Median house price
—
No data available
ACT · Unincorporated ACT Council
Parkes, 2600
- Green suburb
- Cycling
- Café precinct
- Heritage area
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Parkes is a welcoming smaller community in Unincorporated ACT, with a settled community character. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Young professionals and new households shape much of the local mix.
Food and coffee punch above the usual for comparable suburbs, giving the suburb a lived-in social scene. Green space punches above what many comparable suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses linking the suburb to surrounding areas.
Housing sits in the middle of the local market: neither cheap nor premium. Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period.
At a glance
Parkes snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
—
No data available
Dwelling vacancy
—
No data available
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Safety
94th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
School ICSEA
96th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Population
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 0
- Median age
- 32
- Median household income / week
- $0
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 0 of 0
- Median monthly mortgage
- $0
- Employment rate
- 0%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 0 / 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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 49
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 26
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 129.3
- State safety percentile
- 93.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -48.3%
Most common offence types
- Assault - Non-Fv5
- Burglary Other2
- Other Offences17
- Property Damage7
- Theft (Excluding Motor Vehicles)14
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Quarterly XLSX release
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,153
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 96th
School list
- Telopea Park SchoolCombined · Government · ICSEA 1153 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 65% · 1,586 students · Top SEA quarter 65% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Amenities
1,333 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
4 restaurants · 14 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 bars · 1 libraries · 4 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Good local dining options — 20 food & drink venues nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 23 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 20 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 11 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 60/100
Food & drink(20)
- The JettyBar
- BookplateCafe
Parkes Place West
- Cafe ConstitutionCafe
Kings Avenue
- Catbird CafeCafe
- Chambers CafeCafe
- CoffersCafe
- Curio Press Espresso BarCafe
Wendouree Drive, Parkes
- Heritage CafeCafe
21 Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes
- Lava CoffeeCafe
- MargotCafe
- Mega Bites CafeCafe
- Portrait CafeCafe
- The Griff Coffee BarCafe
- The Jetty CafeCafe
- The Street CafeCafe
- Lager House by Capital Brewing CoPub
62 Constitution Avenue, Parkes
- Gandel HallRestaurant
- KOTORestaurant
1 King George Terrace
- Sculpture Garden RestaurantRestaurant
- Waters Edge RestaurantRestaurant
Community(1)
- National Library of AustraliaLibrary
Sport & outdoors(35)
- Canberra Peace ParkPark
- Commonwealth ParkPark
- Constitution PlacePark
- Fern GardenPark
- John Dunmore Lang PlacePark
- Kings ParkPark
- Lawns of Old Parliament HousePark
- Magna Carta PlacePark
- Marsh GardenPark
- Park (10)
- Patrick White LawnsPark
- Patrick White TerracePark
- Queen Elizabeth II IslandPark
- Sculpture GardenPark
- Picnic area
- BoundlessPlayground
- Playground (2)
- Stone FortPlayground
- Bowling GreenSports field
- House of Representatives CourtsSports field
18 King George Terrace
