Pilot Edition
A full taste of what The Molonglo delivers every Tuesday — local news, planning updates, community notices, and the week ahead. Web only · Not emailed.
| Tuesday, 26 May 2026 | Pilot Edition · Molonglo Valley |
Pilot Edition · Official launch coming Tuesday 30 June 2026
Subscribe free → receive Issue 1 on 30 JuneGood morning from Wright. This is a preview of The Molonglo — a free weekly newsletter written for people who live here — ahead of our official launch on Tuesday 30 June. There is quite a bit happening across the Valley this week, so let’s get into it.
◆ Lead Story
The bridge across the river is almost done
The Molonglo River Bridge is in its final stages of construction, and the Valley is months away from the flood-free connection to the north that residents of Whitlam and Denman Prospect have been waiting for since the area first began to take shape.
200 metres of weathering steel, 20 metres high — jointly funded at $225 million, completing John Gorton Drive and ending the Valley’s dependence on flood-prone Coppins Crossing Road.
In March and April 2026, Coppins Crossing Road was temporarily closed in stages to allow installation of safety barriers — known as parapets — on both the northbound and southbound bridge structures. Further closures are planned for mid-2026 to install twin rails and throw screens. The bridge is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.
The project includes 1.7 kilometres of dual-carriageway approach roads, two signalised intersections, off-road shared paths, a pedestrian underpass, and infrastructure enabling future light rail. For families in Whitlam who currently drive around via William Hovell Drive when Coppins Crossing floods, and for anyone travelling between the Valley’s southern and northern suburbs, the difference will be significant.
What this means for you
Flood-free access between Whitlam, Denman Prospect, and the broader northern Canberra road network is now a matter of months away, not years. The Valley’s road spine will finally be complete.
Source: ACT Government / Built for CBR · ACT Government Media Release, 30 March 2026 · The Canberra Times, 8 March 2025
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Register your interest →◆ Community Pulse
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Molonglo fire and ambulance station construction complete The $65 million Molonglo Emergency Services Station — Canberra’s largest — has completed construction. ACT Treasurer Chris Steel confirmed in last week’s Budget: “With construction now complete on the new Molonglo Emergency Services Station we’re delivering and planning for additional first responders in one of our fastest growing regions.” ACT Fire & Rescue will operate from the station on Cotter Road, between John Gorton Drive and Steve Irwin Avenue. A commissioning period follows before the station becomes operational. |
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Whitlam School 2027 enrolments open — deadline 5 June ACT public school enrolments for 2027 are now open, with applications due by 5 June 2026. Whitlam School — confirmed to open for Term 1, 2027 — will cater for up to 780 students from preschool to Year 6. Starting year levels will be announced in mid-2026. Students in the Whitlam priority enrolment area are currently attending Evelyn Scott School in Denman Prospect. The application window closes in just over a week. |
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ACT Budget 2026–27: $58.8 million for community services The 2026–27 ACT Budget, handed down this week, included $58.8 million in new funding for Canberra’s community sector — among it a $23.7 million permanent uplift for community services, $15.4 million for homelessness services, and $14.8 million for community legal assistance. Chief Minister Andrew Barr described the investment as continuing the government’s focus on reducing disadvantage. For a Valley with a growing and young population, long-term stability of community services matters now and as the district matures. Source: Canberra Daily, 25 May 2026 |
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Molonglo is now officially Canberra’s sixth town centre The National Capital Plan has been amended to reclassify Molonglo as Canberra’s sixth town centre, formally paving the way for commercial development, community facilities, and investment alongside residential growth. The Suburban Land Agency is leading design and staged land release over the next 15 years. The Valley’s population is projected to reach around 70,000 by 2050, and this reclassification is intended to ensure infrastructure keeps pace. Source: Australian Government / Minister for Infrastructure, accessed 26 May 2026 |
◆ Weekly Data Point
$1.065 million
Median house price across the Molonglo Valley for the December 2025 quarter — up 11.8 per cent over the year. First-home buyer activity drove much of the growth, particularly in the $750,000 to $1 million range. Denman Prospect reached a median of $1.095 million, a 27.3 per cent gain over five years. In Wright, the current median house price is $1.24 million.
