I lived away from Canberra for two years. Here’s what I missed most.
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Now we’ve all heard the list before—about people’s love of the wide open spaces, and proximity to nature, mountain views and clean air etc. This isn’t going to be that kind of list.
In late 2019, as smoke choked the city, I said goodbye to Canberra, my home of the previous nine years, and moved north with my husband. I planned to visit Canberra regularly, and I did a few times. But given I lived on the other side of the Queensland border, we all know how that turned out. In January this year, we made the move back, and I quickly started mentally clocking all the things I’d really missed about Canberra.
Now we’ve all heard the list before – about people’s love of the wide open spaces, and proximity to nature, mountain views and clean air etc. This isn’t going to be that kind of list. To be completely honest, I’m a lover of a concrete jungle and buzzing city centre, and admittedly, Canberra felt a little smaller than I remembered when I first arrived. But as soon as Northbourne Avenue stretched before us and welcomed us into its embrace, we knew we were home.
Here are the things I’ve appreciated the most since I’ve been back:
Lane One Form
Why is ‘Form One Lane’ written backwards on the roads? It’s a question I may never know the answer to. And to be honest, I don’t want to know the answer. All I know is that nothing made me feel more welcome than driving through my first ‘Lane One Form’. Not that many Canberrans know how to merge under normal circumstances—that’s a discussion for a whole other time—but add a good ol’ ‘Lane One Form’ painted on the road, and everything works out ok.
The food and coffee
I can’t be sure what will be my highlight of 2022: when I finally get to meet my firstborn in a few months, or that sweet, sweet first bite I got to take into my Brodchicken upon my return (with Swiss, in case you were wondering). The food here is really in a class of its own, from the fine dining offering to the local takeaway, or the local produce, which is usually not grown too far away at all. And honestly, it is quite an effort to find a bad coffee in this city.
The television ads
To be fair, I don’t watch a lot of free-to-air television these days. But a certain matrimonially-themed reality show had me watching a lot more than usual lately. I’d forgotten about the television content syndication here, and found myself particularly amused by some of the ads. Do I need farming equipment, or sheep antibiotic injections? Not currently. Or probably ever. But if I ever do, I know where to find them. And surely that’s the sort of thing that makes one sleep better at night?
The cheap parking
This one might open up a bit of a can of worms, but sorry Canberrans, you need to get a bit of perspective. To be fair, the cost of living in Canberra is very, very high. But one of the things accounting for that is not the parking. Whether it’s the middle of the city, the airport, or the Parliamentary Triangle, parking prices here are actually a delight. And usually, you can score a spot quite close to where you’re going. The fact that your average Canberran doesn’t turn up to an event more than seven minutes before it starts is a testament to this.
How easy it is to catch up with people
I’m not sure what it is about Canberra, but I’ve always found people are really keen to do things, and available to catch up. I don’t know whether it’s because so many people don’t have family here, so their extended friend network becomes their family, or perhaps even just that it’s so easy to get around (even a jaunt to visit someone in the furthest suburb really doesn’t take that long). Planning to see people in bigger cities seems to take military-precision diary coordination, and at least four-to-six weeks notice, but here, catch ups feel like a breeze to sort. Didn’t have time to make plans with anyone? Head out for a wander to the local shops or lake or somewhat-populated area, and you’re bound to run into someone you know.
That you can really wear your full wardrobe
I’ve only been back in town three months, and I’ve already been able to make the most of more of my wardrobe than I did in two years up north. Granted, it was a strange two years and we were in and out of lockdowns like a game of musical chairs, and living in stretchy pants. But the four seasons here mean everything from your togs to every scarf and glove gets a look in at one point or another. And I’m proud to say I haven’t even been tempted by the heater switch just yet. I’ve got my eyes firmly on ANZAC Day for that one.
The roundabouts
I’m not being facetious here.
I know Canberra is mocked mercilessly for the ample roundabouts, but they’re actually genius. And roundabouts certainly aren’t unique to Canberra. Just elsewhere they’re not embraced so enthusiastically as part of the road network. Just drive down any main road in another capital city and you’re bound to spend half your trip stopped at red lights. It’s been noticeable since I’ve been back just how much drive time roundabouts save you.
The owl
You know who I’m talking about. Love or hate Canberra’s phallic public artwork, I for one was delighted to see him.
