Bungendore is one of the Canberra region’s best-loved country towns. It’s a favourite day trip for Canberrans, with cafes, galleries, antique shops and historic buildings. Elm Grove Estate is a new residential community on the edge of town, offering big blocks and a relaxed country lifestyle about 30 minutes from Canberra’s CBD.
ABM Homes builds at Elm Grove, so we’ve put together this guide to the estate, the town, and what it’s like to live there.
Elm Grove Estate at a glance
- Location: Bungendore, NSW 2621 (Queanbeyan–Palerang Regional Council)
- Distance to Canberra: about 30 minutes’ drive to the CBD
- Developer: Aland Pty Ltd
- Size: more than 300 residential lots across three stages
- Block sizes: 850m² to 1,600m², with a minimum 20m frontage
- Estate features: a feature pond with walking paths, barbecue areas, undercover gazebos and a landscaped amphitheatre
Where is Elm Grove Estate?
Elm Grove is in Bungendore, in the Southern Tablelands of NSW, about 38 km east of Canberra. Commuting to Canberra and Queanbeyan is easy, and Bungendore station has NSW TrainLink services towards both Canberra and Sydney. The Kings Highway links the town to the NSW South Coast.
Inside the estate: big blocks and open space
Elm Grove’s biggest drawcard is space. With blocks from 850m² up to 1,600m², there’s room for a large single-storey home, a big backyard, a veggie garden, a shed or room for the kids to play. Most new Canberra suburbs can’t offer that.
The estate is built around a central feature pond with walking paths, plus barbecue areas, undercover gazebos and a landscaped amphitheatre for community gatherings.
Elm Grove is in NSW, so blocks are freehold. That’s different from the ACT, where residential land is held on long-term Crown leases. Building at Elm Grove follows NSW planning rules, Queanbeyan–Palerang Regional Council requirements and the estate’s own design guidelines.
About Bungendore
A town with history
European settlement in Bungendore dates from the 1820s, and the town grew quickly after the railway arrived in 1885. In 1901, a site near Lake George, just north of town, was even proposed for Australia’s national capital. Today Bungendore has a population of about 4,700 (2021 Census) and is known for its heritage streetscape, galleries, antique shops and cafes.
Things to do in Bungendore
- Galleries and heritage: Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, the historic Carrington Inn and the heritage buildings around Gibraltar Street
- Food and shopping: cafes, bakeries, antique and homewares shops, plus local produce from the surrounding farms
- The outdoors: open countryside, Lake George and easy drives to the South Coast and the Southern Tablelands
Schools and community facilities
Bungendore High School
Bungendore High School is currently running from temporary campuses, including a north campus on Majara Street that opened for the 2026 school year. Its new permanent school on Birchfield Drive is due to open on Day 1, Term 1, 2027.
Bungendore also has a public primary school and early learning options. Families looking at Elm Grove should check current enrolment areas with the schools.
Bungendore Sports Hub and pool
The Bungendore Sports Hub on Halfway Creek Road is being developed in stages, and a new netball pavilion has been completed. A new aquatic centre is planned for the town’s existing pool site on Majara Street, with a development application expected by the end of 2026.
Building at Elm Grove with ABM Homes
Elm Grove’s large blocks suit families who want to upsize. You can build a generous single-storey home and still have space left over for a big yard. ABM Homes builds in both NSW and the ACT, so we know the NSW approval process and how to design a home that makes the most of a wide block.
The New Gate display home at Elm Grove
Our display home at Elm Grove, the New Gate, is a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home with a 251m² build area on an 851m² block. It features smart switches and locks, Wi-Fi-controlled air conditioning, high ceilings with skylights and passive cooling design.