Guide to living in Googong, NSW

If Googong is not yet a familiar place, that’s going to change! 

A recently developed township located just south of the Australian Capital Territory, Googong is in the process of changing from farmland to a collection of small townships. 

Let’s find out all there is to know about Googong, NSW.

Where is Googong? Is Googong in NSW or ACT?

Googong is located just south of Queanbeyan, meaning that it sits just outside the Australian Capital Territory. It’s so close to Canberra that Googong is located only 16 kilometres from Canberra’s Central Business District. 

The new suburb of Googong is also only 10 kilometres from Queanbeyan, 20 kilometres from Canberra Airport and, in the eastern direction, less than a 2 hour drive to the beautiful coastal town of Batemans Bay.

It’s definitely Googong NSW, not Googong ACT. However, despite being officially citizens of New South Wales, because this new area is located so close to the ACT border, ‘Googongians’ will look to the Australian capital city for work and broader shopping and leisure experiences. 

A brief history of Googong

Googong is named after a large farming property that was built around 1845. The origin of the name is not clear however it is likely to be a Ngunnawal word, possibly meaning ‘a place to relax’. If this is true, what an ideal meaning for the location of a new home!

The transition from farmland to township started when the NSW Government recommended the area for rezoning, a move that was approved in 2009. The first new residents (fondly known locally as ‘Goongonians’) moved in during 2014, meaning that 2024 was the 10-year anniversary!

How big is Googong? The townships cover around 780 hectares.

Who lives in Googong?

A growing number of people are calling Googong home! With 7,000 people already living in Googong, this population is forecasted to grow to over 18,000 people. They’ll be spread across houses within each of the five neighbourhoods that combine to make-up Googong as a whole.

New shopping, schooling, leisure and other amenities and infrastructure is well advanced in order to support the development of this thriving township. There’s many good reasons why Googong was awarded the ‘Best Masterplanned Community’ by the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

Googong’s environmental credentials are also award-winning, with the community’s waste and water management earning a 5-star Green Star. Is Googong good for solar panels? The region’s sunny weather makes Googong an ideal place for your own environmental initiatives, including solar panels. 

Schools in and near Googong

There are currently two schools right in the heart of Googong township, with a third coming soon. 

Googong Public Primary School is a future-focused, purpose-built school at 241 Gorman Drive, offering quality education for K-6 students. It’s only been open since 2023 so is one of the newest public schools around!

The Anglican School Googong is located just down the road at 136 Gorman Drive. It’s a K-12 school with the bonus of an on-site Early Learning Centre that’s been operational since 2015. 

In the planning stages is Googong High School, to be located at 200 Wellsvale Drive, is forecast to open at the start of 2027. Handily for families with children of multiple ages, this high school will be only a few minutes drive from Googong Public School.

There are also childcare services and, for the older end of the education age range, Canberra universities and other tertiary study options are within easy reach.

Leisure, eating and shopping in and near Googong

Even though Canberra is under half-an-hour away, there will soon be no reason to have to leave Googong (if you don’t want to)! For a start, Googong is surrounded by nature, with Googong Dam and surrounding trails for walking, biking, swimming, kayaking and fishing. 

Even within the town, there will be plenty of greenspace (echoing the nearby Canberra in its parks-within-the-city design style). There are already playgrounds, including an all-abilities park and dog parks, and more are planned.

Googong North already has a Village Centre, complete with an IGA supermarket, cafes and eateries, a gym, health clinic, beauty services, pharmacy and community centre. There’s even a vet for your Googongian pet. 

Coming soon - with openings planned across 2025 to 2027 - are two other supermarkets that are in development, as well as more shopping and eating options. 

Plus, there will be community lifestyle options for all ages: a local library, an indoor sports centre, outdoor playing fields and a community garden. Residents are welcomed and given fun opportunities to connect with each other through various festivals and events.

Ready to consider Googong for your home? Check out our Ready Built homes in Googong that are available right now. With Ready Built, there’s no need to wait for approvals or the building process. The high-quality, family-friendly houses are ready for you to choose from, then personalise once you’ve moved in. 

Rawson Ready Built means you can make your move to Googong a reality as soon as you’re ready! See our home selections on our Googong page today.

FAQs

Where is Googong, NSW?

Googong is a new township located in New South Wales, just south of Queanbeyan, outside the border of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The year 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the first ‘Googonians’ moving into their new home. 

What are the benefits of living in Googong?

Living in Googong brings all the benefits of a planned and newly constructed community nestled within nature. Though Googong is located only 30 minutes from central Canberra, for some there will soon be little need to travel far from home within one of the five neighbourhoods. 

The Googong North Village Centre offers many services you need and there are plans for the Googong Town Centre to offer even more shops, eateries, a hotel, medical facilities, a community centre, library and needed practicalities like petrol. Greenery is available via playgrounds, ovals, sports courts and a skate park as well as the bike trails and natural open spaces, including Googong Dam’s Shoreline walk.

Is Googong a good suburb?

Googong offers newly built homes and a community that’s aiming to be self-contained yet has both Canberra and Queanbeyan less than a 30-minute drive away. There are already many amenities, including two schools, and there are more in various stages of planning and development. It’s easy to get into nature, both within Googong’s parks and ovals as well as the wider natural environment. And, it’s easy to be green at home, with Googong’s waste and water management earning a 5-star Green Star.

How far is Googong from Canberra? 

The new township of Googong is just 16 kilometres from the central business district of Canberra. It’s 20 kilometres from Canberra Airport, just 10 kilometres from central Queanbeyan, and less than a 2 hour drive to the beautiful coastal town of Batemans Bay.

What schools are in the Googong area?

There are currently two schools right in the heart of Googong township, with a third coming soon. Googong Public Primary School is a future-focused, purpose-built school at 241 Gorman Drive, offering quality education for K-6 students. The Anglican School Googong is located just down the road at 136 Gorman Drive. It’s a K-12 school with the bonus of an on-site Early Learning Centre that’s been operational since 2015. A new public high school is forecast to be built by 2027. 

What council is Googong in?

Googong is located in the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council area, which covers from Lake George in the north, Queenbeyan and Googong in the west and, to the south and east, is bordered by Budawang, Monga, Deua and Tallaganda National Parks.

Is Googong NSW a good investment?

Googong NSW 2620, is a community that has won awards for its design and environmental credentials. With Canberra and Queanbeyan both less than a 30-minute drive away, there will never be any shortage of work, study and leisure opportunities. These attributes make Googong an ideal place to live now, and bode well for future rent and other property investment returns.