Canberra

{{Short description|Capital city of Australia}} {{About|the capital of Australia}} {{Merge from |1=Bunda Street |target=Canberra |afd=Bunda Street |date =May 2026 }}{{Featured article}} {{pp-move}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = city | name = Canberra | native_name = {{nativename|xul|Kanbarra}} | state = act | image = {{multiple image |total_width = 280 |border = infobox |perrow = 1/3/2/1 |caption_align = center |image1 = Canberra panorama from Mount Ainslie.jpg |alt1 = Canberra viewed from Mount Ainslie |caption1 = Canberra viewed from Mount Ainslie |image2 = National Carillon, Canberra ACT (2).jpg |alt2 = National Carillon |caption2 = National Carillon |image3 = Australian War Memorial Canberra, ACT (2).jpg |alt3 = Australian War Memorial |caption3 = Australian War Memorial |image4 = Torre Telstra, Canberra - panoramio (cropped).jpg |alt4 = Black Mountain Tower |caption4 = Telstra Tower |image5 = Parliament House, National Library of Australia, Canberra, 2023 (2).jpg |alt5 = National Library of Australia |caption5 = National Library of Australia |image6 = Entrance to the National Gallery of Australia February 2013.jpg |alt6 = National Gallery of Australia |caption6 = National Gallery of Australia |image7 = Old and new Parliament Houses; Canberra Australia.jpg |alt7 = Old Parliament House & New Parliament House |caption7 = Capital Hill and Old Parliament House }} | caption = | coordinates = {{Coord|35|17|35|S|149|07|37|E|display=inline,title}} | relief = yes | force_national_map = | alternative_location_map = Australia#Australian Capital Territory#Oceania | pushpin_label_position = left | pop = 484,630 | pop_year = June 2025 | pop_footnotes = <ref name=ABSGCCSA>{{cite web |title=Regional population, 2024-25 |date=31 March 2026 |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/2024-25 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=1 April 2026}}</ref> | poprank = 8th | density = | density_footnotes = | est = {{start date and age|1912|03|12|df=yes}} | elevation = 578 | elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=GFS / BOM data for CANBERRA AIRPORT |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070014_All.shtml |access-date=16 June 2018 |archive-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709190756/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070014_All.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> | area = 2,358 | area_footnotes = | timezone = AEST | utc = +10:00 | timezone-dst = AEDT | utc-dst = +11:00 | dist1 = 285 | dir1 = SW | location1 = Sydney<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=87421&placename=sydney&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |title=Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and SYDNEY |publisher=Geoscience Australia |date=March 2004 |access-date=2 May 2016 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107044625/http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=87421&placename=sydney&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |url-status=live}}</ref> | dist2 = 669 | dir2 = NE | location2 = Melbourne<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=248650&placename=melbourne&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |title=Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and MELBOURNE |publisher=Geoscience Australia |date=March 2004 |access-date=2 May 2016 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107044626/http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=248650&placename=melbourne&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |url-status=live}}</ref> | dist3 = 1160 | dir3 = E | location3 = Adelaide<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=163285&placename=ADELAIDE&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |title=Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and ADELAIDE |publisher=Geoscience Australia |date=March 2004 |access-date=2 May 2016 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107044620/http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=163285&placename=ADELAIDE&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |url-status=live}}</ref> | dist4 = 1232 | dir4 = SSW | location4 = Brisbane<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=126867&placename=BRISBANE&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |title=Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and BRISBANE |publisher=Geoscience Australia |date=March 2004 |access-date=2 May 2016 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107044623/http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=126867&placename=BRISBANE&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |url-status=live}}</ref> | dist5 = 3632 | dir5 = ESE | location5 = Perth<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=304529&placename=perth&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |title=Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and PERTH |publisher=Geoscience Australia |date=March 2004 |access-date=2 May 2016 |archive-date=7 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107044628/http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=304529&placename=perth&placetype=0&state=0&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=149.133331&place1lat=-35.299999 |url-status=live}}</ref> | local_map =  | local_map_caption = Interactive city map | zoom = 10 | region = | county = | stategov = Brindabella | stategov2 = Ginninderra | stategov3 = Kurrajong | stategov4 = Murrumbidgee | stategov5 = Yerrabi | fedgov = Canberra | fedgov2 = Fenner | fedgov3 = Bean<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/2017/act/final-report/files/act-2018-final-report.pdf |title=Redistribution of the Australian Capital Territory into electoral divisions |author=Augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory |date=July 2018 |quote=The electoral divisions described in this report came into effect from Friday 13 July 2018 ... However, members of the House of Representatives will not represent or contest these electoral divisions until ... a general election. |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916130414/https://www.aec.gov.au/Electorates/Redistributions/2017/act/final-report/files/act-2018-final-report.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> | logo = | url = | maxtemp = 20.4 | mintemp = 7.0 | rainfall = 579.5 }}

'''Canberra''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-au-Canberra-ACT.ogg|ˈ|k|æ|n|b|r|ə}} {{Respell|KAN|brə}}; {{Langx|xul|Kanbarra}}) is the capital city of Australia and the largest population centre in the Australian Capital Territory. With an estimated population of 484,630 as of 2025, Canberra is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest Australian city by population. The city occupies most of the northern quadrant of the Australian Capital Territory, and its urban sprawl borders the state of New South Wales to the northwest, northeast and southeast. The Brindabellas are located south and west of the city, and form the northern part of the Australian Alps, the country's highest mountain range.

Canberra was established following the federation of the Australian colonies to serve as the seat of government for the new nation, being a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest cities. The area chosen for the capital had been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians for up to 21,000 years, by groups including the Ngunnawal and Ngambri. European settlement commenced in the first half of the 19th century, evidenced by surviving landmarks such as St John's Anglican Church and Blundells Cottage. On 1 January 1901, federation of the colonies of Australia was achieved. The capital city was founded and formally named as Canberra in 1913. Unusual among Australian cities, it is an entirely planned city, grounded in a design by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. The Griffins' plan was influenced by garden city movement and featured geometric motifs aligned with significant topographical landmarks such as Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, Capital Hill and City Hill. Its design can be viewed from its highest point at the Telstra Tower and the summit of Mount Ainslie. Other notable features include the National Arboretum and Lake Burley Griffin.

As the seat of the Government of Australia, Canberra is home to many important institutions of the federal government, national monuments and museums. These include Parliament House, Government House, the High Court building and the headquarters of numerous government agencies. Social and cultural institutions of national significance include the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National University, the Royal Australian Mint, the Australian Institute of Sport, the National Gallery, the National Museum and the National Library. The city is home to many important institutions of the Australian Defence Force including the Royal Military College Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy. It hosts all foreign embassies in Australia as well as regional headquarters of many international organisations, not-for-profit groups, lobbying groups and professional associations.

Canberra has been ranked among the world's best cities to live in and visit. Compared to the national averages, the unemployment rate is lower and the average income higher; tertiary education levels are higher, while the population is younger. At the 2021 Census, 28.7% of Canberra's inhabitants were reported as having been born overseas. The Australian Public Service accounted for about 25% all jobs as at November 2025. Other major industries include health care, professional services, education and training, retail, accommodation and food, and construction. Annual cultural events include Floriade, the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, the Enlighten Festival, Skyfire, the National Multicultural Festival and Summernats. Canberra's main sporting venues are Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval. The city is served with domestic and international flights at Canberra Airport, while interstate train and coach services depart from Canberra railway station and the Jolimont Centre respectively. City Interchange and Alinga Street station form the hub of Canberra's bus and light rail transport network.

