Tucked away among the dynamic buildings of NewActon are an eclectic collection of public artworks. Photos: George Tsotsos.
Walking the streets of NewActon you start to feel a new rulebook is at play.
A new rulebook for what work, life, and play feels like, and a new rulebook for urban design and community.
With the much-loved ‘pineapple-shaped’ Ovolo Nishi Hotel building at its heart, NewActon encircles you with cool bars, cafes, and eateries, mixed with oddities and experiences around every corner.
What a place this must be to live and work!
Chris Miller from Vantage Strata remembers NewActon being seen by Canberrans as just the carpark for Bobby McGee’s nightclub; he says he admires the vision of the Molongolo Group who helped transform NewActon into the innovative and vibrant cultural precinct it is today.
“They saw the potential of NewActon – located right next to the lake, in plain sight on the fringe of the CBD,” Chris says.
“They opened Canberra’s eyes to this campus-style or precinct communities, with a real emphasis on the cultural component that is so often undervalued.”
Tucked away amongst the dynamic buildings of NewActon are an eclectic collection of public artworks by contemporary artists and designers, delivering surprises around almost every corner.
“It doesn’t get boring here I love it, the vibe is – ahead of the times,” says Jonathon Painting from the Palace Electric Cinema.
“There is always something going on and there is great food with lots of choices.
“The Parlour Wine Room is a great place for a drink after work or a quick lunch and for coffee – Mocan and Green Grout is brilliant,” Jonathon says.
Despite the modern feel and design, NewActon is tied to Canberra’s history and reason for being. What is now Parlour Wine Room started out in the 1930’s as a home away from home for interstate public servants.
Parlour Wine Room, NewActon.
Alex Johnston from Parlour says the new and the historic are comfortable together and really add to the depth of the precinct.
“The style and architecture of the place have made it a hub for a lot of arts events and a lot of really quirky characters.”
“NewActon has become a destination, with such a mix of people, people in their sixties and seventies who talk about the times they had here and a lot of young people and families; there is a great new energy here – it’s really fantastic,” Alex says.
Odona Farska from Flow Yoga Canberra holds classes five days a week in the Nishi Gallery for residents, workers and visitors.
“People aged eight to 95 come to my classes, NewActon attracts a great mix of people,” she says.
“It is a very inspiring place, I feel happy here, a lot of thought has gone into NewActon and bringing people together – nothing here has been an afterthought, it’s all been done well.”
Chris Miller, from Vantage Strata, is a convert to precinct style living, “It integrates all of the things people look for.”
“People want access to a living breathing community. This sought-after lifestyle can be obtained with the amenity that the NewActon precinct provides.
“We take pride in looking after these sort of communities,” Chris says.
“What I really love about NewActon are all the places and events that bring people together.
“It is easy to see from the trends that have followed in the footsteps of NewActon that this is the future of property development.”
A new rulebook for what work, life, and play feels like, and a new rulebook for urban design and community.
This article and video were produced by RiotACT, without input from the Molonglo Group.
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