Latham location and character
Latham lies in the western part of Belconnen, which was established in 1966 by the Commonwealth through the gazettal of the Districts Ordinance 1966. It sits approximately 13 kilometres north-west of the Canberra city centre.
The suburb is named for John Latham, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1935 to 1952.
Latham is a settled family suburb of the early 1970s, with a housing profile that has changed comparatively little since, which distinguishes it from neighbouring Holt with its much larger townhouse component.
Transport and amenity in Latham
Canberra's light rail does not serve Belconnen. Light rail Stage 1 commenced services on 20 April 2019 between Gungahlin and the city, and Stage 2A from Civic to Commonwealth Park is under construction and expected to be operational in early 2028. Transport Canberra buses serve Latham and connect it to the Belconnen Town Centre and the city.
Road access is by Ginninderra Drive and Southern Cross Drive, the principal arterials through western Belconnen.
The Kippax group centre is the main local shopping precinct for western Belconnen, and the Belconnen Town Centre provides the district's full range. This guide does not describe school catchments, which the ACT Education Directorate can confirm.
Housing stock in Latham
Latham is built predominantly of detached family houses from the early 1970s, with a modest townhouse component and almost no apartments.
At the 2021 Census, 1,234 of the 1,401 occupied private dwellings were separate houses, 148 were semi-detached or townhouse dwellings and only 22 were flats or apartments, so houses made up 88.1 per cent of occupied homes against 72.3 per cent nationally. Three-bedroom homes numbered 672 and four-bedroom homes 472, with 91 having five or more.
The Census also recorded 56 unoccupied private dwellings out of 1,459 on Census night, a low share. Inspections on early 1970s Canberra housing commonly consider roof and ceiling condition, original wiring and plumbing, insulation performance given the cold winters, and asbestos-containing materials, addressed further below.
Who lives and buys in Latham
The 2021 Census counted 3,767 residents in Latham, with a median age of 38, matching the national figure, and an average household size of 2.6 people compared with 2.5 nationally. Adults aged 35 to 44 were the largest group at 577, followed by 523 aged 25 to 34, 502 aged 45 to 54 and 501 children aged 5 to 14.
Mortgaged ownership leads. The Census recorded 626 dwellings owned with a mortgage, 447 owned outright and 292 rented, so 45.3 per cent of households with a stated tenure held a mortgage, 32.4 per cent owned outright and 21.1 per cent rented, against 35.0, 31.0 and 30.6 per cent nationally.
Median weekly household income was $2,125 against $1,746, median monthly mortgage repayments were $2,000 against $1,863 and median weekly rent was $400 against $375. For a buyer, this is an established family market where a detached house is effectively the only product.
Leasehold title and planning in Latham
Land in the ACT is not freehold. It is granted under a Crown lease, and most residential Crown leases run for 99 years, with a buyer taking on the remaining term. Every Crown lease contains a purpose clause specifying the permitted use of the land, which in practice defines what can be built on it.
Varying that purpose clause requires permission from the Territory Planning Authority and attracts the Lease Variation Charge on the resulting uplift in value. With only 148 townhouse dwellings and 22 flats, Latham has seen little higher density development, so density potential should not be assumed.
A further lease can be applied for at any time during the term, for an administrative fee rather than a payment for the land.
Buying in Latham under ACT contract law
Under the Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003, a seller must attach a required set of documents to the contract before the property is advertised. Those include building and compliance inspection reports, from an inspection carried out not earlier than three months before the property was first advertised, building conveyancing inquiry documents, an energy efficiency rating statement, copies of all interests and encumbrances, an extract of the title, and the Crown lease and deposited plan.
A buyer therefore receives a building report before making an offer rather than commissioning one afterwards, which matters for housing of this age. A buyer is entitled to a cooling-off period of five business days, ending at 5pm on the fifth working day after it begins, and forfeits 0.25 per cent of the purchase price to withdraw during that period.
Home loan considerations for Latham property
Detached houses on standard Crown leases are the most widely accepted security, and with 1,234 of them in a consistent profile the suburb offers a valuer close comparable evidence, though at 1,401 occupied dwellings the volume of sales in any period is modest.