==Name== The word "Canberra" is derived from the Ngunnawal language of a local Ngunnawal or Ngambri clan who resided in the area and were referred to by the early British colonists as either the {{lang|xul|Canberry}}, {{lang|xul|Kanberri}} or {{lang|xul|Nganbra}} tribe.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lhotsky |first1=John |title=A journey from Sydney to the Australian Alps |date=1835 |url=https://darwin-online.org.uk/converted/pdf/1835_Lhotsky_AustralianAlps_CUL-DAR.LIB.765.pdf}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Osborne |first=Tegan |date=3 April 2016 |title=What is the Aboriginal history of Canberra? |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curious-canberra/2016-04-04/curious-canberra-what-is-the-aboriginal-history-of-canberra/7286124 |access-date=22 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 April 2023 |title=Ngambri people consider claiming native title over land in Canberra after ACT government apologises |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-29/ngambri-people-consider-native-title-claim/102281670 |access-date=21 November 2023 |quote=The name 'Canberra' is derived from the name of our people and country: the Ngambri, the Kamberri.}}</ref> Joshua John Moore, the first European land-owner in the region, named his grant "Canberry" in 1823 after these people. "Canberry Creek" and "Canberry" first appeared on regional maps from 1830, while the derivative name "Canberra" started to appear from around 1857.<ref name="selkirk">{{cite journal |last1=Selkirk |first1=Henry |title=The Origins of Canberra |journal=The Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society |date=1923 |volume=9 |pages=49–78 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-594747918 |access-date=23 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |author=Cambage, Richard Hind |journal=Notes on the Native Flora of New South Wales |title=Part X, The Federal Capital Territory |date=1919 |publisher=Linnean Society of New South Wales |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/22545595 |access-date=14 October 2013 |archive-date=1 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301001604/http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/22545595 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131732093 |title=A Skull Where Once The Native Roamed |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=37 |issue=((10,610)) |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=9 August 1963 |access-date=23 May 2022 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Other early recorded variants of the spelling include "Canbury" (potentially influenced by the settlement of the same name in England), "Canburry" and "Kembery".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p17331/pdf/book.pdf?referer=81|last=Koch|first=Harold|date=2009|editor-last1=Koch|editor-first1=Harold|editor-last2=Hercus|editor-first2=Luise|title=Aboriginal Placenames: Naming and Renaming the Australian Landscape|chapter=The methodology of reconstructing Indigenous placenames: Australian Capital Territory and south-eastern New South Wales|publisher=ANU E Press|pages=155–56}}</ref>

Numerous local commentators, including the Ngunnawal elder Don Bell, have speculated upon possible meanings of "Canberra" over the years. These include "meeting place", "woman's breasts" and "the hollow between a woman's breasts".<ref name=Frei>{{cite web |last=Frei |first=Patricia |title=Discussion on the Meaning of 'Canberra' |url=http://www.canberrahistoryweb.com/meaningofcanberra.htm |work=Canberra History Web |publisher=Patricia Frei |access-date=11 August 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927182307/http://www.canberrahistoryweb.com/meaningofcanberra.htm |archive-date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.crispinhull.com.au/book-on-canberra/chapter-2-european-settlement-and-the-naming-of-canberra |title=Canberra – Australia's National Capital |chapter=European settlement and the naming of Canberra |last=Hull |first=Crispin |date=6 February 2009 |access-date=7 June 2010 |publisher=Crispin Hull |archive-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426150348/http://www.crispinhull.com.au/book-on-canberra/chapter-2-european-settlement-and-the-naming-of-canberra/ |url-status=live}}</ref> References to breasts or the space between them are thought to derive from Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie, two large hills with similar elevations situated immediately to the northwest and northeast, respectively, of what is now the city centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p17331/html/ch05.xhtml?referer=xxx&page=13|title=The methodology of reconstructing Indigenous placenames: Australian Capital Territory and south-eastern New South Wales|first=Harold|last=Koch|date=2009|work=Aboriginal Placenames: Naming and Renaming the Australian Landscape|publisher=ANU E Press and Aboriginal History Incorporated|quote=The other widely known theory is that the name meant ‘breasts’. John Gale was told at Andrew Cunningham’s funeral at Lanyon in 1887 by Rev. Canon Champion of Bungendore that a very old swagman familiar with the area had heard from the blacks “that the English equivalent for Canberra was ‘a woman’s breasts’”; this was suggested by the two hills Mr Ainslie and Black Mountain... Gale’s reported meaning ‘breast’ may contain an oblique reference to a mythological story, since body parts do often figure in Aboriginal myth-based toponymy. Nevertheless the story, if there was one, remains irrecoverable.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cleavage-gives-canberra-allure-20121116-29hgk.html|title=Cleavage gives Canberra allure|date=17 November 2012|first=Tony|last=Wright|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|quote=Canberra, Mortimer confirmed, was indeed the same word as Ngambri. "So what does Ngambri actually mean?" Daley asked. "Cleavage," said the Ngambri elder. "You sure?" insisted Daley. "No doubt whatsoever. Her womb is where Capital Hill is today."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/specials/curious-canberra/2016-04-04/indigenous-sites-in-canberra/7281812|title=Thousands of Indigenous heritage sites scattered across Canberra|first=Jordan|last=Hayne|work=ABC News|date=4 April 2016|quote=Ngambri-Guumaal elder Shane Mortimer, who contests the Ngunnawal claim to Canberra, said Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie and the area between them were hugely significant to his people. "Canberra is women's business, it is women's country," he said. "[The word 'Canberra'] means cleavage – the space between a woman's breasts, that's Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie, and a very very important area for our people, indeed a corroboree ground for our people, right where the National Museum of Australia is today."}}</ref>

Alternative proposals for the name of the city during its planning included Austral, Australville, Aurora, Captain Cook, Caucus City, Cookaburra, Dampier, Eden, Eucalypta, Flinders, Gonebroke, Home, Hopetoun, Kangaremu, Myola, Meladneyperbane, New Era, Olympus, Paradise, Shakespeare, Sydmelperadbrisho, Swindleville, The National City, Union City, Unison, Wattleton, Wheatwoolgold, Yass-Canberra.<ref>{{cite web |title=Suggested names for Australia's new capital {{!}} naa.gov.au |url=https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/government-and-democracy/federation/suggested-names-australias-new-capital |access-date=17 November 2021 |website=www.naa.gov.au |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117110616/https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/government-and-democracy/federation/suggested-names-australias-new-capital |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Australia For Everyone: Canberra - The Names of Canberra |url=https://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/australia-for-everyone-canberra-11/ |access-date=17 November 2021 |website=Australia Guide |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117110616/https://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/australia-for-everyone-canberra-11/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Salvage |first=Jess |date=25 August 2016 |title=The Siting and Naming of Canberra |url=https://www.nca.gov.au/siting-and-naming-canberra |access-date=17 November 2021 |website=www.nca.gov.au |language=en |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117110625/https://www.nca.gov.au/siting-and-naming-canberra |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History== {{Main|History of Canberra}}

=== First Nations peoples === The first peoples of the Canberra area include the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Community Stories: Canberra Region |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/learn/encounters-education/community-stories/canberra |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=National Museum of Australia |language=en}}</ref> Other groups claiming a connection to the land include the Ngarigo (who also lived directly to the south) and the Ngambri-Guumaal.<ref name=":9" /> Neighbouring groups include the Wandandian to the east, the Walgulu also to the south, Gandangara people to the north and Wiradjuri to the north-west.

The first British settlers into the Canberra area described two clans of Ngunnawal people resident to the vicinity. The ''Canberry'' or ''Nganbra'' clan lived mostly around Sullivan's Creek and had ceremonial grounds at the base of Galambary (Black Mountain), while the ''Pialligo'' clan had land around what is now Canberra Airport.<ref name="bluett">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2908643 |title=ABORIGINES ADVISED AINSLIE TO CHOOSE DUNTROON |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=28 |issue=3,213 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=30 April 1954 |access-date=24 May 2022 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16374628 |title=CANBERRA BLACKS. |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |issue=27,886 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=21 May 1927 |access-date=24 May 2022 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The people living here carefully managed and cultivated the land with fire, farmed yams, and hunted for food.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |url=https://services.anu.edu.au/files/guidance/Aboriginal_Heritage_Trail2.pdf |title=Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Trail |publisher=Australian National University |archive-date=3 March 2023 |access-date=1 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303132126/https://services.anu.edu.au/files/guidance/Aboriginal_Heritage_Trail2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Archaeological evidence of settlement in the region includes inhabited rock shelters, rock paintings and engravings, burial places, camps and quarry sites as well as stone tools and arrangements.<ref name="Gillespie84">{{cite book |last=Gillespie |first=Lyall |title=Aborigines of the Canberra Region |publisher=Wizard (Lyall Gillespie) |location=Canberra |year=1984 |pages=1–25 |isbn=0-9590255-0-2}}</ref> Artefacts suggests early human activity occurred at some point in the area 21,000 years previously.<ref name=":1">{{citation |last1=Flood |first1=J. M. |last2=David |first2=B. |last3=Magee |first3=J. |last4=English |first4=B. |year=1987 |title=Birrigai: a Pleistocene site in the south eastern highlands |journal=Archaeology in Oceania |volume=22 |pages=9–22 |doi=10.1002/j.1834-4453.1987.tb00159.x}}</ref>

