See Campbell Differently

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Jack and Digby are your friendly baristas at Teddy Pickers cafe on Constitution Avenue in Campbell. Photo: Daniella Jukic.

In Canberra, like any city, living near the centre of town doesn’t come cheap. And that’s certainly true for the inner north suburb of Campbell, where the median property price ranges from $1.25 million for houses to $580,000 for units.

But many – including those who have bought apartments in new developments on the likes of Constitution Avenue and Provan Street – will argue that living in Campbell is worth the hefty price tag.

After all, the centrally-located suburb is close to seemingly everything: picturesque Lake Burley Griffin and Mount Ainslie, the historic Australian War Memorial, Canberra Airport, Civic, educational institutions like Royal Military College Duntroon and Canberra Institute of Technology, and a range of bustling eateries and nightlife destinations.

Thinking about visiting or moving to Campbell? Here’s what you need to know.

History

See Campbell Differently

The Australian War Memorial is a reason why Campbell is one of the nicest parts in Canberra, according to Alexandra. Photo: Region Media.

Campbell is one of Canberra’s oldest suburbs. And as you might expect, it has plenty of history to go with it.

It’s named after Robert Campbell, a New South Wales politician and the owner of Duntroon sheep station, which is where Campbell stands today. Campbell and his family built many of Canberra’s heritage buildings including Blundell’s Cottage, Government House and Duntroon House (also in Duntroon, which is part of Campbell).

Duntroon House is said to be haunted by the granddaughter of a former owner, who died at age 27 after a fall from her bedroom window. People claim to have seen a ghostly woman in 19th century clothing wandering the floor she fell from, while others say items are thrown around her bedroom and even that the bed can be made in the morning and a few hours later look as though someone has slept there.

Shops and eateries

Owner/Chef, Bernardo from Hello Cafe at Campbell Shops says they are known for their breakfast and the omelette is always a winner. Bernardo prefers to use local produce in his cafe. Photo: Daniella Jukic.

Campbell has a local shops with retailers including a supermarket, coffee shop Hello Cafe, Chinese restaurant Leong Kitchen, long-standing French restaurant Les Bistronomes (relocated from Braddon in 2019) and pharmacy.

Outside of the local shops, dining options include Campbell’s first local pub The Pedlar, the hugely popular South Asian restaurant Lanterne Rooms, and trendy cafe Teddy Picker’s.

Places of interest and things to do

Popular activities in and around Campbell include:

  • Visit the Australian War Memorial. No Canberra tourist attraction is as well-known as the Australian War Memorial, which commemorates the sacrifices of Australians who have served our nation in times of conflict. It’s open 10am to 5pm daily.
  • Take a self-guided tour of Anzac Parade. While only one side of Anzac Parade is in Campbell (the other is in Reid), it’s worth exploring the memorials on both sides of the road. Start at the Australian Hellenic Memorial, and finish at Kemal Ataturk Memorial, which acknowledges the 70th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing.
  • Ride Lake Burley Griffin’s Eastern Loop. Dust off your helmet and set out for an easy and flat nine-kilometre ride along the eastern section of Lake Burley Griffin. Passing Campbell, Jerrabomberra Wetlands and the Kingston Foreshore, this ride also crosses Kings Avenue Bridge.

Local families enjoy the open, green grass field at Campbell. Photo: Daniella Jukic.

Playgrounds and parks

As though having Mount Ainslie and Lake Burley Griffin right on your doorstep aren’t enough, Campbell also has several parks of its own. These include:

  • Mount Pleasant Nature Reserve (Northcott Drive). Mount Pleasant Nature Reserve is a great spot for enjoying nature. The lookout affords views of Lake Burley Griffin and Jerrabomberra Wetlands (and since it’s a small hill, you don’t need to be an athlete to walk there), and there are trails suitable for mountain biking.
  • Victoria Cross Park (access via Glossop Crescent, Derrick Street or Howse Street). Victoria Cross Park has a small playground and memorial.
  • Legacy Park (Garsia Street). Legacy Park honours the work of the legacy movement in a serene bushland setting.
See Campbell Differently

Campbell is short walk to Anzac Parade, where you can view beautiful memorials, like the Australian National Korean War Memorial. Photo: Region Media.

