The Watson Community Association produces a quarterly newsletter which is delivered by volunteers to every street address in Watson.
From Edition 124 (Winter 2025) this newsletter has moved to a hybrid version, with the traditional printed Watzon complemented by an online version. Scroll down for the latest edition, or skip to the bottom of the page for an archive of over 10 years of the Watzon.
The Watzon is produced and distributed by a volunteer team.
We are permitted by our constitution and policies to accept advertising from businesses within a one suburb radius of Watson - Hackett, Downer and Mitchell. Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the WCA. While we don't charge a fee, we do suggest a suitable donation.
Contributions of articles for Watzon can be sent to the editing team at watzoneditor@gmail.com.
Unfortunately the Australian Catholic University is no longer able to continue the free printing service we have enjoyed for many years. The WCA committee has decided to switch to a hybrid model with print and online versions of the Watzon, and is continuing to explore funding options for future editions. You can support the printing of the Watzon by donating to our Go Fund Me - just click this link or the image below to get started.
Watzon 127
Autumn 2026
The Watson Community Association Inc. acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Canberra and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from across Australia now call Canberra home, and we celebrate their cultures, diversity and contributions to the ACT and region.
What's new in the online version of Watzon?
We're continuing to add things in the online Watzon that we can't fit into our printed version. From this edition, we've added a section to promote goings on in the Watson arts community. You'll also find the property sales here as usual, plus a few more photos than in the printed version. If there's something else you'd like us to include, please let us know.
Here's what's in this edition (click to go directly to a section):
Three Steps to Building Community in Your Street
Growing Community, Growing Nature
The Archive - 10+ Years of Watzon
Please note that the views expressed in this Newsletter are those of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the views of the Watson Community Association.
Welcome From Your Chair
By Merinda Nash
Chair of Watson Community Association
Happy autumn everyone.
The crisp mornings have started, the gorgeous Canberra autumn is on its way. F**k I love this time of year in Watson. People jogging at sunset on Mt Majura, families having street parties, perfect walking weather. Folks out and about and taking time to chat and engage in their community. Yes, we are very lucky to live here.
And being that time of year.... the Annual Watson Community Day is on again, coinciding with World Neighbour Day. Bookmark lunchtime Sunday 29 March to come along for a sausage sizzle, catch up with your neighbours and join in the kids activities. Local businesses and crafters are welcome to set up a stall- email us to arrange this.
On a more serious note, firebombing is not ok. Nor is home invasion to steal car keys and the car. Watson has had both in the past month. No-one was physically hurt in either awful incident, but, while I wish it were otherwise, these incidents are a reminder that personal safety can never be taken for granted.
The WCA community-safety sub-group will be advocating to the ACT government to ensure that Watson residents’ safety is on their agenda, particularly for the more vulnerable in our community. Many public housing tenants are not always feeling lucky to live here, living in fear of being collateral damage in the local drug wars playing out in ACT housing buildings. And this is not ok. Please reach out via the WCA email if you are interested in helping, or with examples you’d like us to include in our advocacy.
The WCA AGM is on Tuesday 21 April, 7.30pm. All are welcome, and if you are interested in joining the committee please reach out before hand to find out more about what is involved. Hope to see you all at the community day. And for new residents- look out for the regular Welcome to Watson event at the Knox on Sunday, 22 March 2026.
Editor’s Note
By Nora C. | Editor of Watzon Newsletter
Recent updates from Friends of Mount Majura (FoMM) and observant neighbours suggest the dams on Mount Majura are sitting at low levels after the long, hot summer. You may have noticed wildlife seeking water closer to home. I’ve certainly become more diligent about topping up the bird bath, which has even attracted a few curious kangaroos (much to my dogs’ alarm from behind the window!). To be honest, the water in the bird bath isn’t much, but hopefully it provides some respite during the hot weather.
Three Steps To Build Community In Your Street
By Simone Abbot
Step 1: Type up invites saying something like:
‘Feel free to drop by at [address] on [date], between [allow 1-2 hours], to share a friendly coffee/tea and a chat! BYO cake, fruit or biscuits to share if you like.’
