ACT · Unincorporated ACT Council
Acton, 2601
Current weather
9.3°CClear sky
76% humidity · 23.4 km/h wind · 12.3° / 6.5° today · 14.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Top schools
- Cafés & dining
- Parks
- Childcare
- Shops
Suburb profile
Acton is a practical mid-sized suburb in Unincorporated ACT, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Neighbouring suburbs are within easy reach, so the wider metro area always feels accessible. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Young professionals and new households shape much of the local mix, with plenty of support for parents with young children. Cafés, dining and leisure activities are easy to find, with neighbouring suburbs adding even more choice. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by schools and education and parks and green space, while growth momentum and community and employment sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 2,848
- Median age
- 19
- Median household income / week
- $0
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 0 of 0
- Median monthly mortgage
- $0
- Employment rate
- 47.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 4 / 0 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2025 Q2 Apr-Jun)
- 88
- Against the person
- 3
- Against property
- 69
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 30.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 949 residents
- State safety percentile
- 84.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -11.1%
Most common offence types
- Burglary Other2
- Motor Vehicle Theft3
- Other Offences16
- Property Damage9
- Theft (Excluding Motor Vehicles)55
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- ACT crime statistics by suburb (quarterly) — ACT Policing / dataACT · Period: 2025 Q1 Jan-Mar → 2025 Q2 Apr-Jun; 2025 Q2 Apr-Jun · Updated on site · Quarterly XLSX release
Roadworks & transport
5 active roadworks / incidents
- City Feeder ProjectWatson Street - both directions: between Barry Drive and McKay Lane.Will be closed for approximately 1 week during the nominated timeframe.Moore Street - both directions: will be closed at Barry Drive.8 pm - 6 am (nightly) Sunday through to Thursday night / Friday morning.Mort Street - both directions: between the McDonalds Braddon driveway and Cooyong Street.8 pm - 6 am (nightly) Sunday through to Thursday night / Friday morning.Lonsdale Street - both directions: between the BP Braddon service station driveway and Cooyong Street.8 pm - 6 am (nightly) Sunday through to Thursday night / Friday morning.28 Jun 2026 – 27 Nov 2026
- Ext3 TTE22-NMA-2151 RevB NationalMuseumofAustralia, Special Event, ACTON PeninsulaLawson Cres intersection to NMA car park.11 Mar 2026 – 10 Dec 2026
- TTE24-CLREW-7405 - CMC - CLR2A - Compounds C1 & C2, Barrine Dr, ActonPublic car park located on the northern side of Corkhill Street (Block 24, Section 33 Canberra Central. Former Futsal Soccer Ground).Public car park located on the southern side of Corkhill Street. (Block 1, Section 95 Canberra Central).13 Oct 2024 – 28 May 2027
- TTE24-CMC-OP2-01- 12 - CMC - LR2a - Phase 01 Section 2 - Operational Road Closure Albert St WestAlbert Street (western entrance) (both directions): between Barrine Drive and Commonwealth Avenue.8 pm - 6 am (nightly as required) Monday to Sunday.02 Apr 2025 – 04 Feb 2027
- The Golden Oar 2026John Cardiff Close - Northbound and southbound from the designated carpark adjacent to the Red Shed Rowing Club.29 Oct 2026 – 01 Nov 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from ACT planning register (lodged 2020–2026).
2 planning-related records
2024· 1 proposal
December 2024
- SUBCACTON · CANBERRA CENTRALCompleted
2021· 1 proposal
April 2021
- SUBCACTON · CANBERRA CENTRALCompleted
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Active & completed development applications — ACT Planning · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site
Amenities
331 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Game OnAmusement Arcade
Jopline Lane
- Badger & CoBar
- Fellows Bar & CafeBar
- Bbq (14)
- Bench (134)
- Bicycle Parking (24)
- Bicycle Repair Station
- Commonwealth Avenue Opposite Regatta PointBus stop
- Lennox Crossing after roundaboutBus stop
- Lennox Crossing before roundaboutBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Black Mountain Peninsula District ParkPark
- Henry Rolland ParkPark
- Spinnaker IslandPark
- Springbank IslandPark
- Yukeembruk Village GreenPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- National Health Cooperativedoctor
- University Health Service and Counselling Centredoctor
- University PharmacyJoplin Lanepharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Heritage
5 state heritage places
- Aboriginal Places in Canberra Nature Park Fire TrailsBMF 93 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal RecordingsBMPAD14 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsCRS14 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Lennox HouseLennox House Complex3 - Registered Places or Objects
- Lennox HouseLennox House Complex3 - Registered Places or Objects
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
7 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- ANU Preschool & Childcare Centrekindergarten
- Acton Early Childhood Centre - 1BBalmain Crescentkindergarten
- Acton Early Childhood Centre - 1CBalmain Crescentkindergarten
- CSIROCare Black MountainClunies Ross Streetchildcare
- Cubby House on Campuschildcare
- Goodstart Early Learning - 147childcare
- Heritage Early Childhood Centrekindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via ACT Bushfire Prone Area (SBMP) mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 40
- Parks (OSM)
- 13
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 63.0/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 8% of Australian Capital Territory's suburbs
- National rank
- 489th in Australia
- State rank
- 8th in ACT
- Peer rank
- #8 among Metro Canberra · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #8 among Metro Canberra suburbs
- Data confidence
- 64%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- City Feeder ProjectroadworksWatson Street - both directions: between Barry Drive and McKay Lane.Will be closed for approximately 1 week during the nominated timeframe.Moore Street - both directions: will be closed at Barry Drive.8 pm - 6 am (nightly) Sunday through to Thursday night / Friday morning.Mort Street - both directions: between the McDonalds Braddon driveway and Cooyong Street.8 pm - 6 am (nightly) Sunday through to Thursday night / Friday morning.Lonsdale Street - both directions: between the BP Braddon service station driveway and Cooyong Street.8 pm - 6 am (nightly) Sunday through to Thursday night / Friday morning.28 Jun 2026 – 27 Nov 2026
- Ext3 TTE22-NMA-2151 RevB NationalMuseumofAustralia, Special Event, ACTON PeninsularoadworksLawson Cres intersection to NMA car park.11 Mar 2026 – 10 Dec 2026
- TTE24-CLREW-7405 - CMC - CLR2A - Compounds C1 & C2, Barrine Dr, ActonroadworksPublic car park located on the northern side of Corkhill Street (Block 24, Section 33 Canberra Central. Former Futsal Soccer Ground).Public car park located on the southern side of Corkhill Street. (Block 1, Section 95 Canberra Central).13 Oct 2024 – 28 May 2027
- TTE24-CMC-OP2-01- 12 - CMC - LR2a - Phase 01 Section 2 - Operational Road Closure Albert St WestroadworksAlbert Street (western entrance) (both directions): between Barrine Drive and Commonwealth Avenue.8 pm - 6 am (nightly as required) Monday to Sunday.02 Apr 2025 – 04 Feb 2027
- The Golden Oar 2026roadworksJohn Cardiff Close - Northbound and southbound from the designated carpark adjacent to the Red Shed Rowing Club.29 Oct 2026 – 01 Nov 2026
- ANU Preschool & Childcare Centrechildcarekindergarten
- Acton Early Childhood Centre - 1BchildcareBalmain Crescentkindergarten
- Acton Early Childhood Centre - 1CchildcareBalmain Crescentkindergarten
- CSIROCare Black MountainchildcareClunies Ross Streetchildcare
- Cubby House on Campuschildcarechildcare
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
More in Unincorporated ACT Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory or interstate.