Watson, Australian Capital Territory

Last updated

Watson
Suburb
Watson, ACT shops.JPG
Watson shops
Canberra map.png
Red pog.svg
Watson
Location in Canberra
Coordinates: 35°14′18″S149°09′12″E / 35.23833°S 149.15333°E / -35.23833; 149.15333
Country Australia
State Australian Capital Territory
City Canberra
District
Location
Established1960
Government
 •  Territory electorate
 •  Federal division
Area
 • Total
3.7 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Elevation
591 m (1,939 ft)
Population
 • Total6,727 (SAL 2021) [1]
Postcode
2602
Suburbs around Watson
Lyneham Kenny Mount Majura
Downer Watson Mount Majura
Dickson Hackett Hackett

Watson is a suburb of Canberra, Australia in the North Canberra district. Watson is named after the third Prime Minister of Australia, John Christian Watson. The suburb name was gazetted on 7 April 1960. Streets in Watson are named after Australian judges and other legal professionals. [2]

Contents

Aerial view of Watson from north east Watson aerial.jpg
Aerial view of Watson from north east

Watson is bordered by the Federal Highway, Phillip Avenue and Antill Street. Traffic loads on these roads has increased significantly with the continued development of Gungahlin and studies suggest some areas will exceed capacity before 2021. [3]

Features

Located in Watson is a local shopping centre and several schools, television studios and motels. The former Watson High School now houses the Canberra Technology Park which includes the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) as a tenant. Rosary Catholic Primary School is located in Watson, as is the Signadou campus of the Australian Catholic University. There is also Majura Primary School (originally Watson Primary School) which is well known for its annual Spring Carnival.

The Canberra Hog Farm operated from 1929 to 1956 on a large section of what is now north Watson. [4] One of Canberra's two former drive-in theatres, the Starlight Drive-in, was located on part of the former hog farm site, on the Federal Highway in Watson. The site has now been redeveloped as a medium-density housing complex, although the drive-in's sign remains.

Also located in the suburb are Prime7 television studios, The Ted Noffs Foundation, the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, Canberra Potters Society, a C3 Church, YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and a BP service station. CTC-TV (now Southern Cross 10), was located in the suburb from 1974 until June 2020 when the Watson studios were demolished and the station relocated to Fyshwick. [5]

Transport

Watson is serviced by ACTION bus routes R9 and 50. [6] [7] Antill Street is also serviced by route 53. [8] Phillip Avenue is serviced by the Canberra Light Rail line which runs from Civic to Gungahlin Town Centre. [9]

Geology

Calcareous shales from the Canberra Formation is overlain in places by Quaternary alluvium. This rock includes the limestone of the original title of Canberra "Limestone Plains". [10]

References

  1. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Watson (suburb and locality)". Australian Census 2021 QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2022.  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. ↑ "Suburb Name search results". ACT Environment and Sustainable Development. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "ACTPLA Morisset Road Extension EIS Traffic Study Report" (PDF). ACT Planning & Land Authority. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  4. ↑ Government, A. C. T. (1 July 2025). "Previous Find of the Month". www.archives.act.gov.au. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "Southern Cross finds new Fyshwick home | TV Tonight".
  6. ↑ Route R9 Transport Canberra
  7. ↑ Route 50 Transport Canberra
  8. ↑ Route 53 Transport Canberra
  9. ↑ "Light Rail Stops". CMET. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Henderson G A M and Matveev G, Geology of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Environs 1:50000 1980.
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