Still today, Ngunnawal men into the present conduct ceremony on the banks of the river, Murrumbidgee River. They travel upstream as they receive their Totems and corresponding responsibilities for land management. 'Murrum' means 'Pathway' and Bidgee means 'Boss'.<ref name=":7" />

The submerged limestone caves beneath Lake Burley Griffin contained Aboriginal rock art, some of the only sites in the region.<ref name=":7" />

Galambary (Black Mountain) is an important Aboriginal meeting and business site, predominantly for men's business. According to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, Mt Ainslie is primarily for place of women's business. Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie are referred to as women's breasts. Galambary was also used by Ngunnawal people as an initiation site, with the mountain itself said to represent the growth of a boy into a man.<ref name=":7" />

=== British exploration and colonisation === [[File:St johns church in reid canberra.jpg|thumb|St John's Anglican Church, the oldest surviving public building in the inner city, consecrated in 1845]] [[File:Blundells Cottage overview.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|Blundells Cottage, built around 1860,<ref name=BLUNDELL>{{cite web |url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/blundells-cottage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260101053533/https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/blundells-cottage |archive-date=1 January 2026 |title=Blundells Cottage |publisher=National Capital Authority |access-date=10 February 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> is one of the few remaining buildings built by the first white settlers of Canberra.]] In October 1820, Charles Throsby Smith led the first British expedition to the area.<ref name="cambage">{{cite journal |last1=Cambage |first1=R.H. |title=Exploration between the Wingecarribee, Shoalhaven, Macquarie and Murrumbidgee Rivers |journal=Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society |date=1921 |volume=7 |issue=5 |pages=217–288 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-596088877 |access-date=23 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/canberra-australias-capital-city |publisher=Australian Government |title=Canberra – Australia's capital city |date=4 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212004359/http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/canberra-australias-capital-city |archive-date=12 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=5}}{{sfn|Gillespie|1991|pp=3-8}} Four other expeditions occurred between 1820 and 1823 with the first accurate map being produced by explorer Mark John Currie in June 1823. By this stage, the area had become known as the Limestone Plains.<ref name="cambage" /><ref>{{Citation |author1=Currie, Mark John |title=Journal of an excursion to the southward of Lake George in New South Wales |year=1823 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-62444232 |id=nla.obj-62444232 |access-date=24 May 2022 |via=Trove}}</ref>

British settlement of the area probably dates from late 1823, when a sheep station was formed on what is now the Acton Peninsula by James Cowan, the head stockman employed by Joshua John Moore.{{sfn|Gillespie|1991|p=9}} Moore had received a land grant in the region in 1823 and formally applied to purchase the site on 16 December 1826. He named the property "Canberry". On 30 April 1827, Moore was told by letter that he could retain possession of {{cvt|1000|acres|0}} at Canberry.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29891172 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728133212/http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/29891172 |url-status=live |archive-date=28 July 2013 |title=LETTERS. |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 January 1934 |access-date=8 October 2012 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Other colonists soon followed Moore's example to take up land in the region. Around 1825, James Ainslie, working on behalf of the wealthy merchant Robert Campbell, arrived to establish a sheep station. He was guided to the region by a local Aboriginal girl who showed him the fine lands of her ''Pialligo'' clan.<ref name="bluett" /> The area then became the property of Campbell and it was initially named Pialligo before Campbell changed it to the Scottish title of Duntroon.<ref name="selkirk" />{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|p=48}}{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=9}} Campbell and his family built a dairy on the site in 1832, now regarded as the oldest standing European building in Canberra,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/duntroon-dairy/ |title=Duntroon Dairy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.canberratracks.act.gov.au/heritage-trails/track-2-the-limestone-plains/duntroon-dairy |title=Duntroon Diary |last= |first= |date=4 August 2022 |website=www.canberratracks.act.gov.au |publisher= |access-date=7 September 2024 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://exhibitions.cmag.com.au/dont-forget-the-milk/early-dairies-in-canberra |title=Early dairies in Canberra |website=Exhibitions}}</ref> followed by the imposing stone house that is now the officers' mess of the Royal Military College, Duntroon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dha.gov.au/publications/australian-capital-territory.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318062335/http://www.dha.gov.au/publications/australian-capital-territory.pdf |archive-date=18 March 2012 |title=The Royal Military College, Duntroon |publisher=Defence Housing Australia |page=81 |access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref> The Campbells sponsored settlement by other farmer families to work their land, such as the Southwells of "Weetangera".{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|pp=87-95}}

Other notable early colonists included Henry Donnison, who established the Yarralumla estate—now the site of the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia—in 1827, and John Palmer who employed Duncan Macfarlane to form the Jerrabomberra property in 1828. A year later, John MacPherson established the Springbank estate, becoming the first British owner-occupier in the region.<ref name="selkirk" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169144960 |title=Canberra and the Early Settlers |newspaper=Sydney Mail |volume=XXXI |issue=789 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=11 May 1927 |access-date=24 May 2022 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/content.php?id=24 |title=Government House |publisher=Governor General of Australia |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719211832/http://www.gg.gov.au/governorgeneral/content.php?id=24 |archive-date=19 July 2008}}</ref>

The Anglican church of St John the Baptist, in the suburb of Reid,{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=116}} was consecrated in 1845, and is now the oldest surviving public building in the city.{{sfn|Gillespie|1991|p=78}}{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=17}} St John's churchyard contains the earliest graves in the district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.australiancemeteries.com/act/stjohns.htm |last=Weatherill |first=David |year=2007 |title=Church of St John the Baptist Cemetery |publisher=The Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra |access-date=7 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403094643/http://www.australiancemeteries.com/act/stjohns.htm |archive-date=3 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> It has been described as a "sanctuary in the city",<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Randall |title=Sanctuary in the city: the Anglican Church of St John the Baptist Canberra |date=2012 |publisher=The Anglican Church of St John the Baptist, Canberra |isbn=9780646574455}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sanctuary in the City |url=https://www.stjohnscanberra.org/sanctuary-in-the-city |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727090422/https://www.stjohnscanberra.org/sanctuary-in-the-city |url-status=live}}</ref> remaining a small English village-style church even as the capital grew around it. Canberra's first school, St John's School (now a museum), was situated next to the church and opened in the same year of 1845.<ref>{{cite web |title=Discover our territory |url=http://www.canberrahistory.org.au/discover.asp |website=Canberra History |publisher=Canberra & District Historical Society |access-date=22 April 2020 |archive-date=12 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912075512/http://www.canberrahistory.org.au/discover.asp |url-status=live}}</ref> It was built to educate local settlers children,<ref name="Nohra">{{cite news |last1=Danielle |first1=Nohra |title=New roof for Canberra's oldest church |url=https://citynews.com.au/2019/new-roof-for-canberras-oldest-church/ |access-date=22 April 2020 |publisher=City News (Canberra) |date=3 July 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727075315/https://citynews.com.au/2019/new-roof-for-canberras-oldest-church/ |url-status=live}}</ref> including the Blundell children who lived in nearby Blundell's Cottage.<ref name="Sue W">{{cite web |last1=W |first1=Sue |title=St John's Church & Schoolhouse Museum |url=https://www.weekendnotes.com/st-johns-church-and-school-house-museum-canberra/ |website=Weekend Notes |access-date=22 April 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727065911/https://www.weekendnotes.com/st-johns-church-and-school-house-museum-canberra/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

As the European presence increased, the Indigenous population dwindled largely due to the destruction of their society, dislocation from their lands and from introduced diseases such as influenza, smallpox, alcoholism, and measles.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rowley |first1=C.D. |title=The Destruction of Aboriginal Society |date=1970 |publisher=ANU Press |location=Canberra}}</ref><ref name=canb/>