Print the invites off, handwrite your name to personalise them and deliver to mailboxes in your street.
Step 2: Boil your kettle and set up cups.
Step 3: Enjoy! And ask everyone if they’d like to join a WhatsApp group.
Watson Buzz - Plant Flowers!
By Aileen Conroy
🐝 Pollinating insects eat nectar which only comes from flowers.
🐝 Different plants flower at different times of the year. If your garden has no flowers or only a few of types of plants, the pollinators may have nothing to eat for the remainder of the year.
🐝 The popularity of minimalist, easy-care gardens with fake grass and flowerless hedges is resulting in “POLLINATOR DESERT” which threatens our food supply.
🐝 Suggestions (from Leslie Davis) for a low maintenance garden which brings joy:
Cover the soil with many dense diverse ground covers allowing little space for weeds.
Allow it to naturalise rather than be controlled.
Create well-defined paths to invite human access amongst the flowers.
Potter regularly to maintain and observe the wonderland of insects whilst connecting with your neighbours.
🐝 Reduce your workload and cost by choosing perennial plants which last for years. Some easy to grow, small perennial plants with blue/ purple flowers are Lavender, Rosemary, Salvia and Borage. It assists pollinators to locate them if you plant them in groups to cover about a metre.
🐝 Native ground covers popular with bees include Boobialla and Hardenbergia Violacea (Happy Wanderer).
🐝 There were lots of honeybee swarms in Canberra in spring. It’s a bee colony’s natural way to reproduce. Beekeepers try to minimise swarming by closely observing their hives and if they see that the colony is raising Queen cells they either provide more space by adding another box or split the hive into 2 colonies: one with the ‘old’ Queen and allow the colony to raise a new queen to replace her.
Enjoy the Watson Buzz? Representatives of the Canberra Region Beekeepers Association and (we hope) ACT for Bees will be at Watson Day on 29 March
Community Safety Updates
By Michael Cook | WCA Community Safety Sub-group
We all love our suburb and appreciate the positive neighbourhood connections that make our community so special. But over the past two years, Watson residents have become increasingly concerned about a rise in antisocial and criminal behaviour.
In response, WCA has been actively engaged with the ACT Government to reduce and deter crime in the local area. This has involved WCA successfully lobbying Ministers and Police to implement community safety and health measures, increase patrols and set up police information stalls. Watson Community Day was also established in 2024 for the community to meet and chat with our MLAs and support services (as well as fun stalls, performances and activities), which has proven very popular.
There has thankfully been a reported decrease in antisocial behaviour around the shops and other public areas over recent months, but you may be aware of some ongoing criminal activity, including car thefts and an alleged arson at a unit at Windeyer Court in January.
To combat this activity, WCA has created a dedicated community safety committee, which is currently finalising a set of practical, achievable actions for the coming year. If you would like to raise general concerns or ideas to improve community safety, or if you want to contribute to the committee, please email watsoncommunityassociation666@gmail.com Attn: Community Safety.
Growing Community, Growing Nature
By Ruth Palmer and Kristi Stinson | Friends of Watson Greenspace (FOWGS)
The Friends of Watson Greenspace (FOWGS) urban park care group cares for the nature corridor and open greenspace that connects Aspinall Street to Antil Street and Mount Majura Reserve in Watson.
The group’s priority during 2025/26 has been holding working bees around the Billabong pond area, near Aspinall Street, to maintain new native plantings made possible through an ACT “Connecting Nature, Connecting People” grant. The local native plantings support biodiversity, including frog, reptile, and bird life. A big thankyou goes to the ACT Government for providing a water cube, mulch and some equipment to assist with this.
In September last year, the FOWGS group hosted a Ngunnawal Cultural Session in the Justice Robert Hope Park, led by Ngunnawal Elder, Uncle Wally Bell (supported by Molonglo Conservation Group). It was a fascinating morning, discussing the rich cultural history of the area, and culminating in finding a historic scar tree in the reserve.
The FOWGS have also been working with the Molonglo Conservation Group to monitor and support the Krefft’s gliders living in the Green Space, as well as working with the ACT Government Tree Unit to protect vulnerable trees in the area.
