WATSON - North Canberra Community Council

Watson is a suburb in the North Canberra district of Canberra, the so-called “Inner North”. Watson is named in honour of the third Prime Minister of Australia John Christian Watson, and was gazetted on 7 April 1960. Streets in Watson are named after Australian judges and other legal professionals. As of the 2021 Australian census the population of Watson was 6,727.

Watson is bordered by the Federal Highway, Philip Avenue and Antill Street. It lies next to the suburbs of Downer and Hackett. Behind Hackett is Mount Majura on the Canberra Nature Park.

Watson has a shopping centre, and the AIE originally Watson High School located nearby. Rosary catholic school is located in Watson, as is the Signadou campus of the Australian Catholic University. There is also Majura primary government school which is well known for its popular annual Spring Carnival a preschool a child care centre and a doctor’s surgery. There once was a drive-in theatre (The starlight) in Watson. Currently, North Watson is undergoing the construction of Majura Rise, a new estate south of the television studios listed below. This area is walking distance from Mount Majura, along with many other facilities. It is expected this area will increase the property value of Watson. Also located in the suburb are the Ten and Prime television studios,The Ted Noffs Foundation, Canberra Carotel, Australian Heritage Village (now closed), service station and Health Services Hostel.

Local Groups:

Most Recent 5 Watson Development Applications

The latest public Environment and Planning Directorate – Planning notifications can also be accessed from their site. The following is an extract of the public applications selected by NCCC that principally relate to Watson or have an impact on North Canberra or its residents; the extract may not be complete and does not contain development applications that are not publicly notified.

Address: 25 Manning Street, Watson, ACT

Development Application: 202342292

Desecription: PROPOSAL FOR GARAGE - construction of a new garage and associated works.
Comment closure date: 2023-11-24

Address: 153 Knox Street, Watson, ACT

Development Application: 202342232

Desecription: PROPOSAL FOR NEW DWELLING - demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of a new two storey dwelling, garage, driveway/verge crossing, landscaping and associated works.
Comment closure date: 2023-11-02

Address: 34 Windeyer Street, Watson, ACT

Development Application: 202342097

Desecription: PROPOSAL FOR ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO EXISTING MEDICAL CENTRE - Partial demolition of the existing building, extension to building for new rooms, new wheelchair lift, removal of demountable, and associated works.
Comment closure date: 2023-10-17

Address: 350 Antill Street, Watson, ACT

Development Application: 202341979

Desecription: PROPOSAL FOR HOSPITAL - Demolition of existing buildings and tree removal, construction of a two storey rehabilitation facility to the north of block and construction of four one and two storey buildings to make up new health hub to the south of block, new driveway verge crossings and internal driveway, parking area, outdoor recreation areas, signage, landscaping and associated works.
Comment closure date: 2023-10-09

Address: 5 Andrews Street, Watson, ACT

Development Application: 202341908

Desecription: PROPOSAL FOR SECONDARY RESIDENCE - demolition of existing garage and carport and construction of a new secondary residence and attached deck in addition to existing dwelling, new carport, tree removal and associated works.
Comment closure date: 2023-08-11

(Note: Earlier Development Applications can be seen by accessing the ACTPLA website or by going to PlanningAlerts. Note ACTPLA do remove access to the development application documentation some time after the DA closes, but PlanningAlerts do retain some basic historical information.)