Forrest, ACT 2603 — Suburb Profile
Last reviewed: · By Knowburb Research Team
In short
Forrest is a suburb of Australian Capital Territory, postcode 2603, home to 1,827 residents with a settled, mature community. Located in the Unincorporated ACT local government area and roughly 2 km from the Canberra CBD.
Snapshot
Demographics
- Population
- 1,827
- Median age
- 47 years
- Median household income
- $3,363 /week
- Median personal income
- $1,816 /week
- Median family income
- $4,532 /week
- Average household size
- 2.2
- Persons per bedroom
- 0.8
- Local government area
- Unincorporated ACT
- Statistical region (SA4)
- Australian Capital Territory
- Remoteness classification
- Major Cities of Australia
- Federal electorate
- Canberra
Property & cost of living
- Median rent
- $570 /week
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,520
- Rent share of household income
- 17%
Schools
- Canberra Grammar School
- Canberra Grammar School - Junior school campus
- Canberra Grammar School - Southside - early childhood campus
- St Bede's Primary
- Red Hill Primary
Transport
- Within 800 m walk: 3 bus stops
- Within 1.6 km: 7 bus stops
- Canberra Junior Grammar School Alexander St
- Canberra Senior Grammar School Golden Gr
- Nuyts St
- Astrolabe St Red Hill PS
- Carnegie Cr After La Perouse St
Lifestyle & amenities
- 5 cafés
- 12 restaurants
- 1 pub or bar
- 66 parks and reserves
- 4 libraries
- 2 supermarkets
- 21 playgrounds
Climate
- Warmest month: Jan (30.0°C avg max)
- Coolest month: Jul (12.8°C avg max)
- Annual rainfall: 636 mm
- Reference station: Canberra Airport, 7.1 km away
NBN & connectivity
Fibre to the Building serves 28.2% of the 1,358 resolvable premises in Forrest. Most premises here are in apartment buildings served by fibre to the basement and existing in-building copper. Real-world speeds depend on the in-building wiring.
- Fibre to the Premises: 21.1%
- Fibre to the Curb: 23.9%
- Fibre to the Building: 28.2%
- Fibre to the Node: 26.8%
Safety
- Recorded offences: 67 across Forrest in the year to Q4 2025 (up 8% on the prior year).
- Most common categories: 21 other offences, 18 theft, 11 property damage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Forrest?
Forrest (ACT 2603) had 1,827 residents at the most recent ABS Census. The median age is 47. It sits within the Unincorporated ACT local government area.
What is the median rent in Forrest?
The median advertised rent in Forrest is $570/week, based on SQM Research listings data. Rents vary by property type, bedrooms and condition.
Are there schools in Forrest?
Yes — 5 schools are listed within or near Forrest covering independent, government sectors. Nearest include: Canberra Grammar School (0.1 km), Canberra Grammar School - Junior school campus (0.2 km), Canberra Grammar School - Southside - early childhood campus (0.2 km). School data sourced from ACARA and state education departments.
What NBN technology is available in Forrest?
Forrest is predominantly served by Fibre to the Building (28.2% of premises). Coverage data is sourced from the NBN upgrade map aggregated from NBN Co address checks.
How safe is Forrest?
Across the surrounding area, 67 offences were recorded in the 12 months to Q4 2025. The most common offence categories were other (21), theft (18), property damage (11). Crime statistics are recorded by area (postcode or LGA), not by individual suburb. Data sourced from each state's crime statistics agency.
What is the climate like in Forrest?
In Forrest, mean daily temperatures range from 6.8°C to 21.1°C and annual rainfall is 636 mm measured at the Canberra Airport weather station (7.1 km away). Long-term averages from the Bureau of Meteorology.
What public transport options are in Forrest?
7 public transport stops are mapped within 1.6 km of the Forrest centroid. Within 800 m, you'll find 3 bus stops. Stop data is sourced from state government GTFS feeds.
Sources & methodology
Demographics from ABS Census. Property data from SQM Research. Climate from Bureau of Meteorology. Schools from ACARA. NBN from NBN Co. Amenities from OpenStreetMap. See full methodology.
Additional sources for this profile: