I had an interstate guest stay with me recently, who was rather puzzled by my response when asked if I would consider moving closer to work. (I am currently living very, very North, and working very, very South. ) My response?
“No way! I would NEVER become a Southsider. I’d rather travel 45 minutes to get to work every day than move Southside.”
When asked to explain what was so bad about the South, I became a little stumped. While I always have been, and always will be, a north side girl at heart (I’m saving up for my 2913 tattoo) at the end of the day, I don’t actually dislike our southern Canberra brethren or their end of town.
I’ve had Southside friends, Southside colleagues, hell, I’ve even dated a Southsider before. I currently travel there every day for work. However that hasn’t stopped me from declaring that, “the further South you drive in Canberra the lower the IQs drop” and other such North vs. South statements. (Where, of course, North always comes out on top.)
This bemused my Adelaide friend, who assumed my aversion to the southern end of our fair city was just a personal quirk.
So I had to explain that it’s not just me—most Canberrans are prejudiced against their compass counterpoints, but they really don’t mean anything by it, it’s a friendly rivalry thing. Kind of like Australia vs. New Zealand. We make jokes about sheep-shaggers, but when push comes to shove, we actually do enjoy the company of those funny-accented fellows.
But then that got me thinking, if we are one united Canberra community, why all the jokes? Is it really just a friendly rivalry? Or is there something more sinister at play?
And why, after typing “I don’t actually dislike our southern Canberra brethren or their end of town” do I suddenly feel horridly squeamish, like I’ve betrayed generations of staunch Northies?
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Northside iz da best! |\|
You’re saving up to get a postcode tattoo?
I guess it’ll be easy for Aus Post to send you home if you ever get lost.
northside is the best. northsiders know it – as do southsiders but they refuse to admit it. ha!
geographical rivalry exists in every city (and between cities!) doesn’t it??? certainly from my experience it does.
in tasmania there is a north of the state vs south of the state mentality – centred mainly around beer, boags (north) vs cascade (south). being from the south myself, i am loathe to drink boags by choice – or if i do/have because i haven’t had the choice of cascade i will not admit to liking boags!
What I hate is the grief I get from the border guards every time I have to venture south of LBG—I’ve grown a beard since my passport photo was taken.
It’s easy really, everyone hates Tuggeranong.
Rubbish thread ~
Tuggeranong eighth natural wonder of the world. A hole above ground!
It’s ok, you northsiders decided you’d better have an equivalent to our Bunnings and propped up a Magnet Mart instead.
Magnet Mart’s so rubbish the one down south never made it!
Rabble rabble rabble rabble southside pride rabble rabble rabble.
We also invented the wheel much quicker than you did… HA!
Hence why no-one really knows why there is such a rivalry, we just take it as it is
Now, lets everyone bag out Quangers and the associated region towards Bungendore/Captains Flat! Everyone unite against them!
i didnt think they were jokes ?
Having lived southside all my life (Woden, Weston Creek, Tuggeranong, Inner South), even I would have to agree with Pot Holes. Everyone does hate Tuggeranong. But I would lump Belconnen and Gungahlin in with Tuggers too……
Kambah, ’nuff said.
These comments prove that Northside is truly the ‘darkside’. Ew.
Let’s not forget that Belconnen Mall was recently in the running for Canberra’s biggest eyesore. I think there was an error there, it should have been the whole of Belconnen, not just the Mall.
Kambah.
I extend my prejudice and hatred towards anything outside the Inner North and Inner South
jessieduck said :
+1 – inner south
threepaws said :
Well lets not forget that this used to be the biggest shopping centre in the southern hemishpere once (A very short lived title).
But back to the point. Northside is better because we are not a bunch of dirty mouth breathers. In fact, I wear a condom when i drive through that area just in case.
I think that all the Frangipani southern cross displaying, fuchsia coloured, Hyundai excel driving single mums should stay in Nappy valley and not taint the goodness that is the North. (Look what happened to Charnwood and Dunlop, if you sneeze too hard out there someone gets pregnant)
Meh. Extremely happy to live in a beautiful part of Tuggeranong, with gorgeous views, excellent primary schools, decent blocks of land/big backyards, houses with character, lovely rural aspect (roos grazing nearby), 7 kms from Woden, 7 kms from Tuggers, and close to the Monaro for quick access everywhere (snow, waterskiing etc…). Also love the distinct lack of: McMansions, big houses crammed onto tiny blocks, dusty undeveloped building sites, treeless streetscapes, overcrowding etc… that is prevalent in the newer suburbs up North.
Inappropriate said :
I must note here that parts of Kambah (Gleneagles estate etc…) have some of the most beautiful (and expensive!) homes in Canberra.
PBO said :
*rolls eyes*
ahappychappy said :
Are you kidding! The Magnet Mart store in Gungahlin craps over anything Bunnings has ever offered in this town. It’s layout is immeasurably better than the Bunnings outlets in Fyshwick or Belconnen. And it doesn’t come with dim-witted staff, as evidenced by Bunnings’ increasingly banal TVCs.
Although, it pains me to say that Bunnings is usually cheaper.
What’s wrong with Kambah? Kambah’s the best.
if you are 2913, my back shed is more than likely bigger than your whole block…
motleychick said :
I grew up in Kambah – and while it did have a ‘booner’ reputation then, there was nothing like all the ‘booney’ parties! They were always a blast!
I grew up in Kambah – and while it did have a ‘booner’ reputation then, there was nothing like all the ‘booney’ parties! They were always a blast!
They still are!! There’s a still a bonner rep, but I grew up there and I still live there and I love it!
I meant booner, not bonner… My bad.
I moved from my inner North cottage just a short stroll down the hill to Lyneham shops to Kambah. Fcuk me if I thought my world was going to end! It was a big move and I’ll admit that for the fiorst couple of weeks I sort of missed Tilleys (the Front wasn’t there yet) and the occasional pint at All Bar.
But it didn’t take long to get used to the extra space, the sweeping views of the mountains, quiet neighbours and spending time in a garden almost three times the size of our old place.
Sure there’s some stuff you should avoid – Kambah Village generally and the Tavern and Woolies there in particular. I don’t really shop so I wouldn’t know if Tuggeranong is any worse than Belconnen, Woden or the Canberra Centre.
Postalgeek said :
I imagine the south variation goes something like ‘the further North you drive in Canberra, the deeper the stick up the arse’.
But I suspect north/south rivalry, if it exists, is for those who eat road kill and shoot people who challenge them for their sister.
The difference is the South Side is as crappy as it’s going to get whereas the north side keeps growing in crappiness every day.
Thumper said :
I will see your kambah and raise you a charnwood. come on thumper, it hasn’t got much better than it was, it has only gained the up market puppies (next gen yuppies) in dunlop… charnwood was a nasty place to live, it still is. In comparison, never had any trouble in kambah, most of the people are really friendly. I would stay in kambah if I could, but my house is too small.