The Inner North of Canberra is home to some of Canberra’s oldest homes and buildings and attracts a diverse range of people from a multitude of backgrounds. Local shops like Ainslie, Watson and O’Connor retain their heritage charm and attract a wide range of small niche businesses that build on the strong local community.
Home to a plethora of well-established highly regarded public and private schools the Inner North is seeing a renaissance in young families buying up older homes where there is still good opportunities to find much larger subdivisions than what you find in new suburbs. As these homes are primed for renovation, knock down rebuilds and redevelopment; this further gentrification is bringing the Inner North to life with a mix of new and old architecture blended with mature deciduous trees that give Inner-North streets the beautiful array of colour Canberra is so well known for.
Dickson shopping precinct is the main shopping hub out of the city. With a huge amount of development commencing here, the precinct is transforming before our eyes with more residential apartments being added, transformation of Woolley street and a new shopping centre to come. This whole area is earmarked for a huge densification project that will see the Dickson area house become the 2nd main hub outside the cbd. Talk about an area set for potential growth!
Starting from Campbell which is sandwiched between the Lake, The War Memorial and Mt Ainslie and stretching all the way up to Hackett and Watson perched at the base of Mt Majura there is an abundance of lifestyle benefits to living in the Inner North. Take a walk around the lake or if you enjoy a little more adventure enjoy a brisk walk up Mt Ainslie, or even Mt Majura! Cycle to work in the city from pretty much anywhere within the inner north post code in under 25 mins. Mountain bikers enjoy the large network of tracks at Majura Pines, Bruce and O’Connor Ridge which has tracks for all skill levels. There is also a multitude of playing fields that are well kept, perfect for kicking a ball around with the kids. What most Inner Northers love most though is the eclectic array of pubs and places to eat, Edgars Inn at Ainslie, The Duxton at O’Connor and the multitude of different restaurants from all over the world at Dickson Shops. Easy access to the City is also guaranteed with Canberra’s light rail network operating every 6 minutes in peak periods.
Those that have lived in the Inner North for any length of time will tell you there is a strong community focus where people really look after each other. People know their neighbours; they stop and talk to each other in the street and know each other by name. This relaxed community vibe makes it an easy friendly place to live. If you buy a house in the Inner North it is likely your neighbours will make the effort to say hello and introduce themselves first. Inner North residents also have a green streak, they protect their natural surroundings from unnecessary development and seek to retain their green leafy environment. They also benefit from two wetland areas developed by the local government in 2011, there is one at the upper end of Dickson and another in the middle of Lyneham. These Wetlands further the relaxed community vibe and act as a meeting place for residents and a scenic place to exercise and walk their dogs and for families to enjoy riding their bikes together.
The Inner North has great public and private schools from preschool through to college and beyond to Universities. Home to the ANU which is recognised as one of the top global Universities.
What the kids really want though is stuff to do, places to get out on their bikes and go exploring. The great thing about this area is it doesn’t matter which side of Northbourne you decide to buy into they both benefit from nature on their doorstep. On the western side you have Bruce and O’Connor Ridge where there are mountain bike tracks and walking tracks and on the eastern side Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura which extends from behind Campbell all the way beyond the far perimeter of Watson. Each suburb has at least one playground, great for the younger kids. While the local playgrounds would benefit from upgrades to cover a broader age group there is plenty for older kids to do. The older kids will love being so close to the city, they can hop on the tram and be in the city to meet their friends in minutes where there is so many options, shopping, video arcades, movies and café’s. Tennis courts, Dickson pool, gyms, Dickson playing fields, Skate park. For those interested in National history there is easy access to the Australian War Memorial, The Carillon and Blundell’s Cottage.
