Forrest (postcode: 2603) is a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Forrest is named after Sir John Forrest, an explorer, legislator, federalist, Premier of Western Australia, and one of the fathers of the Australian Constitution. Streets in Forrest are named after explorers and governors. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Forrest is the second most Socio-Economic advantaged location in Australia after the neighbouring suburb of Barton.
Forrest is one of the few suburbs in Canberra built to the original Canberra plans. It contains many circular and geometric patterns in its streets and can be quite confusing to drive in. Forrest was renamed from the earlier suburb Blandfordia (the name of the Christmas Bell) and gazetted as a suburb in 1928. South Blandfordia became part of the new suburb of Griffith at the same time.
The original residents of Forrest were mostly senior public servants who were moved from Melbourne.
Demography
In the , the population of Forrest was 1,827; 0.4% were Indigenous and 72.1% were born in Australia. 36.5% of dwellings were separate houses (compared to the Australian average of 72.3%), 16.9% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses (Australian average: 12.6%) and 46.6% were flats, units or apartments (Australian average: 14.2%). 42.5% of the population were professionals, compared to the Australian average of 24.0%. 20.5% worked in central government administration, compared to the Australian average of 1.1% and the Canberra-wide average of 17.1%. The median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over was $1,816, compared to the median Australian income of $805. The weekly median family income was $4,532, as compared to the Australian weekly median family income of $2,120.
Education
Forrest Primary School is situated in Hobart Avenue in Forrest. It caters for students in years P-6. The students wear red and yellow. The school celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on 4 April 2008.
Forrest residents get preference for: Forrest Primary Telopea Park School (for high school) Narrabundah College
Suburb amenities
The suburb includes part of the Manuka shopping centre. The suburb also contains a government run primary school.
Forrest together with the eastern part of Deakin and the northern part of Red Hill (sometimes called "old Deakin" and "old Red Hill"), represent the most prestigious residential area in Canberra. Most of the area is detached dwellings in which a 1600 m2 block would be on the small side, and 2000 m2 blocks are not atypical.