- Senate Tennis CourtsSports field
- Sports field
- Tennis Court 1Sports field
- Tennis Court 2Sports field
- Tennis Court 3Sports field
Entertainment(11)
- Canberra Contemporary Arts SpaceArts centre
- National Gallery of AustraliaArts centre
Parkes Place
- National Portrait GalleryArts centre
- Museum of Australian DemocracyMuseum
- National Archives of AustraliaMuseum
Kings Avenue, Parkes
- National Capital ExhibitionMuseum
- Theatre
- Anzac Parade LookoutViewpoint
- King's Avenue Bridge LookoutViewpoint
- Regatta Point LookoutViewpoint
- Viewpoint
Transport(20)
20 bus stops
Other(96)
- Angel of the NorthArtwork
- Artwork (13)
- Australian Citizenship AffirmationArtwork
- Burghers of CalaisArtwork
- Centenary of Women’s SuffrageArtwork
- ConesArtwork
- Dance of the SecateursArtwork
- DiamondsArtwork
- Domestic TurfArtwork
- EarthworkArtwork
- EinsteinArtwork
- Fire and WaterArtwork
- Floating FigureArtwork
- Fog SculptureArtwork
- Group of eight bronzesArtwork
- Gurindiji ManArtwork
- HeadArtwork
- Heads from the NorthArtwork
- Hill ArchesArtwork
- Ik ookArtwork
- John Curtin and Ben Chifley StatueArtwork
- KangaroosArtwork
- Mobius StripArtwork
- Number 751Artwork
- On the beach againArtwork
- Orangutan FootArtwork
- PenelopeArtwork
- Pukumani tutini [funerary posts]Artwork
- Robert MenziesArtwork
- Rock MusicArtwork
- Rock XylophoneArtwork
- Seated LadyArtwork
- Slit drumsArtwork
- Smooth SailingArtwork
- Sound PillarArtwork
- Speaker’s SquareArtwork
- SteelArtwork
- Szilassi PolyhedronArtwork
- Temple GateArtwork
- The AstronomerArtwork
- The MountainArtwork
- Two FiguresArtwork
- Two Piece Reclining Figure - No. 9Artwork
- VirginiaArtwork
- Walter Burley Griffin TerrazzoArtwork
- Within WithoutArtwork
- Aboriginal Tent EmbassyAttraction
- Australians of the Year WalkAttraction
- National CarillonAttraction
- National Gallery of AustraliaAttraction
- National Portrait GalleryAttraction
- QuestaconAttraction
King Edward Terrace
- Reconciliation PlaceAttraction
- Bbq (6)
- Bench (96)
- Pioneer Women of AustraliaBench
- Bicycle Parking (16)
- National Gallery of AustraliaBicycle Parking
- Bicycle rental
- Bleachers
- Boat Rental
- Paddle boatBoat Rental
- Common (5)
- High Court of AustraliaCourthouse
- Drinking water (20)
- Captain Cook Memorial JetFountain
- Centenary of Women's Suffrage FountainFountain
- Fountain (4)
- Treasury FountainFountain
- Broinowski Rose GardenGarden
- Garden (166)
- House of Representatives GardenGarden
- National Rose GardensGarden
- Rex Hazlewood Rose GardenGarden
- Canberra and Region Visitors CentreInformation
- Information (7)
- Parkes mapInformation
- Sculpture GardenInformation
- The Ram PaddockInformation
- Loading Dock
- Motorcycle Parking
- BookplateOutdoor Seating
- John Gorton Building East Multi-Level Car Park`Parking
- Old Parliament HouseParking
- Parking (41)
- Rond Terrace Short Stay Car Park (A05)Parking
- Parking Entrance (7)
- Parking Space (709)
- Picnic Table (21)
- Public toilets
- Shelter (16)
- Sybil Howy IrvingShelter
- Shower
- Stage 88Stadium
- Vending machine (28)
- Waste Basket (11)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
13 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Canberra Peace ParkPark
- Commonwealth ParkPark
- Constitution PlacePark
- Fern GardenPark
- John Dunmore Lang PlacePark
- Kings ParkPark
- Lawns of Old Parliament HousePark
- Magna Carta PlacePark
- Marsh GardenPark
- Patrick White LawnsPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 32
- Parks (OSM)
- 23
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Barton Private Hospital (1.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 1
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 2.6
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 171 mm · ~21 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 169 mm · ~21 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 12° / 1°
- Rainfall
- 183 mm · ~23 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from ACT planning register (lodged 2020–2026).
