Braddon

Braddon is an inner north suburb of Canberra.  Braddon is named after Sir Edward Braddon, a Federalist, legislator and a participant in the writing of the Australian Constitution. Streets in Braddon are named after various things including legislators, pioneers and aboriginal words.

Located north of the Canberra CBD, Braddon contains a commercial area centred on Mort and Lonsdale streets, which run parallel to Northbourne Avenue. The area includes several small art galleries, car rental agencies, a few mid-market restaurants, cafes and bars, trendy gift and clothes shops, as well as several sprawling car dealerships, liquor stores, a video store and a Centrelink office. The most popular predominantly working-class pub in and around the city area, The Civic Pub, is also located in Braddon. There are also a number of low-rise office blocks in the suburb, including the Canberra offices of News Corporation and Colmar Brunton and the headquarters of the ACT division of the Australian Labor Party.

Away from the commercial areas, much of the previously suburban housing in Braddon has been replaced with apartment buildings which are popular for some due to their relatively close proximity to the City. Fenner Hall a residence of the Australian National University is located along NorthbourneAvenue. The suburb is socially mixed with its population including many younger professionals and students, along with some recipients of public housing assistance. Some traditional single-family homes do remain where the suburb borders Ainslie and Dickson.

Braddon was originally a light industrial area and included The Canberra Times printer. Ainslie school is located in Braddon, which is one of the oldest schools in Canberra, having opened in 1927. There are also a major sports oval, a clay-court tennis club and bowling club in the suburb.

Merici College, an all-girl private school, is also located in Braddon.