FOWGS meet for working bees on the 3rd Sunday morning of each month from 9:30-11:30am at the Billabong pond (behind the Canberra Potters) on Aspinall Street. It’s a great way to meet the locals - kids seem to enjoy helping and playing as well! Check out the group’s Facebook page for more information or contact Kristi (0498 535 224) or Ruth (0428 380 702).
What's Happening in the Watson Art Scene?
Gallery of Small Things
27 Wade Street
Autumn Program
-
5 - 16 March, Art in Miniature - miniature paintings, Group show (17 Canberra artists)
-
26 March - 6 April, Melissa Hammond, Carte Postale en Pastel, solo exhibition (Canberra artist from Watson)
-
23 April - 4 May, Indigenous artist Amanda Westley, From Victor Harbor, SA to Canberra, solo exhibition (Ngarrindjeri artist)
Regular Opening Hours Thursdays to Mondays, 11-5pm and by appointment
Contact: Mobile 0422 263 533, Email gostcbr@gmail.com, Website galleryofsmallthings.com/exhibition
Canberra Potters Society
1 Aspinall Street
Exhibitions
Collected Works from Bemboka Gallery
A curated selection of up to 60 ceramic vessels, tableware and sculptures from the 1950s to 2025.
(many works available for sale)
27 March to 26 April 2026
Preview evening 26 March 6-8pm
Gathered Time
An exhibition of ceramics & sculptures by ANU graduate Lisa Stevenson
27 March to 26 April 2026
Preview evening 26 March 6-8pm
[Un]common Ground
19 June to 19 July 2026
Renowned visiting ceramicists, Paul Davis and Jacquie Clayton, present selected works from 50 years of ceramic practice including tableware and vessels
Preview 18 June 6-8pm
Visiting hours
Monday closed
Tuesday to Friday 10am – 4pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am – 2pm
Workshops & Classes
Offered throughout the year. Check website for details and booking deadlines.
Entry to all previews and exhibitions is free, unless noted otherwise.
General enquiries to admin@canberrapotters.com.au
Watson Property Sales
Kindly Provided by Home by Holly
Address | Price |
|---|---|
1/27 Whitmore Crescent | $535,000 |
10/1 Buninyong Street | $479,900 |
10/157 Knox Street | $400,000 |
10/3 Buninyong Street | $479,900 |
10B/109 Knox Street | $385,000 |
11/23 Tay Street | $475,000 |
12/10 Federal Highway | $710,000 |
13A Negus Crescent | $720,000 |
14 Beechworth Street | $712,500 |
147/395 Antill Street | $560,000 |
15 Burnside Street | $1,260,000 |
15A Negus Crescent | $860,000 |
171/395 Antill Street | $580,000 |
19 Bettie McNee Street | $921,500 |
19 Holroyd Street | $1,254,000 |
2/271 Antill Street | $400,000 |
24/111 Knox Street | $385,000 |
26 Simpson Street | $1,400,000 |
28/14 Federal Highway | $690,000 |
30/20 Federal Highway | $430,000 |
32 Phippard Court | $1,200,000 |
34/1 Buninyong Street | $619,900 |
36 McCawley Street | $1,975,000 |
4 Stow Place | $1,175,000 |
4/15 Aspinall Street | $780,000 |
4/156 Knox Street | $380,000 |
42 Mary Kitson Street | $1,255,000 |
42/1 Buninyong Street | $612,500 |
44 Tay Street | $726,000 |
44 Williams Street | $1,300,000 |
45 Bettie McNee Street | $948,000 |
45 Irvine Street | $1,597,000 |
47 Negus Crescent | $1,260,000 |
48 Knox Street | $967,000 |
48/21 Aspinall Street | $467,000 |
48/215 Aspinall Street | $910,000 |
48/395 Antill Street | $910,000 |
48/45 Negus Crescent | $873,000 |
48/67 Negus Crescent | $873,000 |
59/3 Buninyong Street | $459,000 |
67 Tay Street | $724,500 |
7/11A Negus Crescent | $860,000 |
81 Negus Crescent | $1,600,000 |
9/15 Aspinall Street | $755,000 |
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