Wanniassa is Canberra’s third most populated suburb, and is home to one of the popular hiit republic gyms. Photo: Region Media.
Wanniassa is Canberra’s third most populated suburb. It’s full of gardens, trees and footpaths, with plenty of green space and sporting facilities. It’s little wonder the community is so active in the area, with many opportunities to hit the gym, take a fitness class, enjoy a dip in the pool and run around on one of several ovals.
Wanniassa is a very well resourced area, with several schools, top-level sporting facilities, great recreational options, multiple shopping centres serviced by major supermarket chains, and a vibrant restaurant strip all on offer.
Thinking about visiting or moving to Wanniassa? Here’s what you need to know.
History
Wanniassa hosts a number of playing fields. Photo: Daniella Jukic.
Wanniassa is a suburb in the district of Tuggeranong. It’s named after a pastoral property granted to Thomas McQuoid in 1835 and was gazetted in 1974. Its streets are named after Victorian state politicians.
Wanniassa is next to the suburbs of Fadden, Greenway, Gowrie, Kambah, Monash and Oxley, and close to major arterial roads Athllon Drive, Sulwood Drive and Erindale Drive.
Shops and eateries
The local Erindale Shopping Centre is a hub of activity in Wanniassa. Photo: Daniella Jukic.
The Erindale Shopping Centre is a medium-sized group centre in the south of Wanniassa and has several service and retail outlets, including a Woolworths supermarket, pharmacy, bakery and several other stores. If you’re feeling hungry, La Piazza has delicious Italian meals, while Erindale Takeaway has been feeding locals for decades.
For those who love a foodie-experience, you can’t go past Table by Canberra Gourmet. This chef’s table, by Thomas and Larah Heinrich, invites diners to an intimate front-row seat of Thomas’ world-class skills.
There’s a restaurant strip in Gartside Street, not far from the Erindale Centre, which has an extensive range of restaurants from Turkish to pizza to Thai, plus several fast-food outlets. Punjabi Hut has been going strong since 2003, and for good reason: its food is consistently good. The Turkish Grill and Barbecue Nation are local favourites, and you can top it off with a frozen custard from Goodberry’s or delicious Vietnamese dessert from Propaganda Bistro.
Aaron Fenning is at the helm of the popular Jordo’s Chop Shop, purchasing the shop in 2013 from the original owner Jordo McHugh. Photo: Supplied.
The Wanniassa Centre is a smaller retail centre at the north of the suburb. It has a Coles and various other businesses including a butcher, a baker and restaurants. It’s where you’ll find suburban favourite Joe’s Thai, Jordo’s Chop Shop and the crafter’s heaven that is The Markets Wanniassa, where the talented Fiona Lester has created an oasis of all things handmade.
Places of interest and things to do
There’s plenty to keep you busy in Wanniassa. It’s home to the Erindale Vikings Club, the Active Leisure Centre, which has a pool, gym and classes galore, and plenty more. The PCYC has a range of sporting activities for kids and young people, including gymnastics, rock wall climbing, wrestling and a whole lot more.
The recently refurbished Vikings Erindale club is a popular spot with the locals. Photo: Supplied.
Some of our favourite things to do in the suburb include:
- Treat your tastebuds in the restaurant strip. Got a craving for a particular cuisine? Chances are you’ll find it in Gartside Street.
- Check out what’s on offer at the library. With programs like Giggle and Wiggle, Story Time, workshops, computer skills training, author talks and school holiday programs, Erindale Library really has something for everyone.
- Take in a show at Erindale Theatre. It’s been going strong since 1979, and with 443 seats, it’s billed as the largest theatrical space south of the Canberra CBD. It hosts everything from performances to film nights to eisteddfods.
Parks and playgrounds
Wanniassa hosts a number of playing fields. Photo: Daniella Jukic.
There is a fair amount of open green space in Wanniassa. The ovals have cricket nets at one end, room to let the dog run around, tennis courts nearby, and all the sports facilities you need.
Picturesque Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve is great for bird watching and offers views of southern Canberra from the summit and wildflower displays in spring. Walking trails cross the reserve and there is a horse riding track on the northern side. Mountain biking is permitted on formed trails. There are well-marked walking trails to the top of Mt Wanniassa, and fabulous views from the top.
Wanniassa is well serviced by a selection of local neighbourhood parks and ovals, including Wanniassa Hills Playground and Sainsbury Street Park. There are also parks in Steinfeld Court, Longmore Crescent, Brodribb Street, Halfrey Circuit and Holden Crescent.
The local park at the Wanniassa local shops. Photo: Daniella Jukic.
Getting around
Wanniassa is serviced by several Transport Canberra bus routes which all connect at Erindale Interchange. Route R5 travels through Wanniassa and links to the city via Woden Interchange, and Tuggeranong in the other direction. Routes 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 connect Wanniassa and surrounding suburbs to Tuggeranong Town Centre, while routes 180 and 181 travel between the city and Lanyon Marketplace.
Wanniassa residents have quick access to most of the major thoroughfares in the area when travelling by car, including Erindale Drive, Isabella Drive and Drakeford Drive.
Your guide to walking and cycling in Tuggeranong has more information about the network of shared paths in the region.
Schools
Wanniassa School is one of several schools in the suburb.
Wanniassa School serves students from pre-school through to Year 10. The junior campus of St Mary MacKillop College is in the suburb, as is St Anthony’s Primary School. Trinity Christian School caters for students from Kindergarten to Year 12, while Erindale College provides education for students in Years 11 and 12. It’s well known for its talented sports program, which has fostered the careers of many local professional athletes.
Why the locals love it
“My partner and I moved to Wanniassa when it was a far-flung outer suburb in the early days of Tuggeranong. We’ve loved watching Wanniassa (and Canberra) grow to become a thriving, vibrant area that’s right in the middle of all the action. Once we had a family, the range of excellent schools was a big factor in why we stayed. Now the kids are all grown up, and we’re still here because we love having clubs and restaurants a short stroll away, opportunities to keep fit with nature reserves nearby, and shops with just about everything we need just down the road.” – Oliver, 65.
Retro decor and a delicious Vietnamese Iced Coffee are a feature at Propaganda Bistro. Photo: Sophia Brady.
Quick facts
- Median age: 39 years
- Median weekly household income: $1,961
- Median weekly rent: $350
- Houses vs. apartments: 90.3% houses; 0.5% apartments
- Suburb sales record (excludes land sales): $1,350,000 in 2018
Source: 2016 Census.
Want to find the latest real estate listings for sale and rent in Wanniassa? Zango can help you find them:
Do you live, or have you previously lived, in Wanniassa? 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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