Think buying into Old Kingston is impossible? Meet Walter & Whitley

Posted on 29 September, 2023

Quiet, leafy streets with wide footpaths bookended by lush parklands and boasting some of the city’s best dining. It’s no surprise Kingston is one of Canberra’s most coveted suburbs.

Beloved as a renter’s paradise for freshly arrived and culture-hungry APS graduates and as the ideal close-to-everything and age-friendly suburb for downsizers, ‘Old Kingston’ is known as one of Canberra’s tightest-held areas, and it’s not hard to see why.

Bordered by Lake Burley Griffin and the Kingston Foreshore to the north, the lush green of Telopea Park to the west, the bustling hub of Manuka to the south and the delights of the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets to the west, historic Old Kingston boasts an impressive number of Canberra icons and exciting newcomers in its small footprint – not to mention being in the catchment area for Telopea Park School and Narrabundah College.

From shopping for Le Creuset at The Essential Ingredient to picking up your morning croissant at Wildflour, meeting friends for dinner at Gourmet Traveller’s best ACT restaurant, Onzieme, or browsing independent fashion boutiques, all the essentials are within walking distance. It’s this enviable lifestyle and connected community that curated development Walter & Whitley is excited to offer residents.

Located on Leichhardt Street, close to Kingston Oval and a stone’s throw from the new Eyre Street precinct (did someone say after-dinner Gelato Messina…or a dedicated Supabarn cheese section?) Walter & Whitley’s one, two and three-bedroom apartments offering long-term lifestyle benefits for young families, downsizers, investors, and those looking for their forever apartment that offers the feel of a house.

Featuring floorplans with expansive windows and balconies, Walter & Whitley’s design brings the natural beauty of Old Kingston indoors, with elevated design elements that complement the precinct’s heritage such as wood panelling, finger and penny tiles, stoneware benches and timber floors.

One-bedroom and two-bedroom ground-floor apartments have been designed with ease of movement in mind, with wrap-around balconies and gate access while ground-floor three-bedroom apartments offer a sunny slice of green space beyond the patio, perfect for little ones. Above, three-bedroom apartments on the third floor offer two living spaces and a separate laundry.

Developed by Morris Property Group to blend into tree-lined Leichhardt Street, Walter & Whitley has been named after two of Canberra’s most influential architects. Walter Burley Griffin likely needs no introduction to readers, but if Whitley doesn’t ring a bell, his designs may well.

Born in 1886, Cuthbert Claude Mortier Whitley was responsible for such delightful Canberra art-deco gems as Ainslie Primary School, Canberra High School (now the ANU School of Art) and what was originally The Patent Office on Kings Avenue, now the Attorney-General’s Department.

“Walter & Whitley has been meticulously crafted with the Kingston area’s rich heritage and iconic design elements as our guiding inspirations,” says Geordie Edwards of Morris Property Group.

“With over 45 years of experience in shaping the capital city, we deeply appreciate the significance of our contribution to Canberra’s iconic suburbs. This project fills us with excitement as it pays homage to two influential design legacies that have left their mark on Canberra.”

This legacy of thoughtful design lives on in Walter & Whitley, and with Old Kingston’s natural charm, whether you’re looking to invest or live the Kingston lifestyle, you’ll create a legacy of your own.

Photography: Collections From Him