ve either got it or you haven’t, and this brand, spanking new Deakin home has turned on the star power.

If it was a combat jet it would be a stealth fighter with its low-profile, angled steel roofline and striking facade that’s all angles and rectangles. 

Inside, a cathedral ceiling draws in a light show that’s set to stun. That’s helped by a huge picture window and access to a sunny courtyard with a babbling water feature. 

A split leads up to the next level which houses three bedrooms and the main bathroom. A touch of architectural magic has ensured none of these enters directly off the main passageway.

There are a few more steps up to the main show: an expansive kitchen, dining and family zone that connects with the outdoor entertaining terrace.

The kitchen is sleek and shows off in classic tones of grey highlighted by a Caesarstone “rugged concrete” waterfall island bench. Of course, it has as much appliance firepower as a stealth fighter, backed up by a butler’s pantry.

Beyond the living zone, the main retreat has a bespoke walk-in wardrobe and an en suite highlighted by exposed beams, a soaking bath and an oversized shower. 

There’s a covered al fresco space with a kitchen and double wine fridges for year-round entertaining. The garage can hold three vehicles.

The property is just a two-minute stroll from the local supermarket, gym and dining options. 

Auction: Noon, August 27

Agent: Blackshaw Manuka, Mario Sanfrancesco 0412 488 027

Or try these:

Conder

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Price guide: $1.15 million – $1.265 million

Private sale

Agent: Raine & Horne, Igor Srbinovski 0410 606 401

O’Malley

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Price guide: $2 million +

Private sale

Agent: Blewitt Properties, Brenden Blewitt 0419 289 574

Denman Prospect

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Price guide: $1.05 million +

Private sale

Agent: Belle Property Canberra, Alexander Smout 0421 148 706