Suburb #110 Denman Prospect

Suburb no. 110 was Denman Prospect, a very new suburb in the Molonglo Valley that is still being constructed.

This suburb is named after Lady Denman the wife of the fifth governor general of Australia, who in 1913 stood upon the newly laid Foundation Stones and pronounced, "I name the capital of Australia - Canberra".

The streets here are named after 'inspiring and dynamic people linked to activism and reform'. 

My adventure started on the border of the suburb literally in the middle of the bridge at Coppins Crossing.

It was then a walk across country under the gorgeous Canberra summer skies...

 

 Through an old fence....

And along the dirt path (praying not to wake the snakes!)...

 If it weren't for the ever watchful eye of Telstra tower, it could have been the middle of the countryside.

 Then it was back in to centre of the suburb....which largely does not exist at this point in time!

But despite the lack of houses, it was certainly all happening in one part of the new suburb - with lots of families already enjoying the brand new park that has opened on the hill at the top of the suburb.

So much colour, so much red, so many slides, so much fun!!!!

And the views from up here are just remarkable...

It will be even better when all the plants grow :)

And perhaps make up for some questionable art....

I really loved this sculpture though!

Thanks DP - looking forward to coming back to visit when you are more fully grown and with a bunch of other adults who refuse to grow up and love a good playground :)

Suburb #88 Coombs

Suburb number 88 was Coombs - a suburb in the Molonglo Valley area that realistically is still being built, but I decided I would check out anyway and was pleasantly surprised.

Coombs is named after Herbert Cole "Nugget" Coombs, a famous Australian public servant - advising seven prime ministers over a 30 year period, economist and the first Governor of the Reserve Bank.

The streets here are named after notable public servants.

I think this will be a really lovely place to live once the landscaping is completed and the trees grow. Its not too far from the centre of Canberra and yet the mountain views are amazing and the suburb basically backs on to the Arboretum.

Once all the construction has finished, it will also be lovely being able to walk alongside the Molongo river and up to the Arboretum.

Coombs will be the hub of the new Molongo Valley area and hence, there is a already a school being built and local shops are on the way.

There is the odd splash of Gungahlin colour and feel here - including some Gungahlinesque ponds and parks - but Coombs feels more spacious than its northern suburban counterparts. Those town planners did good this time around :)

Suburb #49 Wright

Suburb number 49 was Wright. Where? Canberrans may ask - a new suburb North of Duffy, not far from Mt Stromlo.

Wright is named after Australian poet Judith Wright, who was also a well known campaigner for the environment and indigenous rights.

We meet and part now over all the world;

we, the lost company,

take hands together in the night, forget

the night in our brief happiness, silently.

We, who sought may things, throw all away

for this one thing, one only,

remembering that in the narrow grave

we shall be lonely.

Death marshalls up his armies round us now.

Their footsteps crowd too near.

Lock your warm hand above the chilling heart

and for a time I live without my fear.

Grope in the night to fine me and embrace,

for the dark preludes of the drums begin,

and round us round the company of lovers,

death draws his cordons in.

The streets in Wright have the theme of 'environmentalists, poets and butterflies'. Unfortunately, this has resulted in 'Steve Irwin Avenue' *sighs* - as one of my fellow Canberrans has penned, 'Steve Irwin was to the environment what John Laws was to poetry'.

You are never quite sure what you are going to find in these new Canberra suburbs, although you can usually count on finding a big new 3D sign, lots of building sites and some questionable architecture. Wright certainly delivered in this space....

But Wright proved more interesting than expected - particularly given that it is really quite a small suburb. I will be interested to come back and visit the neighbouring suburbs of Coombs and Sulman when they have some more buildings! :p

I love the street lights here....

And the playground has that awesome bouncy floor stuff that you find in Gunghalin playgrounds and a lady beetle :)

But what really surprised me was the ACT fire disaster memorial at the back of this suburb. I had no idea that this was here. It is really impressive. Very moving. I am very pleased that this has been built to ensure those lost - including animal friends - during that horrible time in Canberra are not forgotten. I will never forget those armageddon red skies even when I was lucky enough not to be directly impacted.