Laura Shooter

Brisbane Street is home to the worst intersection, the best real estate agency (SJ Shooter of course!), and some truly wonderful cafes, like Dahab on our block. I've recently learned it was the original first main street of Dubbo, which is why you'll find our glorious sandstone courthouse, in the CBD end. On the north end there are well utilised sporting ovals, and in the central-south end, you'll find some of those iconic red brick residences, and some more modern additions. The dodgy intersection is on our Cobra Street corner; oh the things we've seen! Use your GPS for this bit, and stay alert!!

My Nan bought her house in Naman Street for around 3,000 pounds, after escaping her farming property in a boat with her small children in the 1955 floods. She was in her 90's when she sold it, and I had many happy childhood memories walking with her down to Wahroonga Park, or up to the Tamworth Street Shops. We would also catch the bus together into town and the bus would stop right out the front. They were good days.

I lived here for about a year at a time I was into jogging, and there's there's a really beautiful route if you follow this street around to St George's terrace. It takes you along the Troy Gully reserve and loops back around to either close to where you started, or you can continue along the reserve if you're feeling energetic! This is not a proven fact, but anecdotally I suspect Eastridge Estate has a higher number of swimming pools than other similar estates!

My Mum used to teach me about the streets of Dubbo as we drove around when I was growing up. Fitzroy Street is memorably the longest street in Dubbo and runs North-South. It covers a lot of ground, in the north it's a mix of residential and industrial, but very close to our significantly expanded medical hubs.  As you head south, you'll see a number of the iconic red brick residences, thinning into some areas of later development that have now been around long enough to come freshly renovated.

The CBD stretch of Darling St has Dubbo's highest concentration of traffic lights, so if you're travelling North-South, use Brisbane or Fitzroy Street instead! This isn't Orange afterall, so if you plan your route well, traffic lights don't have to feature much. (We really do love you too, Orange!).

I will always treasure my childhood street. It's a quiet cul-de-sac with local traffic only. I'll admit that I was a bit hurt that Council didn't consult me before moving the playground from one corner to the other, but I'll take that up with them some other time. Insider tip, my research tells me this area has a below median sale price and an above average rental yield. The houses are typically 90's builds, so have a chat with your financial advisor if this is piquing your interest.

I brought my first baby home here, and still own a property here. It’s a really great street! You could walk to the Orana Mall (but you won’t; see the ‘PS’ comments in my suburb review). It’s also super close to a couple of great child care centres and is zoned for the popular Orana Heights Primary School. Insider tips, if you’re heading to Cobra Street during school pickup or drop-off hours, turn left onto Wheelers Lane and do a U-ey at the roundabout. You can thank me later.

When I tell someone I’m from Dubbo, this universally prompts a guttural echo, “Duuuubbbbbooo”, and usually some comment about the Zoo, with or without an attempt at humour.

It’s true, most people have heard about Dubbo, and have their own ideas about what it’s like here. We’ve seen our fair share of headlines, but I want to tell you three reasons why Dubbo is up there with the best of places to call home!

1 – If it’s good enough for Meghan and Harry, it’s good enough for you!
The Royal tour had the nation abuzz in 2018, and Dubbo was chosen to be visited by the couple of the moment. Dubbo was the scene of the precious exchange between a young boy and the couple that ended in a little cuddle, and captured the hearts of the world.

2 – OK, the Taronga Western Plains Zoo really does deserve a special mention.
Imagine being able to watch King Julian and his cronies frolic whilst you catch up with a friend during your lunch break. Or being able to take the kids to see a different animal every weekend of the year. When the wind is blowing in the right direction, you can hear the distant calls of the Siamang Apes from South and West Dubbo. It never gets old.

3 – It’s going places.
There’s an air of anticipation here about our future. We’ve always enjoyed a good mix of industry, but more recently have had unprecedented investment in our infrastructure. We’re the HQ for many government and non-gov organisations and we’re on the doorstep of the outback, yet only a 1 hour flight from the major cities. It’s cliché, but we truly are the hub of the West.

At the end of the day, the place you live is often what you make it. We have cinemas, amazing eateries, beautiful open spaces and huge diversity of interest groups and faith communities, and I know that if you take a risk and put yourself out there, you’ll find your people here.

PS, if you do move here, you’ll get precious about your commute. It’s only a matter of time before people who used to drive an hour each way for work start eye rolling if they need to drive 10 minutes across town. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.