Ngunnawal Bakery serves delicious treats, like these jam donuts. Photo: Region Media.
Think it’s impossible to find a family-friendly home for less than $600,000 in Canberra, while still enjoying access to local amenities, green spaces and schools? If you haven’t checked out the Gungahlin suburb of Ngunnawal, you might need to think again. This northern suburb, which is bordered by Casey, Amaroo, Gungahlin and Palmerston, has a median house price of just $513,000. (That’s more than $150k less than the ACT median house price of $680,000.)
Like other Gungahlin suburbs, Ngunnawal encourages active living (there are countless parks, ovals and playgrounds both in and around Ngunnawal). It’s also close to all the basics like supermarkets and schools.
Thinking about visiting or moving to Ngunnawal in Canberra’s north? Here’s what you need to know.
History
The walking trails around Ngunnawal offer beautiful views of Canberra. Photo: Region Media.
Ngunnawal is named after the local inhabitants of the region, the Ngunnawal people. Many of the streets in Ngunnawal relate to Indigenous Australian culture and people, including Wanganeen Avenue, which is named after Aboriginal affairs activist Ken Wanganeen, and Jabanungga Avenue, which takes its name from local Aboriginal dancer and musician Robert Jabanungga.
The suburb’s first residents moved to Ngunnawal in the early to mid 1990s.
Shops and eateries
There are two local shops in Ngunnawal. The Ngunnawal Shopping Centre offers various amenities including a supermarket, bakery, takeaway and pharmacy.
There is also an IGA, popular Indian restaurant Mirchi (try the biryani – by all accounts it’s delicious) and neighbourhood takeaway joint Ellena Takeaway (try the hot chips!) at the Platypus Centre on Riley Close.
Make sure you try the hot chips from Ellena Takeaway. Photo: Region Media.
Ngunnawal is a six-minute drive from Marketplace Gungahlin, which offers an extensive range of shops, eateries and local services.
Places of interest and things to do
- Visit Gold Creek Homestead. This 140 year old building dates back to the 1840s, when English labourer Anthony Rolfe and his family established a sprawling property on the homestead and surrounds.
- Take the dogs for a play over the road in Casey at Springbank Rise dog park. Give your four-legged friends some fresh air and socialisation at Springbank Rise dog park. It’s in Casey, but easy to get to from Ngunnawal.
- Wander over to Hill Reserve. Hill Reserve is a pocket of green space with walking trails to explore.
- Fine-tune your golf swing at Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club. One of Canberra’s most affordable golf courses, Gungahlin Lakes is just across Gungahlin Drive in Nicholls. According to its website, the course “features attractive lakes and ponds with challenging water carries across fairways and to greens.”
Nearby Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club offers attractive lakes and ponds to challenge your game. Photo: Region Media.
Playgrounds and parks
There are plenty of places to take the kids for a run around in Ngunnawal, with playgrounds and nature reserves dotted throughout the suburb. These include:
- Girrawah Park (access via Gamburah Street). Quite possibly the only park in Canberra with a giant goanna sculpture to climb, Girrawah Park is also a site of cultural significjkbance for local Indigenous people.
- Violet’s Park (off Marungul Avenue). Violet’s Park commemorates the life of Ngunnawal elder Violet Bulger. An artwork called “Meeting Place” was installed at the park in 2017.
- Various playgrounds. Look for playgrounds off Yerradhang Street, Bindugan Crescent, Burramurra Avenue, Gurrang Avenue and Gold Creek Park playground on the corner of Newlop Street and Bargang Crescent. (This list isn’t exhaustive – Ngunnawal has lots of playgrounds!)
One of several playgrounds in Ngunnawal, this shaded playspace is at Ngunnawal shops. Photo: Region Media.
Getting around
Transport Canberra bus routes 25, 26, 27 and 28 service Ngunnawal. The start of the Gungahlin to Civic light rail line is just one suburb over in Gungahlin, which opens up light rail as another public transport option.
Driving into Civic from Ngunnawal takes about 20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Schools
There is one school in Ngunnawal: Ngunnawal Primary School is a public school that caters to students from preschool to Year 6.
Nearby secondary schools include St John Paul II College in Nicholls (Year 7 to Year 12) and Amaroo School (preschool to Year 10).
Why the locals love it
Ngunnawal is popular with families, which makes sense given that it is close to good schools, shopping centres and open spaces like Hill Reserve and Homestead Park, while also being a short commute to Gungahlin and Civic.
But with a strong sense of community and laid back vibe, Ngunnawal is also an attractive suburb for retirees who are ready to enjoy life at a slower pace.
Ngunnawal Pharmacy. Photo: Region Media.
Quick facts
- Median age: 31 years
- Median weekly household income: $1940
- Median weekly rent: $380
- Houses vs. apartments: 67% houses; 15% apartments and 17.7% townhouses
- Suburb sales record (excludes land sales): $1,402,500 in 2017.
Source: 2016 Census.
Want to find the latest real estate listings for sale and rent in Ngunnawal? Zango can help you find them:
Do you live, or have you previously lived, in Ngunnawal? 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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