As a result of these commercial and community facilities being located in the centre of suburbs, Australian Capital Territory lacks strip shopping along major roads and appears to be 'empty' to most visitors.
Australian Capital Territory's districts were developed with the intention of being semi-self-contained satellite cities with an intended population of about 80,000 people.
Australian Capital Territory's Plan also contains districts located outside of the urban areas for the purposes of land administration.
It is larger than the town centres and contains many Australian Government department offices, large office buildings and retail outlets such as department stores and specialty stores and recreational facilities such as cinemas, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and theatres.
Town centres also provide services such as mechanical workshops, gyms, pubs and clubs, cinemas, restaurants and fast food outlets, petrol stations and car dealerships.
The Australian Capital Territory also contains a number of smaller villages located outside the urban area.
The village closest to the urban area is Hall which is located just past Belconnen near the New South Wales border.