FYSHWICK, ACT
ONCE AN industrial hub and the topic of hushed conversations, the ACT’s Fyshwick is being REINVENTED thanks to a band of forward-thinking ENTREPRENEURS and a FEAST of new delights. Long-time LOCAL Christine Aldred reveals some of its HIGHLIGHTS.
IN DECADES PAST, Fyshwick had quite the reputation. You’d find adult stores, ladies of the night and firework sellers galore, but you’d be hard pressed to get a decent coffee. Now an urban reinvention is taking place and some of the city’s most energetic innovators are heading just south of the city to create a new and exciting enclave of good food, emporiums and enterprise, alongside some of the stalwarts.
Fyshwick isn’t Canberra’s prettiest suburb, which is no surprise given its past. It once housed the Molonglo Internment Camp, built in 1918 in the fever-pitch days following the First World War. The plan to house thousands of German and Austrian nationals was short-lived and instead came hundreds of families from recently closed camps in New South Wales. When those families were deported the following year the camp closed, but the streets that serviced it remained to become those of Fyshwick.
In the early days of growing a brand-new city, the suburb was slated as a light industrial area and large commercial sites saw manufacturers, distributors and mechanics move in. Many streets bear the names of industrial towns as a nod to the area’s beginnings.
Far from the world of shopping malls, Fyshwick is dotted with surprising finds and unique traders. It’s a place where new meets old, with interesting pairings and unlikely neighbours. The light industry continues, but a rebirth is occurring.
“It’s the vibrancy of the mix here that draws people: the bespoke next to the chain, the handcrafted next to the manufactured,” says Rebekah of vintage fashion store Material Pleasures. “Plus, you can’t underestimate the lure of free street parking.”
It’s an area Rebekah knows well. Her family has been associated with Fyshwick for decades, having bought one of the original blocks of land in Barrier Street auctioned in 1966 on the ‘other side of the railway’.
But it’s not just the old hands who inhabit this suburb, or visit. A new generation is being drawn here by new offerings, putting Fyshwick high on the hip list. For example, warehouse-laden Dairy Flat Road in particular has been reimagined, and now houses a collection of fresh faces, including a pop-up food and wine event, Forage, as well as a drink-in brewery.
Laurence Kain, one half of the founding team at Capital Brewery Co., is excited at the area’s potential. “Fyshwick’s a perfect spot for us, with room enough to allow us to grow our production, but close enough to stay connected to the community and allow us to offer a whole experience for our customers. We love it here.”
The future of Fyshwick is looking bright as it continues to evolve. Move over, Braddon: Fyshwick’s on the move.