◆ Don’t Miss This
If you have been putting off the walk through Namarag — the Molonglo River Corridor Reserve — winter is actually the best time to do it. The river runs clear, the grass is pale and still, and you will almost certainly have the trail to yourself on a weekday morning. There is something worth seeing near the bridge construction too: watching a 200-metre span materialise in a gorge you probably drive past without much thought is one of those things you don’t quite believe until it is in front of you. Walking access from Thancoupie Crescent in Whitlam is open, with a 70-metre walk from the carpark to the lookout. Take it before it becomes the landmark everyone wants to photograph.
◆ What’s On This Week
Selected events from Tuesday 26 May onward. All times AEST.
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WED 27 MAY |
National Reconciliation Week — National Museum of Australia National Museum of Australia, Acton · 27 May – 3 Jun · Daily 9am–5pm Pop-up exhibition, performances, and a coolamon-making workshop celebrating culture and Country. Free permanent galleries open throughout. → Details |
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SAT 30 MAY |
Canberra Winter Gemcraft & Mineral Show Mallee Pavilion, EPIC, Mitchell · Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 10am–4pm · Adults $8, concession $5, under 16 free Around 20 dealers selling minerals, fossils, gemstones, crystals, and opals. Faceting demonstrations, Age of Fishes Museum fossil exhibit, lucky dips, sapphire sieving, and gold panning. → Details |
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SAT 30 MAY |
Capital Region Farmers Market Kosciuszko & Kuringai Pavilions, EPIC, Mitchell · Every Saturday 7:30–11:30am · Free entry Producers from across the capital region selling seasonal vegetables, cheese, meat, bread, honey, and eggs. One of Canberra’s better winter markets — cold enough to make the hot food stalls worth stopping for. → Details |
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NOW ON FREE |
Migration and Modernism: Émigré Artists in Post-War Australia National Gallery of Australia, Parkes · 23 May 2026 – 7 Mar 2027 · Free New exhibition exploring the émigré artists who shaped post-war Australian culture. Temporary main entrance at Level 1 revolving doors during ongoing capital works. → Details |
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NOW ON FREE |
ANU School of Art & Design Gallery ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, Acton · 22 May – 28 Jun · 10:30am–3pm weekdays · Free Current student and graduate exhibitions across painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, and photography. → Details |
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ALL WK FREE |
Stromlo Forest Park — Trails and Recreation Stromlo Forest Park, Stromlo · Open daily · Free Mountain bike trails and walking circuits in full winter condition. The trail running is at its best when frost clears by mid-morning, and the MTB trails are rideable in most weather. → Details |
◆ Real Estate Snapshot
Valley house prices up 11.8 per cent over 2025
The Molonglo Valley finished 2025 as one of Canberra’s stronger-performing property markets. First-home buyer activity drove growth at the lower end, and the region now has the highest concentration of new-build stock in the ACT. Canberra’s broader median dwelling value stands at $898,242 as of May 2026, with annual house values up 7 per cent. The Valley’s figures reflect a market settling after a strong run — conditions have softened slightly in recent months from the October–February peak.
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$1.24m Wright Median House |
$570k Wright Median Unit |
+11.8% Valley Annual Growth |
Source: Allhomes — Wright suburb profile · Domain / Allhomes, 17 April 2026 · accessed 26 May 2026
◆ Weather Watch
| Day | Conditions | High | Low |
| Tue 26 | Cloudy. Very high chance of rain. Possible severe storm this evening. | 13°C | 4°C |
| Wed 27 | Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, mainly morning. | 16°C | 3°C |
| Thu 28 | Cloudy. High chance of showers, morning and afternoon. | 15°C | 3°C |
| Fri 29 | Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. | 16°C | 3°C |
| Sat 30 | Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. | 12°C | 2°C |
Overnight lows near 2–3°C from Wednesday — pack an extra layer for evening commitments, and check road conditions before early-morning drives out of the Valley.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology — Canberra Central Forecast — accessed 26 May 2026 at 6:28pm AEST
◆ Question of the Week
What is the one thing the Valley still needs that would make the biggest difference to daily life here?
Reply to this email — we read every one.
Reply to this email →◆ Join The Molonglo
Issue 1 arrives Tuesday 30 June 2026
Subscribe free to receive Issue 1 on 30 June and every Tuesday thereafter — your weekly guide to life in the Valley.
Subscribe free → receive Issue 1 on 30 June— Jason
The Molonglo · Molonglo Valley · www.themolonglo.com.au