===Creation of the nation's capital=== [[File:Parliamenthouse2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|right|The opening of Parliament House in May 1927]] The district's change from a rural area in New South Wales to the national capital started during debates over federation in the late 19th century.{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=92}}{{sfn|Gillespie|1991|pp=220-230}} Following a long dispute over whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the national capital,<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=The Oxford Companion to Australian History |editor1-last=Davison |editor1-first=Graeme |editor2-last=Hirst |editor2-first=John |editor3-last=Macintyre |editor3-first=Stuart |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=464–465, 662–663 |isbn=9780195535976}}</ref> a compromise was reached: the new capital would be built in New South Wales, so long as it was at least {{cvt|100|mi|km|-1}} from Sydney,{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=92}} with Melbourne to be the temporary seat of government while the new capital was built.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=24}} A survey was conducted across several sites in New South Wales with Bombala, southern Monaro, Orange, Yass, Albury, Tamworth, Armidale, Tumut, and Dalgety all discussed.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Old Canberra and the search for a capital |last=Fitzhardinge |first=L. F. |publisher=Canberra & District Historical Society |year=1975 |isbn=0-909655-02-2 |page=27}}</ref> Dalgety was chosen by the federal parliament and it passed the ''Seat of Government Act 1904'' confirming Dalgety as the site of the nation's capital. However, the New South Wales government refused to cede the required territory as they did not accept the site.<ref name=":0" /> In 1906, the New South Wales Government finally agreed to cede sufficient land provided that it was in the Yass-Canberra region as this site was closer to Sydney.{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=92}} Newspaper proprietor John Gale circulated a pamphlet titled 'Dalgety or Canberra: Which?' advocating Canberra to every member of the Commonwealth's seven state and federal parliaments. By many accounts, it was decisive in the selection of Canberra as the site in 1908 as was a result of survey work done by the government surveyor Charles Scrivener.{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=93}} The NSW government ceded the district to the federal government in 1911 and the Federal Capital Territory was established.{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=92}} thumb|The Griffins' plan for Canberra An international design competition was launched by the Department of Home Affairs on 30 April 1911, closing on 31 January 1912. The competition was boycotted by the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Institution of Civil Engineers and their affiliated bodies throughout the British Empire because the Minister for Home Affairs King O'Malley insisted that the final decision was for him to make rather than an expert in city planning.<ref name=tom>Tom Lawrence, "The competition for the plan of Canberra", in supplement "Australia - 100 Years a Nation", ''The Canberra Times'', 1 January 2001</ref> A total of 137 valid entries were received. O'Malley appointed a three-member board to advise him but they could not reach unanimity. On 24 May 1911,{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=100}} O'Malley came down on the side of the majority of the board with the design by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin of Chicago, Illinois, United States, being declared the winner.{{sfn|Gillespie|1991|p=178}}{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|pp=160-166}} Second was Eliel Saarinen of Finland and third was Alfred Agache of Brazil but resident in Paris, France.<ref name=tom/> O'Malley then appointed a six-member board to advise him on the implementation of the winning design. On 25 November 1912, the board advised that it could not support the Griffins' plan in its entirety and suggested an alternative plan of its own devising. This plan ostensibly incorporated the best features of the three place-getting designs as well as of a fourth design by H. Caswell, R.C.G. Coulter and W. Scott-Griffiths of Sydney, the rights to which it had purchased. It was this composite plan that was endorsed by Parliament and given formal approval by O'Malley on 10 January 1913.<ref name=tom/> However, it was the Griffin plan which was ultimately proceeded with. In 1913, Walter Burley Griffin was appointed Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction and construction began.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=63}} On 23 February, King O'Malley drove the first peg in the construction of the future capital city.

In 1912, the government invited suggestions from the public as to the name of the future city. Almost 750 names were suggested. At midday on 12 March 1913,{{sfn|Gillespie|1991|p=303}}<ref>{{citation |url=http://aso.gov.au/titles/historical/naming-federal-capital/clip3/ |archive-date=17 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217062840/http://aso.gov.au/titles/historical/naming-federal-capital/clip3/ |url-status=live |publisher=National Film & Sound Archive |work=Australian Screen |title=Naming the Federal Capital of Australia |year=1913}}</ref> Lady Denman, the wife of Governor-General Lord Denman, announced that the city would be named "Canberra" at a ceremony at Kurrajong Hill,{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=103}}{{sfn|Australian Bureau of Statistics|1963}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px7vFz9HIK0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/Px7vFz9HIK0 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |title=View Naming the Federal Capital of Australia |website=YouTube |date=12 March 1913}}{{cbignore }}</ref> which has since become Capital Hill and the site of the present Parliament House.{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=105}} Canberra Day is a public holiday observed in the ACT on the second Monday in March to celebrate the founding of Canberra.<ref name=canb>{{cite web |url=http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/canberra/ |title=Canberra – Australia's capital city |publisher=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts |date=4 February 2010 |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=10 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410090632/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/canberra/}}</ref> After the ceremony, bureaucratic disputes hindered Griffin's work;{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|pp=70-71}} a Royal Commission in 1916 ruled his authority had been usurped by certain officials and his original plan was reinstated.{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=101}} Griffin's relationship with the Australian authorities was strained and a lack of funding meant that by the time he was fired in 1920, little work had been done.{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=4}}{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|pp=69-79}} By this time, Griffin had revised his plan, overseen the earthworks of major avenues and established the Glenloch Cork Plantation.<ref name="act">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=136&Itemid=171 |title=History of the NCA |date=11 June 2009 |publisher=National Capital Authority |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212091704/https://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=136&Itemid=171 |archive-date=12 February 2014 |url-status=live |access-date=26 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/heritage_assets/duntroon_wollshed |title=Glenloch Cork Oak Plantation |publisher=Territory and Municipal Services |access-date=26 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721193100/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/heritage_assets/duntroon_wollshed |archive-date=21 July 2008}}</ref>

=== Development throughout 20th century === [[File:Canberra Government House.jpg|thumb|Canberra's Government House, the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia]] [[File:CSIRO ScienceImage 11612 Parliament House Canberra.jpg|thumb|The land-axis aligns Parliament House (foreground) with Old Parliament House (background) ]] The Commonwealth government purchased the pastoral property of Yarralumla in 1913 to provide an official residence for the Governor-General of Australia in the new capital.<ref name="Australiana Fund">{{cite web |title=Government House |url=https://www.theaustralianafund.org.au/houses/government-house.html |publisher=The Australiana Fund |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418201114/http://www.theaustralianafund.org.au/houses/government-house.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Renovations began in 1925 to enlarge and modernise the property.<ref>{{cite web |title=Government House |url=https://www.gg.gov.au/about-governor-generalgovernor-generals-official-residences/government-house |publisher=Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor General |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310144051/https://www.gg.gov.au/about-governor-generalgovernor-generals-official-residences/government-house |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1927, the property was officially dubbed Government House.<ref name="Australiana Fund"/> On 9 May that year, the Commonwealth parliament moved to Canberra with the opening of the Provisional Parliament House.{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=130}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/witness-to-history-the-opening-of-the-provisional-parliament-house-in-1927/ |title=Witness to history: the opening of the Provisional Parliament House in 1927 |publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House |author=Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513125119/http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/witness-to-history-the-opening-of-the-provisional-parliament-house-in-1927/ |date=12 April 2010 |archive-date=13 May 2013}}</ref> The Prime Minister Stanley Bruce had officially taken up residence in The Lodge a few days earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/bruce/spouse.aspx |title=Ethel Bruce – Stanley Melbourne Bruce – Australia's PMs – Australia's Prime Ministers |publisher=National Archives of Australia |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=11 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211195353/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/bruce/spouse.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=101}} Planned development of the city slowed significantly during the depression of the 1930s and during World War II.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|pp=125-128}} Some projects planned for that time, including Roman Catholic and Anglican cathedrals, were never completed.{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|pp=116-126}} (Nevertheless, in 1973 the Roman Catholic parish church of St. Christopher was remodelled into St Christopher's Cathedral, Manuka, serving the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. It is the only cathedral in Canberra.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.world-guides.com/australia-continent/australia/australian-capital-territory/canberra/canberra_churches.html |title=Canberra Churches and Cathedrals: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory - ACT, Australia |access-date=22 November 2021 |archive-date=29 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229075026/http://www.world-guides.com/australia-continent/australia/australian-capital-territory/canberra/canberra_churches.html |url-status=live}}</ref>)

