Forrest, Australian Capital Territory

In the 2021 census, the population of Forrest was 1,827; 0.4% were Indigenous and 72.1% were born in Australia. 36.5% of dwellings were separate houses (compared to the Australian average of 72.3%), 16.9% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses (Australian average: 12.6%) and 46.6% were flats, units or apartments (Australian average: 14.2%). 42.5% of the population were professionals, compared to the Australian average of 24.0%. 20.5% worked in central government administration, compared to the Australian average of 1.1% and the Canberra-wide average of 17.1%. The median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over was $1,816, compared to the median Australian income of $805. The weekly median family income was $4,532, as compared to the Australian weekly median family income of $2,120. [3]

Forrest Primary School is situated in Hobart Avenue in Forrest. It caters for students in years P-6. The students wear red and yellow. The school celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on 4 April 2008.

Forrest residents get preference for:[4]

• Forrest Primary
• Telopea Park School (for high school)
• Narrabundah College

The suburb includes part of the Manuka shopping centre. The suburb also contains a government run primary school.

Forrest together with the eastern part of Deakin and the northern part of Red Hill (sometimes called "old Deakin" and "old Red Hill"), represent the most prestigious residential area in Canberra. Most of the area is detached dwellings in which a 1600 m² block would be on the small side, and 2000 m² blocks are not atypical.

The view from Red Hill across Collins Park and Eastlake (now Kingston) about 1927 or 1928. Rous Crescent and Moresby Streets can be seen in the foreground

A similar view in November 2005

Bus shelter on Arthur Circle

Forrest includes several areas that are listed by the ACT Heritage Council, covering most of the suburb:

• The Blandfordia 4 Precinct, bounded by Arthur Circle, Moresby Street, Mugga Way, Melbourne Avenue and Empire Circuit, which was developed as three separate residential subdivisions between 1926 and 1965, on Garden City principles.[5]
• The Blandfordia 5 Precinct (this is mostly in Griffith, but includes houses north of Furneaux Street between Arthur Circle and Bougainville Street), the first stage of which was developed in 1926 and 1927 to meet the urgent need for housing for public servants for the opening of the provisional Parliament House in Canberra in 1927. It was planned by Sir John Sulman (and departs from Walter Burley Griffin's intent for the area) and the planting was guided by Thomas Charles Weston.[6]
• The Forrest Housing Precinct (bounded by National Circuit, Hobart Avenue, Arthur Circuit, Empire Circuit and Melbourne Avenue), a Garden City precinct that was mostly developed in 1926 and 1927.[7]
• The Forrest Fire Station Precinct, bounded by Canberra Avenue, Empire Circuit, Manuka Circle and Fitzroy Street, which was built in 1938.[8]
• Manning Clark's house, 11 Tasmania Circle, which was designed by Robin Boyd and is an early example of the Boyd Peninsula House design. It was the residence of the historian, Manning Clark.[9]
• The Burns Memorial, which has been a memorial for over 60 years, symbolising the contribution of those of Scottish descent to Australia's settlement and development and the loyalty and affection in which Scottish communities in Australia held the poet Robert Burns and Scotland at the time.[10]
• St Christopher's Cathedral Precinct, which has been the centre of Catholic worship and education in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn since 1928.[11]
• Federal Capital Commission (FCC) Type 15 House, 15 Arthur Circle, which was designed in 1926 and, according to the Heritage Council, "comprises the only example of a Federal Capital Commission (FCC) Type 15 residence to have been built in Canberra, being rare as both as a two-storey residence and demonstrating the architectural style of the English Arts and Crafts movement". It is one of four houses of the type that were designed by FCC architects under the influence of Charles Voysey, but the others have been substantially altered.[12]
• St Andrew's Church Precinct, which was opened in 1934 and is one of the largest and most ornate Inter-War Gothic style buildings in the ACT. It has stained glass windows by Norman Carter and John Radecki.[13]
• Free Serbian Orthodox Church, 32 National Circuit, is, according to the Heritage Council, "a successful modern reminder of traditional Serbian church planning." Its murals, which were produced by one elderly artist over a period of nearly 16 years, are also considered noteworthy.[14]

Notable people from or who have lived in Forrest include:

• John Cumpston, CMG, first Director-General of the Australia Department of Health
• Harry Wyatt Wunderly, instrumental in the management and reduction of tuberculosis

Mount Painter Volcanics dark grey to green grey dacitic tuff is found in all except the northeast side. There are a few outcrops of sediments in amongst the volcanics containing shale and sandstone. On the northeast a patch of Ordovician Pittman Formation greywacke outcrops along Canberra Avenue. Black Mountain Sandstone is near St Andrew's church in the north north east. Canberra Formation, calcareous shale is found in the north. The Deakin Fault runs from State Circle to Manuka separating the Mount Painter Volcanics from the other sediments.[19]