Eric Bailey, of Fraser Grocer, with just some of the selection of hot sauces for people who love their chilli. Photo: Supplied.
Located in Belconnen’s north-west and overlooking farmland on the border of NSW and the ACT, Fraser is filled with spacious homes, some of the largest blocks in Belconnen, and wide, quiet streets. Live here, perched on the side of Mount Rogers, and you’ll be right next to ample natural surroundings, great bushwalks and tons of space.
Fraser is an area so loved by residents that they rarely leave – in fact, it’s Canberra’s most tightly held suburb.
Thinking about visiting or moving to Fraser? Here’s what you need to know.
History
Fraser is named after member of the Australian House of Representatives (1951 to 1970) James Reay Fraser, not former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser as some believe.
The suburb was gazetted in 1974 and its streets are named after early residents of Canberra.
Shops and eateries
Fraser has a quiet local shopping centre in Daley Crescent which has all the basics. A standout is The Fraser Grocer, a small business focused on Australian made products and with a particular emphasis on products made in the Canberra region. There’s also a café, and if you like your flavours big, bold and spicy, don’t miss your chance to indulge in all things chilli.
Fook Lee Sheng is a Chinese restaurant that serves all the popular favourites and a few unexpected but delicious surprises, like Kung Po calamari and some Japanese and Thai-style dishes.
Keep an eye out for Kate’s Katering and her van – it’s where many locals get their caffeine fix. Kate started the coffee van when she realised that when parents or grandparents drop their kids off at school, they like to meet for a cuppa afterwards, and the idea blossomed. These days, the van is a popular fixture at the primary school and around the suburb.
It’s only a 10-minute drive from Fraser to the shops and eateries of the Belconnen Town Centre, and there are shops in the nearby suburbs of Spence, Melba and Charnwood.
Places of interest and things to do
Here are some of our favourite activities in and around Fraser:
- Join the Mt Rogers Landcare Group. Regular activities and working bees focus on weed management, erosion control, community awareness-raising and planting native vegetation.
- Head up to the Mt Rogers summit and take in the views. Follow the walking track around the perimeter and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of Lake Ginninderra, the Brindabella Ranges, and Hall. It’s a fun walk for kids with energy to burn and is also an off-leash dog area where your furry friends are welcome. Keep an eye out for parrots and tawny frogmouths which regularly visit the area.
Catch the colourful sunsets at the top of Mt Rogers. Photo: Region Media.
Playgrounds and parks
Mt Rogers Reserve is part of Fraser and at 704 metres offers some lovely views from its peak, and opportunities to get up close to the local flora and fauna.
The Dunlop Grassland Nature Reserve winds its way around the edge of Fraser and is a great place to explore. Grassy tracks cross the reserve, and the Bicentennial National Trail also passes through the area.
Dunlop Grasslands winds around the edge of Fraser, and is a great nature reserve to explore. Photo: Daniella Jukic.
Parks in Fraser can be found in Wynn Street and McGrath Place and will keep the kids happy, plus there’s a neighbourhood oval just off Tillyard Drive.
Getting around
While Fraser is one of Canberra’s northernmost suburbs, getting around by car is relatively easy, with several major arterial roads nearby to get commuters to Belconnen, the city and beyond. It’s a short hop to the Barton Highway and Ginninderra Drive is not far away.
Bus route R2 takes commuters from Fraser to Belconnen, City, Barton and Fyshwick. Route 40 travels between Kippax and Belconnen while routes 41 and 42 provide services to Belconnen.
Information about cycling routes can be found here.
Belconnen Mall is just a short bus trip away. Photo: Region Media.
Schools
Fraser Primary School is in Fraser, with other schools not far away in neighbouring suburbs. Melba Copland Secondary School is a priority enrolment school for Fraser students in Years 7 to 12.
Nearby, Charnwood-Dunlop School caters for students in Years K to 6. St Thomas Aquinas in Charnwood also takes primary school students, while Brindabella Christian College has a junior campus in Charnwood which caters to students from Kindergarten to Year 4.
St Francis Xavier College in Florey offers a Catholic Education for Year 7 to 12 students.
Why the locals love it
“Perched on the north-west side of Mount Rogers, Fraser overlooks the farmland of New South Wales that borders the ACT. The homes are mostly of a 1970s multi-level design, with high cathedral ceilings and are set in well established native gardens on blocks ranging from 900 to 1200 square meters. The streets are nice and wide. Great shopping is nearby in the suburbs of Casey and Spence. It is very quiet and peaceful, the perfect place to raise a family”. – Petal Daphne, via Homely.
Find Kate’s Katering on the lower parking area of Fraser Primary School from 7:30 am to 10:00 am, Monday to Friday. Photo: Michelle Taylor.
Quick facts
- Median age: 40 years
- Median weekly household income: $2,266
- Median weekly rent: $400
- Houses vs. apartments: 1.6% apartments; 3.5% semi-detached houses (i.e. townhouses/terrace house); 94.9% separate houses.
- Suburb sales record: $1,019,000 in 2019.
Source: 2016 Census.
Do you live, or have you previously lived, in Fraser? What are your favourite things about the suburb? What advice would you give to people considering moving there? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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