From 1920 to 1957, three bodies — successively the Federal Capital Advisory Committee,{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=115}} the Federal Capital Commission,{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=128}} and the National Capital Planning and Development Committee — continued to plan the further expansion of Canberra in the absence of Griffin. However, they were only advisory and development decisions were made without consulting them, which increased inefficiency.<ref name=act/>{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=113}}

The largest event in Canberra up to World War II was the 24th Meeting of ANZAAS in January 1939. ''The Canberra Times'' described it as "a signal event ... in the history of this, the world's youngest capital city". The city's accommodation was not nearly sufficient to house the 1,250 delegates and a tent city had to be set up on the banks of the Molonglo River. One of the prominent speakers was H. G. Wells, who was a guest of the Governor-General Lord Gowrie for a week. This event coincided with a heatwave across south-eastern Australia during which the temperature in Canberra reached 108.5 degrees Fahrenheit (42.5 Celsius) on 11 January. On Friday, 13 January, the Black Friday bushfires caused 71 deaths in Victoria and Wells accompanied the Governor-General on his tour of areas threatened by fires.<ref>Stephen Wilks, "The visitation of 1939", ''The Canberra Times'', 29 June 2000, p. 11</ref>

Immediately after the end of the war, Canberra was criticised for resembling a village and its disorganised collection of buildings was deemed ugly.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=6}}{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=1-3}}{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=7-9}} Canberra was often derisively described as "several suburbs in search of a city".<ref>{{Cite book |first=A. E. |last=Minty |editor1-last=Ackermann |editor1-first=William C. |editor2-last=White |editor2-first=Gilbert F. |editor3-last=Worthington |editor3-first=E. B. |title=Man-Made Lakes: Their Problems and Environmental Effects |chapter=Lake Burley Griffin, Australia |page=804 |year=1973 |publisher=American Geophysical Union}}</ref> Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies regarded the state of the national capital as an embarrassment.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=30}} Over time his attitude changed from one of contempt to that of championing its development. He fired two ministers charged with the development of the city for poor performance. Menzies remained in office for over a decade and in that time the development of the capital sped up rapidly.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=31-32}}{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=103-104, 145, 188, 323}} The population grew by more than 50 per cent in every five-year period from 1955 to 1975.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=103-104, 145, 188, 323}} Several Government departments, together with public servants, were moved to Canberra from Melbourne following the war.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|pp=111-120}} Government housing projects were undertaken to accommodate the city's growing population.{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|pp=230-242}}

The National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) formed in 1957 with executive powers and ended four decades of disputes over the shape and design of Lake Burley Griffin — the centrepiece of Griffin's design — and construction was completed in 1964 after four years of work.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=130-140}} The completion of the lake finally laid the platform for the development of Griffin's Parliamentary Triangle.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=170-180}} Since the initial construction of the lake, various buildings of national importance have been constructed on its shores.{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=18}} [[File:Parliament House, National Library of Australia, Canberra, 2023.jpg|thumb|Various civic landmarks line Lake Burley Griffin. Pictured is the National Library and Parliament House (background)]] The newly built Australian National University was expanded and sculptures as well as monuments were built.{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=18}}{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=173-174}} A new National Library was constructed within the Parliamentary Triangle, followed by the High Court and the National Gallery.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=116}}{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=138}} Suburbs in Canberra Central (often referred to as North Canberra and South Canberra) were further developed in the 1950s and urban development in the districts of Woden Valley and Belconnen commenced in the mid and late 1960s respectively, followed by the district of Tuggeranong in the mid-1970s.{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|p=250}}{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=180}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nca.gov.au/education/canberras-history/building-canberra-1958-1988# |title=Building Canberra from 1958-1988 |last= |first= |date= |website=www.nca.gov.au |publisher= |access-date=7 September 2024 |quote=}}</ref> Many of the new suburbs were named after Australian politicians such as Barton, Deakin, Reid, Braddon, Curtin, Chifley and Parkes.{{sfn|Universal Publishers|2007|p=6}}

On 9 May 1988, a larger and permanent Parliament House was opened on Capital Hill as part of Australia's bicentenary celebrations.<ref name=pho/>{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=138}} The Commonwealth Parliament moved there from the Provisional Parliament House, now known as Old Parliament House.<ref name=pho>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/features/aph/page01.htm |title=Australian Parliament House – 10 Years On |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=5 May 1998 |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418161119/http://www.abc.net.au/news/features/aph/page01.htm |archive-date=18 April 2010}}</ref>

=== Self-government === In December 1988, the Australian Capital Territory was granted full self-government by the Commonwealth Parliament, a step proposed as early as 1965.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Buxton |first=David |date=1965 |title=Self-Government for the Australian Capital Territory? |journal=The Australian Quarterly |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=40–49 |doi=10.2307/20634023 |jstor=20634023 |hdl=1885/132092 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> Following the first election on 4 March 1989,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/1989/timetable_89.html |title=Election timetable – 1989 Election |publisher=Elections ACT |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328084555/http://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/1989/timetable_89.html}}</ref> a 17-member Legislative Assembly sat at temporary offices at 1 Constitution Avenue, Civic, on 11 May 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legassembly.act.gov.au/education/fact-sheets.asp?nav=factsheet02#1 |title=Fact sheets |publisher=Legislative Assembly for the ACT |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329130619/http://www.legassembly.act.gov.au/education/fact-sheets.asp?nav=factsheet02 |archive-date=29 March 2013 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="ass">{{cite web |url=http://www.legassembly.act.gov.au/education/role-of-the-assembly.asp |title=Role of the Assembly |publisher=Legislative Assembly for the ACT |access-date=23 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527141718/http://www.legassembly.act.gov.au/education/role-of-the-assembly.asp |archive-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> Permanent premises were opened on London Circuit in 1994.<ref name="ass" /> The Australian Labor Party formed the ACT's first government, led by the Chief Minister Rosemary Follett, who made history as Australia's first female head of government.<ref name="state_el" /><ref>{{cite news |title=NSW boasts first female leadership team |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/nsw-boasts-first-female-leadership-team-20091204-k94l.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515212717/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/nsw-boasts-first-female-leadership-team-20091204-k94l.html |archive-date=15 May 2012 |date=3 December 2009 |last=Jerga |first=Josh |access-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> The 1990s also saw urban development begin in the district of Gungahlin in the far north of the ACT.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lamberton |first=Hugh |date=19 October 1991 |title=Follett launches our fourth satellite |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134160766 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Canberra Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mygungahlin.com.au/about-gungahlin/ |title=About Gungahlin |website=My Gungahlin}}</ref> thumb|The Skywhale and Skywhalepapa in 2021 Parts of Canberra were engulfed by bushfires on 18 January 2003 that killed four people, injured 435 and destroyed more than 500 homes as well as the major research telescopes of Australian National University's Mount Stromlo Observatory.<ref name="Doogan">{{cite book |last=Doogan |first=Maria |title=The Canberra Firestorm: Inquests and inquiry into four deaths and four fires between 8 and 18 January 2003 |publisher=ACT Coroners Court |location=Canberra |access-date=7 June 2010 |date=December 2006 |volume=1 |url=http://www.courts.act.gov.au/BushfireInquiry/The_Canberra_Firestorm_Report/The%20Canberra%20Firestorm%20%28VOL%20I%29%20%28chapter%201%29.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090516030249/http://www.courts.act.gov.au/bushfireinquiry/The_Canberra_Firestorm_Report/The%20Canberra%20Firestorm%20(VOL%20I)%20(chapter%201).pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2009}}</ref>

