Franklin, Australian Capital Territory

Franklin (postcode: 2913) is a suburb of Canberra, Australia in the district of Gungahlin. It is named after the novelist Miles Franklin. Most streets in Franklin are named after female Australian writers.^[2] It comprises an area of approximately 256 hectares. It is bounded by Flemington Road to the north and east, Well Station Drive to the south, and Gungahlin Drive to the west.^[3] Franklin is mainly a residential area with higher density, mixed-use development along Flemington Road including a local shopping centre and other retail and commercial tenancies.

Franklin Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Franklin wetlands
Franklin
Coordinates	35°12′00″S 149°08′33″E
Population	7,484 (SAL 2021)[1]
Established	2007
Postcode(s)	2913
Elevation	611 m (2,005 ft)
Area	2.3 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Location	11 km (7 mi) NNW of Canberra CBD 28 km (17 mi) NNW of Queanbeyan 85 km (53 mi) SW of Goulburn 282 km (175 mi) SW of Sydney
District	Gungahlin
Territory electorate(s)	Yerrabi
Federal division(s)	Fenner
Suburbs around Franklin: Palmerston Gungahlin Harrison Canberra Nature Park Franklin Harrison Crace Mitchell Kenny

Aerial view from north west in November 2009

Open space

The suburb of Franklin includes a number of large open spaces, linked by pedestrian and cyclist networks. These provide an ecological corridor for the movement of native wildlife^[3] and preserve the area's history.

• The Gubur Dhaura Heritage Park provides 360° views of the surrounding landscape and an ochre quarry site which are of cultural significance to the Ngunnawal people. Remains of the Red Hill pipeclay mine, Old Well Station Track and historical markers can also be found here;^[4]
• The Mulangarri and North Mitchell Grasslands;
• The Gungaderra Creek;
• Old Well Station Track which connects the Well Station Heritage Precinct (located in the neighbouring suburb of Harrison) with the Gungaderra Homestead, and Gubur Dhaura Red Hill Heritage Site through to the Gungahlin Town Centre.

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the population of Franklin was 6,419, including 75 (1.1%) Indigenous persons and 3,129 (49.2%) Australian-born persons.^[5] 11.1% were born in China, 7.2% in India, 2.9% in South Korea, 2.2% in Sri Lanka, and 2.2% in Vietnam.^[5] In the 2011 census, 44.4% of the population was foreign born, the third highest for any Canberra suburb.^[6]

Transport

Light rail

Franklin is served by three Canberra Metro light rail stations: Manning Clark North, Mapleton Avenue and Nullarbor Avenue. All three stations are located on Flemington Road and opened in April 2019.^[7]

Buses

Franklin is serviced by several ACTION bus routes. Route 18 passes through the north of the suburb, while routes 21 and 22 provide connections through the south.^[8][9]

Geology

See also: Geology of the Australian Capital Territory

Franklin is underlaid mostly by the Canberra Formation mudstone or volcanics from the late middle Silurian age.^[10]

Education

Franklin residents get preference for:^[11]

• Franklin Early Childhood School
• A shared PEA of Harrison School and Palmerston District Primary
• Harrison School
• Gungahlin College