5 Best Pharmacies in Canberra for Scripts and Late-Night Care
Nothing tests your patience like a child with a spiking fever at 9:30 PM on a Sunday, just after most local shops have shut. Finding a reliable pharmacy before an emergency strikes saves you that stress.
It matters even more if you already arrange home health care in Canberra for an ageing relative, since they’ll need regular scripts too.
I compared local providers on opening hours, clinical services, pricing and specialised dispensing. Here are the best pharmacies in Canberra and who each one suits.
How much does a pharmacy visit cost in Canberra?
A script at a Canberra pharmacy typically costs $7.70 to $25.00 under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), depending on whether you hold a concession card.
Clinical services like flu shots and minor ailment consultations start at around $24.95.
| Option | Typical price |
| General co-payment (Medicare cardholders) | Capped at $25.00 per script |
| Concessional co-payment (concession cardholders) | Fixed at $7.70 per script |
| Flu vaccination | Around $24.95 (free for eligible National Immunisation Program patients) |
| Urinary tract infection (UTI) consultation | Around $24.95 |
| Medication by injection service | $24.95 to $30.00 |
| Specialised immunisation (such as the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, vaccine) | Around $329.45 |
1. TerryWhite Chemmart Ainslie Compounding
Website: terrywhitechemmart.com.au/stores/terrywhite-chemmart-compounding-ainslie
Address: 17 Edgar Street, Ainslie
Contact: (02) 6248 7708
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM | Saturday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Booking a same-day doctor’s appointment just for a medical certificate or a simple infection is a headache.
TerryWhite Chemmart Ainslie Compounding offers a shortcut, since its pharmacists can prescribe for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and oral contraception. A network of over 600 Australian pharmacies backs the service.
Telehealth covers the rest. You can sort out a medical certificate or a consultation online or over the counter, with fees starting at $45.
But ongoing care is where it helps busy families and older residents most.
When I asked staff about helping an elderly relative manage a tangle of daily tablets, they walked me through their medication organiser packs and diabetes medication reviews.
They can also give medications by injection in the consult room, which saves a separate trip to a clinic.
That said, weekend trading drops to 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and public holiday hours can shift, so you can’t rely on them for a late-night emergency.
Customer Reviews
Highly recommend!
The team at Ainslie is absolutely fantastic! From the staff on the floor to the team at the dispensary, everyone is incredibly welcoming and always happy to help. A special shoutout to Colette, whose Justice of the Peace service was amazing, efficient, and deeply appreciated. Highly recommend!
Jessica Hola | Google Review
2. The Pharmacy on Northbourne
Website: thepharmacynetwork.com.au/our-pharmacies/northbourne/
Address: Shop 2, The Jolimont Centre, 65 Northbourne Ave
Contact: (02) 6162 1133
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM (open every day of the year)
Running out of essential medication on Christmas Day or late on a Tuesday night leaves you with few options.
The Pharmacy on Northbourne stays open until 11:00 PM every day of the year, which makes it a dependable safety net for urgent after-hours scripts in the city centre.
Their travel health clinic is one of the more thorough setups I’ve seen for anyone heading overseas.
You can book a consultation and get vaccinated for typhoid, shingles, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), and hepatitis A and B in one visit.
They also handle day-to-day needs. You can use click-and-collect for family essentials, keep your scripts on file, and get help with wound dressing and asthma management.
The catch is that home delivery is free only on eligible orders over $110, with certain items excluded, which stings if you’re stuck at home sick with a small order.
Customer Reviews
Would recommend to anyone working or travelling in the area.
Incredible customer service from Felicity. Came in to get some things during my work break and Felicity was very helpful, helping me find everything as well as making recommendations and answering all my questions. Would recommend to anyone working or travelling in the area.
Troy Werner | Google Review
These guys helped arrange my new appointment with respect and care.
I took my disabled boy to this Chemist for his booster shot and they were really good. The staff were polite and helpful and helped me re-arrange getting my own booster for a couple of days later through a cancellation list. I had been booked in too but my doctor had advised me to get it done later. These guys helped arrange my new appointment with respect and care.
Michael & Stephanie Claessens | Google Review
3. Capital Chemist, University of Canberra
Website: capitalchemist.com.au
Address: Shop 3, Building 28 (The Health Hub), Ochre Health Medical Centre, cnr Allawoona St & Ginninderra Dve, Bruce
Contact: (02) 6251 3044 | Fax: (02) 6251 1055
Hours: Monday to Friday: 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM | Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Sunday and public holidays: Closed
Commuters and university staff who need to drop off a script before work rarely want to wait until 9:00 AM.