Loose-fill asbestos insulation is the principal caution. The suburb dates from the early 1970s, within the 1968 to 1978 period when the Canberra company D. Jansen and Co, later known as Mr Fluffy, blew loose-fill amphibole asbestos into the roof spaces of Canberra homes.
In 2015 the ACT Government released a list of 1,022 affected properties across the Territory, and the eradication scheme bought back and demolished affected houses from July 2015, selling the cleared blocks for redevelopment. Buyers should check the Affected Residential Premises Register for a specific address and read the asbestos information in the contract documents, because insurers and lenders treat a known affected property differently.
Lending considerations for Latham
- Early 1970s housing falls within the loose-fill asbestos installation period.
- A cleared or recently built block may have been part of the buyback and demolition scheme.
- At 1,401 occupied dwellings, sales volume in any period is modest.
- Density potential should not be assumed given how little redevelopment has occurred.
- Attached stock is scarce, so a townhouse has thin local comparable evidence.
Lender policy differs between institutions and changes over time. The guide to Australian lenders explains how credit policy varies, and the home loan guide sets out the main loan structures.
Transfer duty when buying in Latham, ACT
Transfer duty, commonly called stamp duty, is set by the state or territory rather than by suburb. The table shows indicative duty in ACT for an owner-occupier buying an established home at four illustrative purchase prices. These prices are examples only and are not an indication of values in Latham.
| Purchase price | Owner-occupier duty | Eligible first home buyer |
|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $8,408 | Nil |
| $750,000 | $19,208 | Nil |
| $1,000,000 | $33,958 | Nil |
| $1,500,000 | $68,100 | Nil |
From 1 July 2026 the Home Buyer Concession Scheme provides a full exemption with no income test or price cap. Age, prior ownership and residence conditions apply, so the figures shown assume eligibility. Figures are indicative, exclude transfer and mortgage registration fees, and are subject to change. Eligibility conditions apply. Confirm the amount with the relevant revenue office before relying on it, or model a specific price with the stamp duty calculator. Grants and guarantees are explained in the government grants guide.
Frequently asked questions about buying in Latham
Who is Latham named after?
John Latham, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1935 to 1952. The suburb lies in the western part of the Belconnen district, which was established in 1966 by the Commonwealth through the gazettal of the Districts Ordinance 1966.
Is Latham mostly houses?
Yes. At the 2021 Census, 1,234 of 1,401 occupied private dwellings were separate houses, or 88.1 per cent, against 72.3 per cent nationally, with only 148 townhouse dwellings and 22 flats. Three-bedroom homes numbered 672 and four-bedroom homes 472.
Was Latham affected by Mr Fluffy asbestos?
The suburb dates from the early 1970s, within the 1968 to 1978 period when loose-fill amphibole asbestos was installed in Canberra roof spaces. In 2015 the ACT Government released a list of 1,022 affected properties across the Territory, and buyers should check the Affected Residential Premises Register for a specific address.
How does Latham differ from Holt?
Chiefly in housing mix. Latham is 88.1 per cent separate houses with only 148 townhouse dwellings, while neighbouring Holt is 59.2 per cent houses with 771 townhouses, or 33.7 per cent of its stock. That gives Holt a broader range of price points than Latham.
Do I own the land when I buy in Latham?
Not as freehold. Land in the ACT is granted under a Crown lease, most residential leases running for 99 years, and a buyer takes on the remaining term. Every lease contains a purpose clause specifying the permitted use, and varying it attracts the Lease Variation Charge on the uplift.
Who lives in Latham?
The 2021 Census counted 3,767 residents with a median age of 38 and an average household size of 2.6 people. Of households with a stated tenure, 45.3 per cent held a mortgage, 32.4 per cent owned outright and 21.1 per cent rented. Median weekly household income was $2,125 against $1,746 nationally.
Sources for the Latham guide
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: 2021 Census of Population and Housing, General Community Profile (tables G01, G02, G36, G37, G41), Suburbs and Localities
- ACT Government: Loose-fill asbestos
- ACT Planning: Crown leases
- Civil Law (Sale of Residential Property) Act 2003
- Transport Canberra
- ACT Revenue Office