The Gentrification of Canberra
If I look one way and see a Paleo café, and look the other and see an organic vegan cafe, then it makes me think. If I see people sitting in the chilly air or inside, sipping on chai lattes, tapping on their phones, while some are actually talking, then my curiosity is piqued even further. This is what I see in areas of Canberra that have changed over the 30 something years that I have been coming here.
Many years ago I read a book by Ruth Park, The Harp in the South
Today Surry Hills is uber chic, liberal, rich and enticing with its boho chic yuppies and liberals loving this gentrified suburb. It happened in Shoreditch, London, where people, who were prepared to take a chance moved into this area that was considered to be undesirable. It was the creative types, developers, and hipsters, as they are branded, that showed this bravado to breathe life into an area.
Canberra is a very young capital city
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As Australia’s national capital city, Canberra is a very young capital city. When you look at capital cities around the world, it is one of the youngest. The city of Canberra was built for the purpose of it becoming the national capital of Australia. The area was once a farming region, and land for the Australian Capital Territory was purchased from New South Wales for the purpose of building Australia’s new Federal capital. From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. However, Melbourne was never the capital city of Australia.
On 9 May 1927, Parliament moved to the new national capital at Canberra, where it met in what is now called Old Parliament House.
As a purpose-built city for politicians and the associated public service that comes with governing a country, it took a little while for Canberra to gain its own identity. It was never going to be Sydney or Melbourne, and it struggled with this for a while.
Embracing change
Canberra is now embracing the creativity and diversity that naturally is a resource in such a city. Where it comes from is another discussion.
Now we see areas of Canberra embrace the mind set that we saw change both Surry Hills and Shoreditch. New Acton and Braddon are prime examples of this. Villages, with that village feel, in the heart of Australia’s national capital city.
The Gentrification of New Acton and Braddon, Canberra.
The regeneration of the suburbs of New Acton and Braddon, Canberra reminds me very much of the regeneration of Shoreditch in London and Surry Hills in Sydney. They are Canberra’s cheap generic cialis india Shoreditch and Surry Hills. This new look and new lease of life are a breath of fresh air in the city. Much like Shoreditch and Surry Hills, there is undoubtedly a risk of both New Acton and Braddon becoming gentrified if it hasn’t already.
Does this matter? Not at all. It has given the people, locals and visitors alike, a very real feel of what Canberra is like and will continue to be like, even if the location and the dress may change. Canberra is on the move and the move up. The hipsters are in town, but they are not the only ones. This is an all inclusive culture and one that has no problems mixing it up from traditional to avant garde.
New Acton Precinct,
The urban village or precinct of New Acton is known for creative dining in a modern setting with artistic flair. At the heart of this is the intriguing Nishi building, home to Hotel Hotel. This was a collaboration of over 50 designers and artists with the inspiration gained from the old Australian shack. Visually it is incredible and it is vibrant and an excellent study in urban design.
Braddon Precinct
Because let’s face it precinct sounds so much hipper than suburb ….
Centred around Lonsdale Street, Eloura and Mort Streets you will find a mix of hipster cafes, casual eateries, funky bars, pubs and award-winning restaurants. You will see Paleo, vegan and artisan ice cream makers.There is an appeal to all people, and this appeal very much lies in the food offerings. From a Paleo Cafe to schmick and very good Coffee Roasting houses, vegan caffs and some amazing pop-ups with cheeky attitudes and damn good food, Braddon is rightfully pulling in the crowds.
Regardless, Canberra is in the midst of a regeneration, and it is exciting.
Canberra food trucks are located at The Hamlet in the suburb of Braddon. The Hamlet was once a tyre shop and yard. Developer Nik Bulum created a unique retail, cafe and restaurant strip here in Lonsdale Street in Braddon. Bulum, known as the founder of Lonsdale Street Traders, is continuing. In June this year, 2015 he also bought the Canberra City Bowling Club promising to build another “village-within-a-suburb”. For foodies, see Food Lovers Guide to Braddon.
Stay near the action of Braddon
Medina Serviced Apartments Canberra, James Court (formerly Adina James Court) offers fully self-contained spa apartments and a range of leisure facilities, including a pool and a fitness centre. The location is ideal to explore the food and arty shops in Braddon and is very close to Civic, the centre of Canberra’s CBD, and offers you the space and convenience that you need. It also very handy to all of the other landmarks of Australia’s capital city.
While areas of Canberra like New Acton and Braddon have become gentrified this cannot be a bad thing. These villages provide life, color, sounds, and smells and a relief from the mundanity that comes from being a capital city. The Gentrification of Canberra? Bring it on.
I’ve lived in Canberra for six years and the change I’ve seen in that time is amazing! It’s so exciting and I always think of Braddon as a little slice on Melbourne. There is so much more growth and change to come for the nation’s capital! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Canberra.
That’s exactly what I thought about Braddon too.
Oh wow! That’s heaps of information about Canberra. Wish I read this before I visited in October!
It is a lot of information and very much a ‘my opinion’ piece.
I have lived in this town for nearly 20 years and still it amazes me with its awesome. Great post, interesting too. 🙂
It keeps changing and changing. We need to keep visiting to keep up with the cafes alone
I also remember reading The Harp in the South. I’m not sure that Canberra has ever gone through that level of poverty – it has always been an affluent city although surprisingly it has the second highest rate of homelessness in Australia (a lot of country people come to Canberra in search of jobs).
But back to your review. Loved it and thanks for promoting the change afoot in Canberra. It has happened quickly. I was on posting overseas from 2010 to 2014, and when I came back it was a very different and exciting place.
I agree, but i wanted to make a point about the changing nature of cities. I didn’t know that about the homelessness in Canberra, that is distressing. I think Canberra deserve a lot of very good promotion, and we will continue to do this.
I learned about urban shifts while in San Francisco at college. Over a decade I watched neighborhoods gain in popularity while others withered from lack of attention. Gentrification can be a good thing or push locals out. It’s nice to hear that Canberra might be keeping things in balance.
Gentrification is a double edged sword for sure. We have certainly seen that also in Shoreditch, London
This is such an interesting post! Would not say no to staying in those apartments
The apartments are amazing.
What a fantastically informative post!
Thank you.
Its amazing how quickly canberra is evolving. I like how theres a mix of old and new unlike some cities where all the old is slowly being replaced
I love that Canberra is evolving and it seems to be coming from the people.
It’s nice to see a city redefining itself and growing in new ways. That’s also great for the locals who get to enjoy the new version every day!
I think it is wonderful and people driven. I keep reading of new and exciting cafes, restaurants, exhibitions and experiences.
I really enjoyed this article. It makes sense and teases out some of my fleeting thoughts over the issue over the years.
I am so proud to be a Canberran. 🙂
Thank you, I guess I have been going to Canberra for a long time and seeing it as an outsider and watching some very real and good changes happen.
I like how you have captured Canberra! So proud to call her our home. I have yet to dine at Mandalay… it’s on the list.
Thanks Rosemarie. Glad you have settled in so well. W must do coffee one of these day.
I haven’t done Mandalay either!
We might all have to go together Michelle.
Can I come tooooooo? 🙂
sure :))
So interesting to be able to view a city through so many years. I’ve never been to Canberra, but I’d love to see some of the areas you described. 🙂
It is a city that we do visit regularly and a city that is changing. For the better I might add.
Hi Paula!
Was that a tribute show poster for THE Jeff Buckley in one of those hip cafes? Awesome! Canberra seems like a great city, there seems like too much interesting places to go to.
I think so, Canberra does have some amazing places to visit.
This is making me think another trip to Canberra is in order in the future!
It is definitely great seeing all of the changes.