Capital Chemist at the University of Canberra opens at 7:30 AM on weekdays, so it serves campus regulars and the general public alike.
Pharmacists Mark Aspden, Kate Wheeldon, and Gareth Wheeldon have owned it since August 2014. The Bruce shop stands out for specialised testing.
myDNA genetic testing helps tailor medication choices to your genes, and custom compounding covers needs that standard stock doesn’t.
For chronic care, the Closing the Gap (CTG) scheme gives eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients free or low-cost PBS medicines. Diabetes screening and the New Medicine Service add further support.
Keep in mind that the shop closes on Sundays and public holidays.
Free customer parking also lasts only one hour, which feels tight if your medical centre appointment next door runs late.
Customer Reviews
The BEST pharmacy.
The BEST pharmacy. They provide excellent service, genuinely care about their customers/patients. Operate with genuine curiosity about how they can best assist their customers. the staff remember us and welcome us each time. Its so nice to have that old fashioned customer service and be able to trust the pharmacists and staff.
Maryanne Bailey | Google Review
If I could give a better review I would!
5 star service at this Capital Chemist. Customer service is out of this world! From Bill, the pharmacist who helped me with my 50 thousand questions to Karen W (according to the receipt) who served me and all the staff in between! Including Jack who took my phone call and was the friendly voice that encouraged me to attend this pharmacy! You were all bubbly and happy, and it was an inviting and invigorating space to be in. Thanks so much! If I could give a better review I would!
Milly Baker-Roberts | Google Review
4. Higgins Advantage Pharmacy
Website: myipa.com.au
Address: Shop 3/5 Higgins Place, Higgins
Contact: (02) 6254 0484
Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM | Saturday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Big, crowded chain stores can make you feel like a ticket number when all you want is a quiet chat about a new prescription.
Higgins Advantage Pharmacy belongs to the Independent Pharmacies Australia (IPA) network, and its team takes the time to talk through your health questions and regular refills.
For parents and older locals in Belconnen, a quiet suburban counter makes routine vaccinations, prescription dispensing, and one-on-one medication reviews feel less rushed.
You also get neighbourhood familiarity along with everyday health products and practical advice.
However, if you live in South Canberra, Higgins means a longer trip, and Saturday hours end early at 2:00 PM.
Customer Reviews
Great locally owned pharmacy
Great locally owned pharmacy, with extremely helpful and knowledgeable pharmacists who go above and beyond with customer service. Great value for pricing as well.
Edited to add, that I have been impressed from the very first time I ever went to Higgins Chemist and had a really great chat with Daniel. He is incredibly knowledgeable, and I often think that he knows more than a lot of doctors I have dealt with over the years.
Jess M | Google Review
The staff at Higgins Pharmacy are consistently kind, friendly, and never make you feel pressured.
I would travel to see Lead Pharmacist Dan and his team at Higgins Pharmacy. Dan (lead pharmacist) is incredibly knowledgeable and ensures that his team of pharmacists and technicians are also well-informed and up to date. He takes the time to thoroughly answer any questions you may have, and his team follows his example.
The staff at Higgins Pharmacy are consistently kind, friendly, and never make you feel pressured.
Lenny | Google Review
5. Capital Chemist O’Connor
Website: capitalchemistoconnor.com.au
Address: 9 Sargood Street, O’Connor
Contact: (02) 6248 7050 | Fax: (02) 6257 4724
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM (open every day of the year, including public holidays)
Starting a complex new prescription is stressful enough without worrying about running out over a long weekend.
Capital Chemist O’Connor, Canberra’s original late-night chemist, stays open until 11:00 PM every day of the year, including public holidays.
Their home medication packaging and New Medicine Service are especially reassuring for older residents and carers.
When I dropped by one evening, the pharmacist explained that they check in over the first few weeks of a new script to make sure the dose is working safely.
While you’re there, you can also get cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure testing, or book whooping cough and MMR vaccinations.
On the flip side, reaching the shop at peak hours can mean city traffic delays, and COVID-19 walk-in vaccinations depend on staff and vaccine availability.
Customer Reviews
Very grateful for such wonderful care.
Fabulous customer service! My son was visiting Canberra on a school camp recently and needed some medication. I phoned the pharmacy (from QLD), told them my situation and they were extremely helpful. They delivered the medication to my son within an hour. Very grateful for such wonderful care.
Michelle Perron | Google Review
I highly recommend!
Capital Chemist in O’Connor is fantastic; i have been going here for years and have no complaints. The staff are lovely, their selection is great and their business hours make the place very accessible. I highly recommend!
hawksoccer33 | Google Review