Ainslie Shops - Ainslie, Australian Capital Territory

Bill P.

This year 2025 is Ainslie anniversary 75th year as a shopping 🛍 centre,

I have shopped at Ainslie for over 40 years when started to live in Ainslie.
My first time at the shop, when I explored the Ainslie suburb in the 1960s ended at the Ainslie shops, said to myself, we do not haven't go to Civic for our groceries 🙃, so close 🙃.

For over 60 years I have shopped and seen many stories 😳 closed the doors 🚪 and new owners take over the shops 😳.

Most memories are of the day in May of 2014 when the Ainslie Dry Cleaners had a machine on fire 🔥 and smoke-damaged the shop.

The shop owner was in front of the shop, outside the next day to say that they were open for business.
The wonderful ♥️ people of Ainslie and the customers 😀 helped out and all business showed 😀 love ❤️ and support for their dry cleaning 😀 😊 . On the window, all the customers write ✍️ a message to the owner 😀 😊 👍.

The first stage of shops was built in 1949, and the next stage was built in the middle of the 1950s.

1950 the first shop opened its doors 🚪 a Butcher Shop, then the rest opened doors about one week later. 😀
The suburb's population has jumped to 4,060 by min-1954 and in the next seven years 😳 it rose again by more than 50 per cent to 6,196.

By the close of the decade, it is serving the people of Ainslie with two grocery stores, two butcher shops, a greengrocery 😀, a Bakery/cakes shop, a Newsagency, a Pharmacy, a post 📫 Office, a bank 🏦 😀, a women's and children 'ss wear shop, a hairdressing salon, a dry cleaning agency 😀, a shoe 👞 repair service and a service station 🚉 😀.

Helping to make the shops the focus of the community ✨️ 👌 was opened Ainslie Mothercraft Centre, behind the shops 😀 in December 1952, (The centre is still here today, it's closed).

Shopping centres faced challenges arising from the gradual ageing of the Ainslie population and competition from major supermarket chains and larger retail centres.

In 1984, after more than 30 years of operating, the Martin family closed their Ainslie Butchery shop 😢.
With the closure of the Commonwealth Bank 🏦 agency at Ainslie in 1987, residents now do their banking at Dickson.
In May 1998, the Ampol service station 🚉 was forced to close.

Longest-owned shop in Ainslie is the Xyrakis family who owned the IGA for over 62 years they had their anniversary, 60 years in 2023,(1963-2023).
I know now the owner Manuel Xyrakis, he served me from 1963 or 4, when I got lolly from him, and he helped his father, still at the school and me.

Sonia

Great little corner shop. It has a cellar, IGA, which had everything u need. The quality of the fruits and vegetables was great... and the varieties of cheeses..awesome. Not to mention Edgar's Inn. Great food and service. A chemist.
Everything u need in a little corner shop. A park across the road which had a little history on a couple locals and the shops

Lisha

Ainslie shops are the best little shop area. There is 3 cafes per person that reside in Ainsle, no not really, but there are a lot of cafes. They are always busy, there's stuff happening left right and centre, it's a fun, lively little place.

James A.

It's always great shopping here. The IGA shop is fantastic. We also enjoyed a coffee at Breizh. Parking can be difficult in the area, mainly because the shops are so popular.

Lee S.

A lively suburban gathering & shopping centre. Checkout the sculptures sprinkled through the shops and park. Kids love riding the snails. The toilet block needs freshening along the. lines of the facilities at Lyneham. Even more coffee shops.

Kc K.

It's a small shopping complex with an iga, Terry white chemist, capital pathology, a doctors practice, post office, hairdressers, newsagents, laundrette, alcohol shops, pet groomers and anglicare and multiple cafes take away and restaurants. There are cute sculptures around the place and several areas to sit. It's nice to bring the family here to walk around and choose somewhere to eat

Bruce L.

Ainslie shops has a great diversity of businesses. Supermarket, cafe, bakery, chemist, art gallery, pub, newsagent, pet stylist and more. The IGA has to be the best in Canberra no sweat.

Jhesu O.

Great place to visit, the Ainslie Cantina has the best Sandwich and burgers in Canberra. Portuguese Chicken Burger is my favorite!