Getting around

Campbell is a stone’s throw from Lake Burley Griffin, so getting onto bike paths is easy and hassle-free. If you’re feeling ambitious on a sunny day, you can walk into Braddon or Civic in around 30-45 minutes.

For those who frequently travel interstate or overseas for work, Campbell is just a few kilometres from Canberra Airport, which is a short drive by car or taxi.

Bus routes R3 R5 55 56 and 182 service Campbell. Route 54 services Campbell Park Offices.

Schools

There are four schools in Campbell: Canberra Grammar Northside for students from preschool to Year 2 (the main campus is in Red Hill), St Thomas More’s Primary School, Campbell Primary School, and Campbell High School, which former US President Barack Obama visited on his trip to Canberra back in 2011.

Why the locals love it

Stephen and Sally enjoying a sweet treat from Golden Oven Bakery in Campbell. Photo: Daniella Jukic.

“Campbell, in my opinion, is one of the nicest parts of Canberra. It has beautiful views of Mount Ainslie, daily visits from kangaroos, trees galore, the Australian War Memorial, and a great little set of shops. Campbell is a picturesque, historic, and expensive suburb all rolled into one.” – Alexandra.

Quick facts

  • Median age: 28 years
  • Median weekly household income: $2384
  • Median weekly rent: $310
  • Houses vs. apartments: 14.8% apartments; 13.5% semi-detached houses (i.e. townhouses/terrace house); 71.7% separate houses.
  • Suburb sales record (excluding land sales): $2.33 million for a five-bedroom home on Garsia Street in 2014

Source: 2016 Census.

Want to find the latest real estate listings for sale and rent in Campbell? Zango can help you find them:

Do you live, or have you previously lived, in Campbell? 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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I lived in Campbell for over fifteen years. Fabulous lifestyle for Canberra, with lots of open space, close to Civic, the nearby nature reserves, the lake and the War Memorial. The new developments along Constitution Avenue are not helping things along. The ASIO building blocks off access and views to the lake for many, and that big new development on Anzac Park East is not a positive in my view. Not unless they bring in some public amenity to go with the flats. The multiple occupancies near the shops haven’t really helped except to add more traffic, more cars and their need for parking, block off visual sightlines and remove trees.

The shops have long been a delight following the awful times in the Nineties. Sadly, the newsagent is gone, but the others are thriving. The grocery is one of Canberra’s best IMHO.

I live in Reid now, a different vibe, but I still love Campbell.

Campbell, Australian Capital Territory is an affluent suburb of Canberra. A major tourist attraction in Campbell, ACT is the war memorial and monuments. It is possible to view the aspect of the parliamentary triangle and parliament houses along Anzac Parade. Anzac Parade is occasionally used for military parades, ceremonies and processions, which can sometimes result in traffic disruptions, such as detours when events take place in Campbell, ACT. There are mainly older residents in Campbell, such as retired diplomats and politicians among other residents. The exception is the Royal Academy district and community known as Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory, which has a younger demographic due to its tertiary educational facilities.

DeadlySchnauzer2:50 pm 19 Jun 15

I remember the old nunnery building… shame it went, was an awesomely unique suburban feature sitting right on a residential street.

vintage123 said :

I couldn’t find any info on that record sale, does anyone know which house it was?

It wasn’t a house, it was a nunnery!
Now lots of >55 y townhouses and the remnant snowgums killed by overwatering/fertilising

DeadlySchnauzer said :

FWIW the suburb population stats are massively skewed by the military populations at ADFA/Duntroon/RMC, which are included under Campbell stats and are primarily young guys.

Population breakdown: 58.9 per cent male, 41.1 per cent female (this is a huge difference!) – Duntroon/ADFA again.

vintage123 said :

I couldn’t find any info on that record sale, does anyone know which house it was?

2 Key Street/19 Ryrie Street. It’s now a unit development.

I couldn’t find any info on that record sale, does anyone know which house it was?

Difficult to get a park at the shops. I wonder how many mr fluffy homes are in the suburb?

DeadlySchnauzer11:11 am 19 Jun 15

FWIW the suburb population stats are massively skewed by the military populations at ADFA/Duntroon/RMC, which are included under Campbell stats and are primarily young guys.

I guess all those young people living at Duntroon and ADFA drag the median age right down!

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