What are the tightly held suburbs of Canberra?

Canberra best-kept residential secrets are the exclusive homes shielded behind towering privacy hedges that never come to market.

These estate-like properties, often in the longer established inner suburbs, can stay in the same family for generations.

Mario Sanfrancesco, of Peter Blackshaw Manuka, says many of these gems nestle in sought-after suburbs like Forrest (including the property featured above), Red Hill and Griffith and many would break record prices if they were offered for sale.

“The inner south has been longer established and most of these rare properties contain substantial character homes on super-sized blocks,” he says.

“You can catch a glimpse of some of them behind their gates and hedges as you drive along Mugga Way’s ‘golden mile’ or through some of the area’s most exclusive streets.”

12 Borrowdale Street in Red Hill. Listed Luton Properties Manuka.

Sanfrancesco says these estates often stay in families until they reach a price where it becomes impossible for one beneficiary to buy out the others.

Holly Komorowski, of home.byholly, says many of the inner north’s best character homes are in suburbs like Ainslie, Reid and Campbell.

“I’m aware of some homes in those areas that have been handed down from one generation to the next,” she says.

“I can think of one in Ainslie that was built in 1952 and is now owned by the daughter of the original homeowner.”

10 Toms Crescent in Ainslie. Listed by Home by Holly.

Komorowski says the nature of bequeaths involving the family home means transfers are kept inside the family and their legal advisers.

“But at least it usually means a much-loved family home gets a new lease of life,” she says.

FAMILY JEWELS

• Location. Inner suburbs were choice locations for early Canberra families who snapped up estate-like blocks and then kept them in the family. These suburbs have now become homes to our most exclusive addresses.
• Land. Many people place a high premium on privacy and early homeowners achieved that through estate-like landholdings. Landscaping over generations has delivered exclusive retreats shielded by towering privacy hedging and imposing gates.
• Character. Large private estates are often anchored by substantial character homes that have been sensitively renovated by generations of custodians. The “bones” of the homes are maintained while kitchens and bathrooms are updated.