Gungahlin Suburb Guide

Bonner is named in memory after Senator Neville Bonner, Australia's first Indigenous parliamentarian who served the people of Queensland during the years 1971-1984.

The suburb is bounded by Horse Park and Gundaroo Drives and is approximately 4 km from the Gungahlin Town Centre and 16 km from the centre of Canberra. It is adjacent to the suburbs of Jacka, Amaroo and Forde.

Bonner is situated on the former paddocks of a sheep property called 'Horse Park' that was established by Irish immigrants John and Ann Gillespie in 1853. From these humble beginnings, this pioneering family and their son, James Gillespie acquired the neighbouring property 'Elm Grove' (located in present-day Forde). The Gillespie family was typical of a number of very astute small and medium scale graziers who built up their pastoral holdings through the judicious acquisitions of neighbouring properties. These practices forced the hands of legislators in colonial New South Wales to enact the Robertson Land Acts to kerb the practice.

Their son James Gillespie was instrumental in establishing the Mulligans Flat Public School. The remnants of the school are located in the nearby Mulligans Flat Reserve. Gillespie was also a regularly contributor to the Goulburn Evening Penny Post under the pseudonym "The Wizard". 'Horse Park' homestead which has been nominated for the ACT Heritage Register is situated a kilometre west in the suburb of Jacka.

Bonner occupies 283 hectares and at its highest point is situated is 715 metres above sea level (ASL) while its lowest point on the southernmost reach is 624 metres. The suburb slopes southward towards Ginninderra Creek. 'Oak Hill' dominates the northern horizon which is 800 metres ASL and situated on the north-west boundary of the Australian Capital Territory.