Macquarie – Canberra’s next hottest place to live?
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Twenty years ago, pretty much to the day, I was living in a sharehouse in Emu Ridge; a Belconnen suburb packed to the rafters with University of Canberra students with a few unlucky souls peppered in between. While some things remain the same – Belconnen Mall is still the ‘hub’ of the greater area, Lake Ginninderra is still a beautiful place to escape to, the Belconnen Fresh Food Markets continues to be a fresh food destination – others have definitely changed.
Back then, the only reason to jump the back fence and sneak across Belconnen Way was to get to Coles and their supply of Homer Hudson Chocolate Rock Ice Cream. Or sometimes Hoboken Crunch. Mmmmm. Anyhow, I digress. These days, the Macquarie area is fast becoming one of Canberra’s hottest places to live.
It’s not just locals that beat a path to the door of Ricardo’s Café and Patisserie for their jaw-dropping array of pastries and sweet treats; or to Bakery Culture for their amazing French Sourdough bread. And, as we revealed just a couple of weeks ago, neighbouring Aranda is set to challenge Braddon for the title of ‘hippest suburb’ when the guys from Two Before Ten have finished working their magic on their ‘community hub’.
But perhaps the biggest change is set to come in February, when construction starts on Macquarie Park – a development of boutique three and four bedroom townhouses and a selection of retail tenancies quite literally on the doorstep of Jamison Plaza. They’re really quite beautiful – generous size, full height glass windows, all the ‘fruit’ – and have a strong focus on sustainability. You can read more about them here.
The development is unlike anything the suburb has seen before, and is an attractive and good value alternative to those who are keen to be ‘at the centre of it all’ but for who Braddon may be too frenetic or expensive.
And while Belconnen is experiencing a renaissance – great coffee thanks to Remedy by Lonsdale Street Roasters and Chatterbox, a burgeoning live music scene at La De Da and a home for artists at Belconnen Arts Centre – it remains unpretentious and easy-going. You can see why those who call the area home have a very real sense of ‘Belco Pride’.
It’s this pride and sense of belonging that Macquarie Park will tap into when construction begins on Bowman Villas in February, with extensive communal gardens and private courtyards deigned to encourage a sense of community. And, for me, I think the proximity to – well, pretty much everything (food, fitness, parkland, shops, Belconnen Town Centre) will see a real sense of neighbourhood develop…something we haven’t seen enough of in past developments. If only there’d been a Macquarie Park back in my uni days…
10 reasons to live in Macquarie
1. Ricardo’s (and some other great food)!
Make your friends jealous with your cronuts and macarons from Ricardo’s Café and Patisserie. Yum. Plus, you must try the amazing French sourdough bread from Bakery Culture, Simco Fresh Meats and Go Troppo also have amazing produce.
2. Fitness facilities
Well, you’ll need to work it all off, won’t you? Curves and Anytime Fitness are in the neighbourhood, CISAC is just minutes away, plus there are great cycling and walking trails.
3. Trash ‘n’ Treasure Markets
The Belconnen Rotary Trash ‘n’ Treasure Markets are something of an institution, having been run since 1974, and are held every Sunday from 6am to 1pm in the Jamison Centre carpark. You’ll find all kinds of fresh foods, crafts and other preloved items for sale.
4. ALDI
Go do a supermarket shop here and see how much you save compared to the usual suspects, and you’ll see why this one deserves to be on the list. There’s also Coles if that’s more your scene (although, alas, they no longer have Homer Hudson)
5. Old favourites
They’ve been around for years and continue to be popular (and for good reason). The Dumpling Inn has amazing yum cha and good old-fashioned ‘no frills’ Chinese food, and Turkish Pide House has some of the best banquets you’ll taste.
6. Asia Bookroom
The Asia Bookroom is a gorgeous hidden gem that you’ll return to again and again. There’s nothing like it anywhere else in Canberra.
7. Big Splash Waterpark!
Is there a better way to spend a hot summer’s day? Big Splash Waterpark has slides, inflatables and pools for all ages…too much fun!
A meeting place for Canberra’s creatives to learn and make beautiful things together. Love.
9. Best Beans
Some of Canberra’s best coffee (and soon, wood fired pizza, a bar and studio) is just down the road at Two Before Ten.
10. Close to the important stuff
It’s a hop, skip and jump to the University of Canberra, Calvary Hospital, and Belconnen Town Centre: Westfield, Belconnen Markets, Lake Ginninderra and more. And if you do feel the pull of the city, it’s just 10 minutes by car.
This is a sponsored post.
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