Throughout 2013, several events celebrated the 100th anniversary of the naming of Canberra.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://canberra100.com.au/about |title=About the Centenary of Canberra |publisher=Centenary of Canberra unit – ACT Government |access-date=8 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218210025/http://www.canberra100.com.au/about/ |archive-date=18 February 2013}}</ref> On 11 March 2014, the last day of the centennial year, the Canberra Centenary Column was unveiled in City Hill. Other works included ''The Skywhale'', a hot air balloon designed by the sculptor Patricia Piccinini,<ref>{{cite web |title=Sculpture as hot-air balloon - a whale of a commission |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/cmcd/2013/sculpture-as-hot-air-balloon-a-whale-of-a-commission |work=Media release |publisher=ACT Chief Minister and Cabinet Directorate |access-date=12 May 2013 |archive-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514074711/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/cmcd/2013/sculpture-as-hot-air-balloon-a-whale-of-a-commission |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''StellrScope'' by visual media artist Eleanor Gates-Stuart.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maher |first1=Louise |title=StellrScope: Swirling art and science |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/08/06/3819290.htm |website=666 ABC Canberra |publisher=ABC |access-date=3 April 2017 |archive-date=4 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404045047/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/08/06/3819290.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 February 2021, ''The Skywhale'' was joined by ''Skywhalepapa'' to create a ''Skywhale family'', an event marked by Skywhale-themed pastries and beer produced by local companies as well as an art pop song entitled "We are the Skywhales".<ref name="ABC 2021 New Skywhale hot air balloon">{{cite news |date=7 February 2021 |title=New Skywhale hot air balloon, Skywhalepapa, debuts in Canberra but unfavourable weather keeps sculpture on the ground |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-07/skywhalepapa-unveiled-in-canberra-at-national-gallery-australia/13127580 |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=7 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207000809/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-07/skywhalepapa-unveiled-in-canberra-at-national-gallery-australia/13127580 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014, Canberra was named the best city to live in the world by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=8 October 2014 |title=Canberra ranked 'best place to live' by OECD |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-29531850 |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112041620/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-29531850 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Riordan |first=Primrose |date=7 October 2014 |title=Canberra named the best place in the world...again |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6077678/canberra-named-the-best-place-in-the-worldagain/ |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213180830/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6077678/canberra-named-the-best-place-in-the-worldagain/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=4 February 2020 |title=Why Canberra is Australia's most liveable city |url=https://switzer.com.au/the-experts/john-mcgrath/why-canberra-is-australias-most-liveable-city/ |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=Switzer Daily |language=en-AU |archive-date=14 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214065011/https://switzer.com.au/the-experts/john-mcgrath/why-canberra-is-australias-most-liveable-city/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and was named the third best city to visit in the world by Lonely Planet in 2017.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |date=24 October 2017 |title='Criminally overlooked': Canberra named third-best travel city in the world |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-25/canberra-named-third-best-travel-city-by-lonely-planet/9081954 |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU |archive-date=12 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024628/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-25/canberra-named-third-best-travel-city-by-lonely-planet/9081954 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite web |date=24 October 2017 |title=Lonely Planet lists Canberra as one of the world's three hottest destinations |url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/25/lonely-planet-lists-canberra-as-one-of-the-worlds-three-hottest-destinations |access-date=7 February 2021 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309052149/http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/25/lonely-planet-lists-canberra-as-one-of-the-worlds-three-hottest-destinations |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography== thumb|The Canberra region seen from space

Canberra is located near the Brindabella Ranges (part of the Australian Alps), approximately {{cvt|150|km}} inland from Australia's east coast. Canberra is not incorporated, but its urban environs, which include a large part of the ACT east of the Murrumbidgee River, have an elevation of approximately {{cvt|580|m|ft|-1}} AHD;<ref name=bom>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/canberra/climate.shtml |title=Climate of Canberra Area |access-date=13 May 2010 |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712100903/http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/canberra/climate.shtml |archive-date=12 July 2009}}</ref> the highest point near the built up area is Mount Majura at {{cvt|888|m|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.queanbeyanage.com.au/news/local/news/general/lady-luck-or-lucky-lady/250543.aspx?storypage=0 |title=Lady luck or lucky lady? |work=The Queanbeyan Age |date=19 July 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303151249/http://www.queanbeyanage.com.au/news/local/news/general/lady-luck-or-lucky-lady/250543.aspx?storypage=0 |archive-date=3 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/13686/cnpmapmajura.pdf |title=Canberra Nature Park: Mt Majura Nature Reserve |year=2004 |publisher=ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326060951/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/13686/cnpmapmajura.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2012}}</ref> Other low mountains include Mount Taylor {{cvt|855|m|ft}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/390593/cnpmapmttaylor.pdf |title=Canberra Nature Park: Mt Taylor Nature Reserve |year=2004 |publisher=ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services |access-date=24 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501123641/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/390593/cnpmapmttaylor.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> Mount Ainslie {{cvt|843|m|ft}},<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/390597/cnpmapmtainslie.pdf |title=Canberra Nature Park: Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve |year=2004 |publisher=ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services |access-date=24 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501162251/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/390597/cnpmapmtainslie.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> Mount Mugga Mugga {{cvt|812|m|ft}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/390591/cnpmapmugga.pdf |title=Canberra Nature Park: Mt Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve |year=2004 |publisher=ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services |access-date=24 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501132032/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/390591/cnpmapmugga.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> and Black Mountain {{cvt|812|m|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/390595/cnpmapblackmountain.pdf |title=Canberra Nature Park: Black Mountain Nature Reserve |year=2004 |publisher=ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services |access-date=24 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501120016/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/390595/cnpmapblackmountain.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref>{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|p=28}}

The native forest in the Canberra region was almost wholly eucalypt species and provided a resource for fuel and domestic purposes. By the early 1960s, logging had depleted the eucalypt, and concern about water quality led to the forests being closed. Interest in forestry began in 1915 with trials of a number of species including ''Pinus radiata'' on the slopes of Mount Stromlo. Since then, plantations have been expanded, with the benefit of reducing erosion in the Cotter catchment, and the forests are also popular recreation areas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McLeod |first=Ron |year=2003 |title=Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January 2003 Bushfires in the ACT |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/113939/McLeodInquiry.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514031921/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/113939/McLeodInquiry.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2013 |location=Canberra, ACT |isbn=0-642-60216-6 |publisher=Chief Minister's Department}}</ref>

[[File:Canberra Map-MJC.png|thumb|right|The location of Canberra within the ACT. Canberra's main districts are shown in yellow: Canberra Central (marked as North Canberra and South Canberra), Woden Valley, Belconnen, Weston Creek, Tuggeranong, and Gungahlin.]] The urban environs of Canberra straddle the Ginninderra plain, Molonglo plain, the Limestone plain, and the Tuggeranong plain (Isabella's Plain).{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|loc=inside cover}} The Molonglo River which flows across the Molonglo plain has been dammed to form the national capital's iconic feature Lake Burley Griffin.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=131-132}} The Molonglo then flows into the Murrumbidgee north-west of Canberra, which in turn flows north-west toward the New South Wales town of Yass. The Queanbeyan River joins the Molonglo River at Oaks Estate just within the ACT.{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|loc=inside cover}}

A number of creeks, including Jerrabomberra and Yarralumla Creeks, flow into the Molonglo and Murrumbidgee.{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|loc=inside cover}} Two of these creeks, the Ginninderra and Tuggeranong, have similarly been dammed to form Lakes Ginninderra and Tuggeranong.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=181-182}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/water_catchments/urban_water_catchments/lakeginninderra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917063511/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/water_catchments/urban_water_catchments/lakeginninderra |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 17, 2013 |title=Lake Ginninderra |publisher=ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services |access-date=17 September 2013}}</ref>{{sfn|Williams|2006|p=260}} Until recently the Molonglo River had a history of sometimes calamitous floods; the area was a flood plain prior to the filling of Lake Burley Griffin.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=4-7, 13-14}}<ref name="NCA_ Scrivener">{{cite book |title=Scrivener Dam |publisher=National Capital Authority |pages=1–2 |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/downloads/education_and_understanding/factsheets/20ScrivenerDam.pdf |access-date=2 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501233910/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/downloads/education_and_understanding/factsheets/20ScrivenerDam.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref>

===Climate=== [[File:Autumn in Canberra.jpg|thumb|left|270px|Autumn foliage in Canberra]] Under the Köppen-Geiger classification, Canberra has an oceanic climate (''Cfb'').<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate: Canberra – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table |url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/118/ |publisher=Climate-Data.org |access-date=5 September 2013 |archive-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016084028/http://en.climate-data.org/location/118/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In January, the warmest month, the average high is approximately {{cvt|29|C|F}}; in July, the coldest month, the average high drops to approximately {{cvt|12|C|F}}.

