Canberra's former 'Nappy Valley', Tuggeranong, is now hot property

Tuggeranong is coming out from the shadow cast by its outer north rival, Gungahlin, as more Canberrans are beginning to appreciate its lifestyle options – and the bigger bang they can get for their home-buying buck.

And in 2016, its reputation is light years away from its earliest characterisation as the territory’s “Nappy Valley”.

Residential agents are unanimously reporting the home-buying sector is running hot with record sale prices becoming commonplace.

LJ Hooker Tuggeranong principal Andrew Curren has taken the buying temperature at any number of open homes.

“They’ve been running very strongly and we’ve been getting some outstanding numbers – we had 55 groups go through [one house] in just four exhibitions,” he says.

“One home in Theodore on a 1775-square-metre block had 35 groups go through and it sold for $65,000 above the asking price.”

Peter Blackshaw Tuggeranong principal Robert Peaker says the historically low interest rates have motivated more people into the property market and they were looking for value.

“They see what their money buys in the Woden area, then compare it with what you can buy 10 minutes away,” he says.

“Wanniassa is hot at the moment, because you can get big 800-900 square metre blocks with a four-bedroom, en suite home on it for somewhere north of $500,000.

This level of sales activity suggests the up-until-now reasonable Tuggeranong prices are likely to be become a thing of the past in a hot market of dwindling stock.

Cameron Whitnall of McGrath Woden says that he’s noticing a migration of young homebuyers from Gunghalin back into Tuggeranong.

“Some of them were brought up here, but bought their first home in Gunghalin because it was all new,” he says.

“But the ones I’ve spoken to say they miss the bigger blocks and the trees and the more established life of the area.”

While real estate is booming in Tuggeranong, there are other reasons why people choose to live in the outer north according to local community council president Glenys Patulny, who has lived in Kambah for 36 years.

“It’s a hidden gem, Canberra’s best kept secret,” she says, but is the first to admit that Tuggeranong is not a perfect utopia.

Patulney’s council has recently run an online livability study and nearly 400 respondents between the ages of 15 and 75 made their feelings known.

Chief bug bears include the water quality of Lake Tuggeranong, frustration at the missing-in-action NBN, the ageing town centre and the limited opportunities and venues for young people to socialise into the evening.

While fixes for these may be some time off, the general feeling is that Tuggeranong in 2016 is a world away from its earliest days when it was characterised as “Nappy Valley”.

LJ Hooker’s Curren says that nickname stuck when a lot of young families first moved in.

“But they stayed and grew up here and that has broadened out the demographic into a wide spread of ages,” he says.

“We’ve got great schools’ the amenity of the lake; the Erindale Centre as a restaurant hub; the Greenway town centre, the foreshore development – and the public service decentralisation is bringing more people to live in Tuggeranong as well as providing a boost to the economy.

“Lots of people now live, play and work here and it only takes five minutes to get home. It’s a great lifestyle in Tuggeranong.”

All about Tuggeranong

• Early days: The Tuggeranong region has been occupied by the Ngunnawal people for more than 21,000 years. The first Europeans arrived in the Canberra region in 1820 and a later expedition reached the present-day Pine Island and the valley, now occupied by the Tuggeranong district. 
• Rich history: Charles Bean wrote the first two volumes of the official history of Australia’s involvement in World War I at the Tuggeranong homestead between 1919 to 1925
• Present day: The first families moved into Kambah in 1974. Today there are 19 suburbs in the Tuggeranong district and 86,900 residents, as at the 2011 census.

No shortage of attractions

Plenty of opportunities to exercise and a growing cafe lifestyle are two of the reasons Nick, above, and Sheridan Brill have called Tuggeranong home for eight years.

The couple first moved into a townhouse in Bonython but enjoyed the area so much that two years later they bought a house in Calwell.

Nick, who grew up in Woden, says the wide open spaces were part of the attraction of the region. “We like getting out for walks with our dogs or running or cycling and there are just so many options – from the lake to trails in the many reserves,” he says.

“It’s just great – you’re never too far away from nature and there’s always a view of the Brindabellas.”

Nick works in Woden and Sheridan, as a teacher in Wanniassa. They say the easy drives to work is another attraction.

“We also eat out a few times each week and there are plenty of options on Anketell Street or the Hyperdome,” Nick says.

“There are any number of lovely restaurants or sports clubs to choose from.”

“Tuggeranong is a family-friendly environment and it’s a great place to live with plenty of good schools, ovals and play areas for children.”

Panoramic mountain views

17 Sturrock Place, Gordon 
$1.049 million
5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms,  3 parking spaces
Inspect on Saturday, from 1.45pm-2.30pm
Tenders close on Thursday, November 10, at 5pm
Maria Selleck Properties, Maria Selleck 0417 258 803

Perched on one of Canberra’s most elevated blocks, this Gordon property enjoys panoramic mountain views and a commanding street presence.

Behind its striking brick facade, the five-bedroom house boasts a magnificent foyer with cathedral ceilings.

A grand staircase leads the way to multiple open-plan living areas ideal for formal and informal occasions.

The kitchen overlooks a casual dining area and large family room and is well-equipped with high-end appliances and stone benches.

A large balcony spans the front of the home and is accessible via the living areas and the master suite.

The master bedroom is perfectly positioned to capture the views and includes a walk-in wardrobe and en suite bathroom complete with spa.

Three bedrooms are segregated on the third floor. All have built-in wardrobes and two offer external access to the rear gardens and courtyards.

The fifth bedroom is positioned on the ground floor, along with an en suite, kitchenette and rumpus room, making it ideal for teenagers, extended family or a rental opportunity.

The large 1244 square metre parcel of land includes tiered gardens, a small putting green, a fish pond and established fruit trees.