A brochure from the 1970s enticing public servants to live in Canberra. Fifty years later, some of these ancient stereotypes refuse to die. Image: Supplied.
A new acquaintance of mine has been shortlisted for an amazing job opportunity in Canberra. When I met up with her recently in Sydney, she asked me if Canberra was a good place to live and, if so, why? I immediately said yes, but then I found myself stalling when trying to explain what exactly I love about living here.
To someone who has grown up in the bustle of a big city and who has built a life in a suburb where she has access to the beach, shops, cafes, schools, and nature is a drive or bus away from an array of other environments, how do I pitch the unique lifestyle Canberra offers without making it sound sort of, well, boring?
“It’s very convenient,” I told her.
“You can get anywhere within 20 minutes to a half hour, and traffic is only bad during peak hour, and even that lasts for a pretty short period.” But are traffic conditions a good reason to move somewhere?
“I love being close to nature,” I said.
“How far are you from the beach?” she asked.
Well, we’re at least two hours from the beach, but we have lakes and mountains and sprawling nature reserves, I explained. It never feels claustrophobic, and we have so many options for exercise and outdoor activities.
“What are the schools like?”
Right, well, this was an easier sell because we do have excellent public schools in Canberra. But then, recent NAPLAN results showed the worst outcome for ACT students in years, with 1 in 5 year 9 students at or below the NAPLAN minimum standards for reading.
“What are the best suburbs?”
I immediately listed all of the beautiful inner north suburbs I’ve lived in and loved – but the reality is, they’re not super affordable places to rent, and often the older houses in these areas are difficult to manage in winter with the cold and cost heaps in energy bills.
But given her criteria include nice local shops with a good cafe, lots of trees and parks, and generally the vibe of our more established suburbs, the more affordable places in Canberra can feel like concrete jungles.
In the end, I told her what I feel is the truest explanation of why Canberra has won my heart.
It’s not the most accessible place to initially move to, I explained. It can feel a little quiet, and many of my friends from interstate have said it’s been isolating to move here and not know where to find a community. But once you do find your people and a neighbourhood that suits you, there is so much to love.
It’s a logistically easy place to navigate, and we have access to good amenities and services that generally aren’t oversubscribed. There is space for kids to grow and experience sports and nature. We have national arts institutions that give us access to world-class exhibitions and programs. It’s a calm, enjoyable life, with Sydney just up the road and the coast not far away.
Canberra isn’t an exciting sell. I can’t pitch it in a way that frames it as a vibrant city with the hallmarks of what we expect from those places – but we have a different sort of energy, one that had brought me more longer-term joy than the brief, exciting stints I’ve had in bigger cities.
Ultimately, I think Canberra is one of those places where you just have to give it a chance, and it’ll likely win you over.
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