Frost is common in the winter months. Snow is rare in the CBD (central business district) due to being on the leeward (eastern) side of the dividing range, but the surrounding areas get annual snowfall through winter and often the snow-capped Brindabella Range can be seen from the CBD. The last significant snowfall in the city centre was in 1968.<ref name=bom/>

The highest recorded maximum temperature was {{cvt|44.0|°C}} on 4 January 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/04/australian-weather-canberra-and-penrith-smash-temperature-records-that-stood-for-80-years |title=Australian heatwave: Canberra and Penrith smash temperature records that stood for 80 years |work=The Guardian |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=4 January 2020 |access-date=2 October 2021 |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117155802/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/04/australian-weather-canberra-and-penrith-smash-temperature-records-that-stood-for-80-years |url-status=live}}</ref> Winter 2011 was Canberra's warmest winter on record, approximately {{cvt|2|C-change|0}} above the average temperature.<ref>{{cite news |title=Canberra's warmest winter |work=abc.net.au |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-31/warmest-canberra-winter/2864086 |date=31 August 2011 |access-date=28 August 2016 |archive-date=11 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911023205/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-31/warmest-canberra-winter/2864086 |url-status=live}}</ref> thumb|Long-term temperature increase in Canberra

The lowest recorded minimum temperature was {{cvt|−10.0|°C}} on the morning of 11 July 1971.<ref name=bom/> Light snow falls only once in every few years, and is usually not widespread and quickly dissipates.<ref name=bom/>

Canberra is protected from the west by the Brindabellas which create a strong rain shadow in Canberra's valleys.<ref name=bom/> Canberra gets 100.4 clear days annually.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070014_All.shtml |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations: Canberra Airport Comparison |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=3 September 2011 |archive-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709190756/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070014_All.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> Annual rainfall is the third lowest of the capital cities (after Adelaide and Hobart)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/ausclim/zones.htm#two |title=Australia – Climate of Our Continent |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090317054300/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/96122/20090317-1643/www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/ausclim/zones.html |archive-date=17 March 2009}}{{cbignore|bot=medic }}</ref> and is spread fairly evenly over the seasons, with late spring bringing the highest rainfall.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070014.shtml |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations: Canberra Airport |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=18 April 2026 }}</ref> Thunderstorms occur mostly between October and April, owing to the effect of summer and the mountains.<ref name=bom/>

The area is generally sheltered from a westerly wind, though strong northwesterlies can develop. A cool, vigorous afternoon easterly change, colloquially referred to as a 'sea-breeze' or the 'Braidwood Butcher',<ref>{{cite web |last1=The Yowie Man |first1=Tim |title=Summer saviour |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6036171/tim-the-yowie-man-summer-saviour/ |access-date=11 January 2022 |website=Canberra Times |date=23 February 2017 |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111091802/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6036171/tim-the-yowie-man-summer-saviour/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bureau of Meteorology Australian Capital Territory |url=https://twitter.com/BOM_ACT/status/1342318440921620480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1342318440921620480%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FBOM_ACT2Fstatus2F1342318440921620480widget%3DTweet |access-date=11 January 2022 |website=Twitter |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111005447/https://twitter.com/BOM_ACT/status/1342318440921620480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1342318440921620480%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2FBOM_ACT2Fstatus2F1342318440921620480widget%3DTweet |url-status=live}}</ref> is common during the summer months<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Taylor |first1=John R. |last2=Kossmann |first2=Meinolf |last3=Low |first3=David J. |last4=Zawar-Reza |first4=Peyman |date=September 2005 |title=Summertime easterly surges in southeastern Australia: a case study of thermally forced flow |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jshess/docs/2005/taylor_hres.pdf |journal=Australian Meteorological Magazine |volume=54 |issue=3 |pages=213–223 |doi=10.1071/ES05023 |access-date=11 January 2022 |archive-date=21 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121103705/http://www.bom.gov.au/jshess/docs/2005/taylor_hres.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> and often exceeds 40 km/h in the city. Canberra is also less humid than the nearby coastal areas.<ref name="bom" />

Canberra was severely affected by smoke haze during the 2019/2020 bushfires. On 1 January 2020, Canberra had the worst air quality of any major city in the world, with an AQI of 7700 (USAQI 949).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/03/canberra-chokes-on-worlds-worst-air-quality-as-city-all-but-shut-down |title=Canberra chokes on world's worst air quality as city all but shut down |website=TheGuardian.com |date=3 January 2020 |access-date=5 January 2020 |archive-date=4 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104201651/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/03/canberra-chokes-on-worlds-worst-air-quality-as-city-all-but-shut-down |url-status=live}}</ref> {{Weather box|location = Canberra Airport Comparison (1991–2010 averages, extremes 1939–2023); 578 m AMSL; 35.30° S, 149.20° E |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C=44.0 |Feb record high C=42.7 |Mar record high C=37.5 |Apr record high C=32.6 |May record high C=24.5 |Jun record high C=20.1 |Jul record high C=19.7 |Aug record high C=24.0 |Sep record high C=30.2 |Oct record high C=32.7 |Nov record high C=39.9 |Dec record high C=41.6 |year record high C=44.0 |Jan high C = 28.8 |Feb high C = 27.8 |Mar high C = 24.9 |Apr high C = 20.7 |May high C = 16.6 |Jun high C = 12.9 |Jul high C = 12.1 |Aug high C = 13.8 |Sep high C = 16.8 |Oct high C = 20.1 |Nov high C = 23.4 |Dec high C = 26.5 |year high C = 20.4 |Jan mean C = 21.4 |Feb mean C = 20.8 |Mar mean C = 17.9 |Apr mean C = 13.7 |May mean C = 10.0 |Jun mean C = 7.3 |Jul mean C = 6.2 |Aug mean C = 7.5 |Sep mean C = 10.4 |Oct mean C = 13.4 |Nov mean C = 16.5 |Dec mean C = 19.3 |year mean C = 13.7 |Jan low C = 14.0 |Feb low C = 13.8 |Mar low C = 10.9 |Apr low C = 6.6 |May low C = 3.4 |Jun low C = 1.6 |Jul low C = 0.3 |Aug low C = 1.2 |Sep low C = 4.0 |Oct low C = 6.7 |Nov low C = 9.6 |Dec low C = 12.1 |year low C = 7.0 |Jan record low C = 1.6 |Feb record low C = 2.8 |Mar record low C = -1.1 |Apr record low C = -3.7 |May record low C = -7.5 |Jun record low C = -8.5 |Jul record low C = -10.0 |Aug record low C = -8.5 |Sep record low C = -6.9 |Oct record low C = -3.4 |Nov record low C = -2.3 |Dec record low C = -0.3 |year record low C = -10.0 | Jan avg record high C = 37.2 | Feb avg record high C = 34.8 | Mar avg record high C = 31.8 | Apr avg record high C = 26.3 | May avg record high C = 21.6 | Jun avg record high C = 17.3 | Jul avg record high C = 15.8 | Aug avg record high C = 18.8 | Sep avg record high C = 23.1 | Oct avg record high C = 27.4 | Nov avg record high C = 32.0 | Dec avg record high C = 35.0 | year avg record high C = 37.9 | Jan avg record low C = 7.7 | Feb avg record low C = 7.7 | Mar avg record low C = 4.1 | Apr avg record low C = -0.3 | May avg record low C = -3.1 | Jun avg record low C = -5.0 | Jul avg record low C = -5.2 | Aug avg record low C = -4.7 | Sep avg record low C = -2.2 | Oct avg record low C = -0.1 | Nov avg record low C = 2.2 | Dec avg record low C = 5.3 | year avg record low C = -5.9 |precipitation colour = green |unit precipitation days = 0.2 mm |Jan precipitation mm = 61.3 |Feb precipitation mm = 55.2 |Mar precipitation mm = 37.6 |Apr precipitation mm = 27.3 |May precipitation mm = 31.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 50.0 |Jul precipitation mm = 44.3 |Aug precipitation mm = 43.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 55.8 |Oct precipitation mm = 50.9 |Nov precipitation mm = 68.4 |Dec precipitation mm = 54.1 |year precipitation mm = 579.5 |Jan precipitation days = 6.8 |Feb precipitation days = 6.7 |Mar precipitation days = 5.7 |Apr precipitation days = 5.4 |May precipitation days = 6.3 |Jun precipitation days = 9.7 |Jul precipitation days = 10.0 |Aug precipitation days = 8.5 |Sep precipitation days = 9.8 |Oct precipitation days = 9.1 |Nov precipitation days = 10.2 |Dec precipitation days = 7.2 |year precipitation days = 95.4 |Jan sun = 294.5 |Feb sun = 254.3 |Mar sun = 251.1 |Apr sun = 219.0 |May sun = 186.0 |Jun sun = 156.0 |Jul sun = 179.8 |Aug sun = 217.0 |Sep sun = 231.0 |Oct sun = 266.6 |Nov sun = 267.0 |Dec sun = 291.4 |year sun = 2813.7 |humidity colour= green |Jan afthumidity = 37 |Feb afthumidity = 40 |Mar afthumidity = 42 |Apr afthumidity = 46 |May afthumidity = 54 |Jun afthumidity = 60 |Jul afthumidity = 58 |Aug afthumidity = 52 |Sep afthumidity = 49 |Oct afthumidity = 47 |Nov afthumidity = 41 |Dec afthumidity = 37 |year afthumidity = 47 |Jan dew point C = 8.6 |Feb dew point C = 9.8 |Mar dew point C = 8.5 |Apr dew point C = 6.4 |May dew point C = 5.0 |Jun dew point C = 3.5 |Jul dew point C = 2.3 |Aug dew point C = 2.1 |Sep dew point C = 3.7 |Oct dew point C = 5.4 |Nov dew point C = 6.3 |Dec dew point C = 6.9 |source 1 =Climate averages for Canberra Airport Comparison (1939–2010); averages given are for 1991–2010<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=070014&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations: Canberra Airport Comparison (1991–2020) |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/ |title = Climate data online (Station number: 070014) |publisher = BOM |access-date = 27 Jun 2025}}</ref> |date=September 2011 |source 2=Records from Canberra Airport for more recent extremes<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070351_All.shtml |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations: Canberra Airport |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=17 April 2020 |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726112931/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070351_All.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> }}

