Gungahlin Suburb Guide

The suburb was named after Sir Douglas Ralph Nicholls who was born in 1906 at Cumeragunja, an aboriginal mission in NSW. He played for Fitzroy in the VFL and was a champion sprinter. He joined the church of Christ in 1932 and was knighted in 1972. He was appointed Governor of South Australia in December 1976 but ill-health forced his retirement in April 1977. He died in 1988.

Development of Nicholls began in 1991. It is the sixth-most populous suburb in Canberra, after Kambah, Ngunnawal, Wanniassa, Gordon and Kaleen.

One of the original Gungahlin suburbs, Nicholls just about has it all as far as Canberra suburbs go. It has two golf courses and a country club, a pond, a licensed club, large tracts of nature reserve, several schools, a historic tourist precinct, a miniature English Village and a shopping centre.

Once the area of Nicholls comprised little more than the Gold Creek tourist area alongside the Barton Highway, with its historic buildings, the Cockington Green model village and the George Harcourt Inn.

It also includes the Harcourt Hill Estate, which sits high on the north-west corner of the suburb, providing great views over northern Canberra. Many houses in this area sell for more than $1 million.

The streets in Nicholls are named after sportsmen and women.