Things people simply don't know about life in Sutton, NSW

Sutton resident Lisa Doble describes driving home to her tiny village at the end of the day as “like that feeling you get when you hit the bottom of the Clyde Mountain — you start to go into full relaxation mode”.

“You sit up straighter, breathe deeper and you feel the stress in your shoulders drop,” Lisa says.

“It’s the best feeling in the world.”

The tiny village of Sutton, population 1,556, was established in the 1860s and is located just 19km from the Canberra city centre. It’s rural living in all its glory: the amenities include a pharmacy (which also stocks a small range of groceries), a post office, monthly markets and a bakery that’s popular with lycra-clad cyclists on the weekend.

Houses in Sutton village range from rambling older huts to sleek modern builds and sit on big blocks packed with every animal you can imagine: donkeys, alpacas, sheep, horses and cows. Street lights are scarce, so you sleep at night “under the brightest moon and even brighter stars,” Lisa says.

“The best part is, I can go out to dinner in Dickson, to a Raiders game or to the racing at Thoroughbred Park and I’m home in about 15 minutes.”

Other things people don’t know about life in Sutton.

The Eagle Hawk is your local.

The Eagle Hawk Hotel on the Federal Highway draws in a diverse crowd: mostly because you can cook your own steak on the stone grill.

“It’s definitely got character,” Lisa says.

“From tradies who are staying at the hotel and working in Canberra, to people from the surrounding districts, and don’t forget there are some very wealthy property owners out our way as well, so it’s a real mix.”

You can have goats as pets.

They’re not just cute, they help maintain your yard as well. Lisa had Bondi and Bronte (pictured above) before re-homing them. “I’m thinking about getting a couple more,” she says. “My yard could do with some tidying up and they’re brilliant for that.”

You can’t get Uber Eats.

But you can get your groceries delivered, and call the post office (where the owner greets everyone by name) to see if your Shein parcel has arrived yet.

You’re in a different council area, depending which side of the Federal Highway you live on.

Those who live on the north side of the Federal Highway vote in the Yass Valley Council elections, while those on the southside live in Queanbeyan-Palerang. All Sutton residents have the same postcode as Queanbeyan: 2620.

Your petrol costs the same as someone who lives in Tuggeranong.

“The distance between Sutton and Civic, and Tuggeranong and Civic is about the same – 20 kilometres,” Lisa says. “People always ask how I can afford the petrol, living in the country, but it’s a non-issue.”

Staying in the city feels loud.

“You get used to the quiet,” Lisa says. “And you can hear so much wildlife in Sutton, especially birds. We’ll get people on motorbikes on the weekend heading to the bakery but that’s it. If there’s ever a siren the whole town stops and goes, what's going on?

“Whereas when I stay in town now, with family or friends, the noise feels constant. It’s noisy in Canberra, man!”

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