1 planning-related records
2022· 1 proposal
July 2022
- SUBCPARKES · CANBERRA CENTRALCompleted
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Active & completed development applications — ACT Planning · 2020–2026 · Updated
Roadworks & transport
14 active roadworks / incidents
- 26065 TCCS - Merchant Navy War Memorial Annual CommemorationWendouree Drive: from Kings Avenue - on Sunday, 18/10/26 from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Authorised Vehicles Excepted).17 Oct 2026 – 18 Oct 2026
- Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Upgrade Stage 1Commonwealth Avenue (northbound direction): from the Flynn Drive entry ramp to Albert Street.Flynn Drive entry ramp onto Commonwealth Avenue (northbound) will be closed to all vehicles except Transport Canberra buses and emergency vehicles.The northbound side of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge is anticipated to reopen to traffic by the end of December 2026 (weather permitting). Additional time is provided for contingency purposes.06 Jan 2026 – 12 Mar 2027
- Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Upgrade Stage 1Barrine Drive - will be closed in one direction: from Albert Street West / Henry Rolland Park to Albert Street East. 7am Monday 20 April 2026 - 7pm Friday 29 October 2027.19 Apr 2026 – 29 Oct 2027
- Ext TTE23-M01-5029 RevG, Manteena, OPH, King George Tce, ParkesParliament Square (east): from Queen Victoria Terrace to King George Terrace.Parliament Square (south): from Parliament Square (east) to Parliament Square (west).Parliament Square (west): from Queen Victoria Terrace to King George Terrace.19 Dec 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
- Resub - TTE24-CLREW-7291 - CMC - CLR2A - Early Works - King Edward Terrace, ParkesKing Edward Terrace (westbound): between Parkes Place East and Parkes Place West.9:30am - 4pm Monday to Friday as required.8pm - 6am (nightly) Sunday to Friday as required.King Edward Terrace (westbound): between Parkes Place West and Langton Crescent.9:30am - 4pm Monday to Friday as required.8pm - 6am (nightly) Sunday to Friday as required.27 Jan 2025 – 05 Feb 2027
- Rev TTE24-CMC-CB2-01-1-RevD - CMC - LR2a - Phase 01 Section 2 - Commonwealth Ave / Parkes WayCorkhill Street: between Barrine Drive and Commonwealth Avenue.28 Apr 2025 – 05 Feb 2027
- The Little Burley MarketsQueen Elizabeth Terrace - both directions: from Parkes Place West to Parkes Place East.06 Feb 2026 – 06 Feb 2027
- TTE24-CMC-CB2-01-1-RevA - CMC - LR2a - Phase 01 Section 2 - Commonwealth Ave / Parkes WayCorkhill Street: between Barrine Drive and Commonwealth Avenue.16 Feb 2025 – 05 Feb 2027
- TTE24-CMC-CB2-01-1-RevB - CMC - LR2a - Phase 01 Section 2 - Commonwealth Ave / Parkes WayCorkhill Street: between Barrine Drive and Commonwealth Avenue.16 Feb 2025 – 05 Feb 2027
- TTE24-CMC-OP2-01- 11 - CMC - LR2a - Phase 01 Section 2 - Operational Outbound Road Closure Albert St EastAlbert Street (eastern entrance): between Regatta Place and Commonwealth Avenue.8 pm - 6 am (nightly as required) Monday to Sunday.02 Apr 2025 – 04 Feb 2027
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
6 heritage places
- Aboriginal RecordingsKP PAD4 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsB14 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- National Rose Gardens 3 - Registered Places or Objects
- National Rose Gardens 3 - Registered Places or Objects
- National Rose Gardens 3 - Registered Places or Objects
- West Portal Cafeteria 3 - Registered Places or Objects
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Canberra
- Member of Parliament
- Alicia PAYNE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 102,942
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 23.6%Labor 76.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.9 km away).
Coalition 18.8%Labor 81.2%
4.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.3 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Parkes (Canberra)Labor 87.9% · Coalition 12.1% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- CampbellLabor 69.3% · Coalition 30.7% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- BartonLabor 77.3% · Coalition 22.7% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- Campbell NorthLabor 73.7% · Coalition 26.3% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- City (Canberra)Labor 81.4% · Coalition 18.6% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
This suburb ranks highly for
More in Unincorporated ACT Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.