The 5 homes that capture the very essence of Queanbeyan

The Crestwood castle

Crestwood (the fancy name given to West Queanbeyan) is a magnificent display of second and third generation Macedonian, Italian and Greek architecture. Dream homes belonging to the children of immigrants who came from eastern Europe to build Canberra. Think two and three-storey brick dwellings with giant verandahs held up by thin Greek Corinthian columns, concrete front and back lawns and flourishing vegetable gardens.

Upstairs lives mum, dad and the kids, while the self-contained flats underneath house many a Baba and Dedo, Oma and Opa, Yiayia and Papou.

Living among the steep streets Crestwood means you always have plenty of lemons, zucchinis and peppers from your neighbours over the fence.

Check out this Crestwood beauty located close to the Roos Club.

The Karabar housing commish 

In the late 1960s and early 70s, housing commission dwellings were popping in south Queanbeyan in droves, from Margaret street to Karri Crescent. Humble homes on giant blocks (by today's standards), with heaps of room for the kids to kick a footy and roller skate down the driveway. 

The homes were built to five standardised floorplans, meaning your neighbours and nearby friends often live in the exact same layout as your own house. The houses originally had tiny kitchens with adjacent dining rooms, one bathroom and three shoebox-sized bedrooms. The living area was almost always right behind the front door which meant the kids could peak out through the curtains from the lounge to see who was at the door. 

Check out this forrmer housing commission home that's had a cute makeover.

The East Queanbeyan bungalow 

Smack bang in the middle of East Queanbeyan you'll find streets lined with fibro bungalows from the 1950s and early 60s, most of which were transported on the back of a truck from Captains Flat.

When the lead and zinc mine closed at the 'Flat in 1962, young miners and their families came streaming into Queanbeyan to find work and make a new life. The 'Flat families became neighbours along High Street (now Buttle Street), O'Neill Place and Mulloon Street.

If you grew up in a home from the 'Flat you'll remember the scratchy woollen carpet and the trauma of outdoor toilets and laundries in winter!

Live in an apartment built directly behind an original row of bungalows.

The Greenleigh 80s dream house 

Greenleigh was the 'rural but only four mimutes from Woolies' dream of Queanbeyan families in the 1980s. Newly-built homes on two (or more) acre blocks surrounded by the bush. Mansions with pools, internal garages, multiple bathrooms (usually with a spa bath) and sweeping views.

The architecture was absolute peak late 80s: think vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, slate tile floors, glass bricks, cream carpets, atriums and timber everything. More was more and sunken living rooms and split levels were coveted. 

From Severne Street to Lonergan Drive and all the way down to Beston Place, you'd see BMWs parked in the gravel driveways of the mansions while the kids roamed freely in the bush that was their own backyard. 

Build your dream home on this block in The Kingsway.

The Jerrabomberra palace 

While the nation celebrated the bicentennary, Queanbeyan built its first homes north of Southbar Road: in a new suburb with a new postcode, no less.

It was where you moved when you'd 'made it' - i.e. dad had worked in the public service or military long enough for the family to upgrade to a brand new, sprawling four-bedroom brick home with huge bedrooms, a double or triple garage and, in many cases, a pool.

In a move that truly divided the classes, Jerrabomberra got its own postcode (not even Googong - 10km away - was granted its own postcode). 'We're not from Queanbeyan,' they continue to declare to this very day.

Here's what a Jerrabomberra palace looks like in 2023.