About Urambi

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Urambi Village, established in 1976, is home for about 160 residents. Located in Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory, and about 20km south of the city centre, this peaceful community is not far from the Murrumbidgee River, with an unobstructed view of the Brindabella Ranges to the west.

There are 72 townhouses at Urambi Village—43 tri-level and 29 courtyard houses—united as a community by spaces designed to promote casual meetings. These spaces were created by restricting cars to five entry areas near the road, the establishment of common facilities, such as meeting rooms, a swimming pool and ball court, connected by paths running through a landscape of predominantly native trees and shrubs.

The community centre is available for booking by the public. If you are a resident go to the community centre page. Non-residents should send an email to the address at the bottom of this page.

Establishing Urambi

Urambi Village started as an idea in 1973 with the intention of developing a new style of housing. The new style would be environmentally friendly, and provide a highly desirable place for people to live. It would demonstrate that the standard house on the traditional quarter-acre could be improved upon. A housing cooperative was established to develop Urambi Village on a block of land provided for the purpose by the Australian government's Department of the Capital Territory.

Our architecture

Urambi Village was designed by Sydney-based architect Michael Dysart in 1974. It is a relatively rare and well-preserved example of medium density housing in the late twentieth century Sydney regional style. The houses are sited within a natural bushland setting and the intact landscaping surrounding the buildings. The tri-level houses range from two bedrooms to four bedrooms in size, while the single level courtyard houses range in size from two bedrooms to five bedrooms and a study. Characteristic of the Sydney regional style is the use of natural materials and houses that follow the contours of the land, with split level and single level planning. Important elements include:

  • clerestory windows

  • exposed rafters

  • timber decks

  • western red cedar framed glazing, panelled front doors, face brickwork

Architecture awards

Urambi Village won the Australian Institute of Architects CS Daley Medal for Housing in 1977. In 2002, the Institute gave the Village the ACT Chapter 25 Year award in recognition of the maintenance of the integrity of its original design for 25 years.

Along with Parliament House and the High Court of Australia, Urambi Village is now on the Australian Institute of Architects’ Register of Nationally Significant 20th Century Architecture. This is a very important listing for Urambi, placing it among the major architectural achievements of the last century.

There is a comprehensive citation from the Australian Institute of Architects.

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Our landscape

Our landscape is an essential component of what makes Urambi Village a wonderful environment for residents. Each resident is encouraged to look after the landscaping in the immediate vicinity of their house. This is supported by professional landscapers who look after the planted areas, as well as the lawns, paths and driveways, under contract.

The approximately 11 acre site consists mainly of Australian native plants which are selected for their resistance to drought, as well as their aesthetic values and ability to attract birds.

Contacting Urambi

 

Contact Urambi Village by email or post.

  • Email: urambi.web@gmail.com.

  • Postal and street address: Urambi Village, 81 Crozier Circuit, Kambah ACT 2902, Australia.

Manager contact details

The manager (aka the managing agent) for Urambi Village is LJ Hooker (Urambi is Unit Title 119).

They can be contacted at: LJ Hooker, 1st Floor, 182–200 City Walk, Canberra City ACT 2601, Australia.