Suburb #71 Gungahlin

Some of you would be aware that I had a rather severe anti-Gungahlin prejudice when I started this blog. When I thought Gungahlin, I just thought of a far away land with really big houses on really small pieces of land and lots of children. However, this project has really changed my view of the area - so I thought it was probably time to check out the actual city centre of Gungahlin  - as suburb number 71!

Gungahlin apparently means little 'rocky hill' or 'white man's house'. I didn't see many hills or rocks....so the second one might be more appropriate. 

The streets here are  apparently named after industrialist and pioneers.

It was a pretty miserable foggy morning when we arrived in Gungahlin, but the first thing that struck me was how bloody big it had become. I literally haven't been here for more than a decade, and at that time, I think here were about five shops there. Now its massive...

I must admit the marketplace sign did fill me with dread and bad flashbacks of Conder food poisoning....but thankfully this shopping precinct is a bit more worthy of the title 'marketplace'.

I was very excited to find a sock shop (yes they still exist!!!) plus lots of asian supermarkets...

Unfortunately, Little Siam which I have on good authority is the place to eat was shut, so we just grabbed some takeway sushi and headed down to Yerrabi pond which I had seen from the other side on previous adventures.

I just love it down here - if I were to move to Gungahlin this is definitely where I would like to live...possibly on James Kirk St cause I am lame like that. OK so there are still some ridiculously large houses, but it feels really spacious down here. There is also a great community/peaceful feel to the place with people sitting out on the balconies and reading, or having afternoon tea. Gorgeous.

We were apparently very lucky to see the pelicans here before they travel onwards to escape the winter months. It was gorgeous standing in the sun at what is called Soroptimist point and watching them.

But its not just the park and the pond, there are some great looking eateries popping up around here along the promenade. I am determined to go back and try the Indian restaurant in particular, I have heard some amazing things about the food there.

Most unexpectedly though there is now an art gallery here as well, with some really impressive and interesting artwork from local artists. I highly recommend popping in if you are in the area. Its called the Strayleaf gallery.

If you like ponds (not the Dr Who kind) you can rest assured there are also always more to be found in Gungahlin....they really do park design well here. Even on a busy corner...

Anyway, so I think Gungahlin has definitely won me over. An epic adventure. And the suburb is not even finished...the below is all supposed to be streets so more to come!

Suburb #70 Richardson

I have been getting back on the suburban adventure bandwagon recently - making the most of a series of beautiful Canberra sunny winter days - yay! Suburb number 70 was Richardson in the South.

Richardson is named after Henry Handel Richardson, who you may well know was in fact Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson, an Australian female author. I like this quote from one of her novels: "But hers was one of those inconvenient natures which trust blindly or not at all: once worked on by a doubt or a suspicion, they are never able to shake themselves free of it again". So me.

The streets in Richardson are named after writers, mainly female ones.

The first thing that struck me about Richardson was that all the houses seemed to be based on exactly the same design...some had verandas others didn't but they were all one story and basically the same. For someone who grew up in Sydney where the norm is random and different, and most things seems accidentally beautiful, it was quite unexpected...oh and people have a lot of cars here.

As a result, I may have got a little bit exited when I saw three houses (yes only three) of a different design - particularly the one that had two stories (where it turns out someone I know actually lived...really not trying to stalk people I promise) and the one that was all pretty and had an awesome weather vane (which the locals tell me has a rather dark past unfortunately).

Once I got over my obsession with finding different types of houses...the next stop was the local shops....which appeared very welcoming...despite a drunk man almost falling into our car...

Really not sure about this slogan though....

Or that one shop requires so much aircon...

But hey I love the 80s pavers though...

Unfortunately, we were not able to get in to see Tuggeranong Homestead as it was closed - must go back and check out the markets that are on 2nd Sunday of the month.

But it was still lovely wandering around nearby in the sun and checking out some unusual garden features...

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But even better was the discovery of the old Tuggeranong Pine Forrest nearby...OK so not strictly in Richardson, but we had a lovely walk here getting lost trying to look for the old Tuggeranong train station.

My elderly mother may never forgive me for making her walk up that hill though. Sorry mum :(

Determined to go back and find the railway tracks soon! Looks like approaching from Gilmore might be easier.