The suburb of Forrest is in the shape of a wedge adjacent to the central circle of Canberra, Australia, called Capital Hill, and is an affluent residential area of the city. Its streets follow geometric patterns planned by the first architects of Canberra, and it is one of the few suburbs created in accordance to its original design. It is home to only 1,500 people and is one of the most expensive and privileged locations in all of Australia.
The area of Forrest is full of natural beauty, with the most prominent space being Collins Park, which has spectacular forested walkways and is the best place to relax and enjoy vast views over Canberra. The suburban streets are also full of interest as many objects like street signs and footpaths remain from the original construction of the city in the 1920s and reveal the architecture of the Garden City style. St Andrew’s Church Precinct is another architectural attraction, which has stained glass windows, designed by the original artists of the city, dating back over 80 years. The area is also famous for its Christmas lights and houses in Forrest have won Guinness World Records for their elaborate displays, which visitors should witness if travelling during the winter holidays.
Visitors can easily access Forrest due to its proximity to Capital Hill and Parliament House, as many regular local buses travel to Melbourne Avenue, the main road on the edge of the suburb. It is only a six-minute drive to Canberra city centre, or, if visitors want to soak up the surrounding suburbs, they can walk to downtown in just over an hour or 20 minutes by bike.
When officials first created Canberra, Forrest was the residential area of senior public servants, most of whom moved to the new capital city from Melbourne. The names of the streets in the area are after governors and explorers, and the title of the suburb is after Sir John Forrest, who was one of the founders of the Australian Constitution.