Watson

Watson is a suburb of Canberra in the North Canberra district. Watson is named after the third Prime Minister of Australia, John Christian Watson. He was the first prime minister from the Australian Labour Party (the spelling of ‘Labour’ was changed to ‘Labor’ in 1912), and the first Labour Party prime minister in the world. The suburb name was gazetted on 7 April 1960, with the streets named after Australian judges and other legal professionals.

Located in Watson is a local shopping centre and several schools, television studios and motels. The former Watson High School now houses the Canberra Technology Park, which includes the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) as a tenant as well as Megalo Print Studio and Gallery and a C3 Church campus. Rosary Catholic Primary School is located in Watson, as is the Signadou campus of the Australian Catholic University. There is also Majura Primary School (originally Watson Primary School), which is well known for its annual Spring Carnival.

One of Canberra’s two former drive-in theatres, the Starlight Drive-in, was located on the Federal Highway in Watson. The site has now been redeveloped as a medium-density housing complex, although the drive-in’s sign remains.

Also located in the suburb are the Southern Cross Ten and Prime television studios, The Ted Noffs Foundation, Canberra Carotel (motel and caravan park), Red Cedars motel, Formule 1 Motel, Australian Heritage Village (now closed and approved for new housing), Canberra Potters Society, and a Caltex service station.

Watson is bordered by the Federal Highway, Phillip Avenue and Antill Street.