Street Stories

Narrabundah Longstay Caravan Park

The Narrabundah Longstay Caravan Park is a unique community tucked away on the urban fringes of Canberra who have pulled together over the last two years to save their homes.

A wide variety of mostly low-income residents live in a hotchpotch of dwellings, from miniature houses to caravans with annexes and even a double decker bus, with an annexe. Ninety per cent of them own their homes, despite the fact that you cannot get a home loan to buy in the caravan park. They are proud of their homes and well established gardens and there is a strong sense of community in the park—everyone helps the other out and watches over their neighbours' homes.

The park was originally established in 1975 to house the workers who built Canberra and the new Parliament House. In 2006 the park was sold to a developer and the residents were issued with eviction notices. Rather than move out, they all worked together, lobbying government and the community of Canberra to protect their homes. After many months of negotiations the developer has accepted a land swap offered by the ACT government, and the residents are awaiting the outcome of an environmental impact analysis on this new piece of land. When that is clear, the residents will no longer be in limbo and will be able to continue living in the park.

In the program you hear single dad David, retiree Gabbi, Frank and Norma who moved there from Harden, student and advocate Deb, and Pam who has lived there for 20 years, more recently with her husband Mark and their menagerie of pets.

Based on the experience of this community the longstay caravan park could be one solution to the current housing crisis, a place where it is possible for people on very low incomes to own their own homes and have a sense of security.

Since this story was broadcast the environmental statement on the landswap has been approved and the ACT Government has now taken over ownership of the park. The residents now feel safe as tennants of the ACT Government.

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  Watch a short presentation on the residents of the Narrabundah Longstay Caravan Park.

Publications

Title: Our Park Our Community
Author: John Tucker, Jenny Gall, Peter Sutherland and Anna Tito
Publisher: Softlaw Community Projects and ACT Council orf Social Services
For copies call (02) 62067130 or scp@softlaw.org.au

Story Researcher and Producer

Claudia Taranto