===Urban structure=== {{Main|Suburbs of Canberra}}

[[File:Inner-canberra 01MJC.png|right|thumb|Inner Canberra demonstrates some aspects of the Griffin plan, in particular the Parliamentary Triangle.]] [[File:Canberra Civic Centre-1.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of the Civic Centre from Mount Ainslie]] Unusual among Australian cities, Canberra is an entirely planned city, grounded in a design by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nowroozi |first=Isaac |date=19 February 2021 |title=Celebrating Marion Mahony Griffin, the woman who helped shape Canberra |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-20/design-canberra-marion-mahony-griffin-honoured-on-150th-birthday/13171164 |access-date=22 November 2023 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Wendy |author-link1=Wendy Lewis |title=Events That Shaped Australia |last2=Balderstone |first2=Simon |last3=Bowan |first3=John |publisher=New Holland |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-74110-492-9 |page=106}}</ref>{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|pp=60-63}} Within the central area of the city near Lake Burley Griffin, major roads follow a wheel-and-spoke pattern rather than a grid.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=67}} Griffin's proposal had an abundance of geometric patterns, including concentric hexagonal and octagonal streets emanating from several radii.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=67}} However, the outer areas of the city, built later, are not laid out geometrically.{{sfn|Universal Publishers|2007|pp=10-120}}

Lake Burley Griffin was deliberately designed so that the orientation of the components was related to various topographical landmarks in Canberra.{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=3}}{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=64}} The lakes stretch from east to west and divided the city in two; a land axis perpendicular to the central basin stretches from Capital Hill—the eventual location of the new Parliament House on a mound on the southern side—north northeast across the central basin to the northern banks along Anzac Parade to the Australian War Memorial.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=1-3}} This was designed so that looking from Capital Hill, the War Memorial stood directly at the foot of Mount Ainslie. At the southwestern end of the land axis was Bimberi Peak,{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=64}} the highest mountain in the ACT, approximately {{cvt|52|km|0}} south west of Canberra.{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|p=28}}

The straight edge of the circular segment that formed the central basin of Lake Burley Griffin was perpendicular to the land axis and designated the water axis, and it extended northwest towards Black Mountain.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=64}} A line parallel to the water axis, on the northern side of the city, was designated the municipal axis.{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=17}} The municipal axis became the location of Constitution Avenue, which links City Hill in Civic Centre and both Market Centre and the Defence precinct on Russell Hill. Commonwealth Avenue and Kings Avenue were to run from the southern side from Capital Hill to City Hill and Market Centre on the north respectively, and they formed the western and eastern edges of the central basin. The area enclosed by the three avenues was known as the Parliamentary Triangle, and formed the centrepiece of Griffin's work.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=64}}{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=17}} [[File:Canberra National Arboretum with Telstra Tower, Canberra ACT.JPG|thumb|Black Mountain with the landmark Telstra Tower on the right and the National Arboretum in the foreground]]

The Griffins assigned spiritual values to Mount Ainslie, Black Mountain, and Red Hill and originally planned to cover each of these in flowers. That way each hill would be covered with a single, primary colour which represented its spiritual value.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|pp=64-67}} This part of their plan never came to fruition, as World War I slowed construction and planning disputes led to Griffin's dismissal by Prime Minister Billy Hughes after the war ended.{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=4}}{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|pp=69-79}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/timeline/results.aspx?type=pm&pm=William%20Morris%20Hughes |title=Timeline Entries for William Morris Hughes |publisher=National Archives of Australia |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115023419/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/timeline/results.aspx?type=pm |url-status=live}}</ref>

The urban areas of Canberra are organised into a hierarchy of districts, town centres, group centres, local suburbs as well as other industrial areas and villages. There are seven residential districts, each of which is divided into smaller suburbs, and most of which have a town centre which is the focus of commercial and social activities.{{sfn|Universal Publishers|2007|pp=10-60}} The districts were settled in the following chronological order: *Canberra Central, mostly settled in the 1920s and 1930s, with expansion up to the 1960s.{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|pp=110-200}} *Woden Valley, first settled in 1964.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=180}} *Belconnen, first settled in 1966.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=180}} *Weston Creek, first settled in 1969.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wccc.com.au/Pages/aboutweston.php |title=About Weston Creek, Canberra |publisher=Weston Creek Community Council |access-date=23 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408010446/http://www.wccc.com.au/Pages/aboutweston.php |archive-date=8 April 2010}}</ref> *Tuggeranong, first settled in 1974.{{sfn|Fitzgerald|1987|p=167}} *Gungahlin, first settled in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.act.gov.au/find_of_the_month/2021/october/previous-find-of-the-month-102021|title=30 Years of Urban Gungahlin|publisher=ArchivesACT|date=October 2021|access-date=22 January 2026}}</ref> *Molonglo Valley, development began in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1397399/19-07164-Document-1_Part-25.pdf|title=Wright and Coombs|publisher=ACT Government|access-date=23 January 2026}}</ref>

The Canberra Central district is substantially based on Walter Burley Griffin's designs.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=64}}{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=17}}<ref name=map/> In 1967 the then National Capital Development Commission adopted the "Y Plan" which laid out future urban development in Canberra around a series of central shopping and commercial area known as the 'town centres' linked by freeways, the layout of which roughly resembled the shape of the letter Y,{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=154-155}} with Tuggeranong at the base of the Y and Belconnen and Gungahlin located at the ends of the arms of the Y.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|pp=154-155}}

Development in Canberra has been closely regulated by government,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/opinion/how-to-cut-through-the-acts-planning-thicket/717006.aspx?storypage=0 |title=How to cut through the ACT's planning thicket |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=2 March 2005 |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113073334/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/opinion/how-to-cut-through-the-acts-planning-thicket/717006.aspx?storypage=0}}</ref><ref name=rest>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/04/09/2868553.htm |title=It's time to review the grand plan for Canberra, says the NCA |last=Trail |first=Jim |date=9 April 2010 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=21 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121145343/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/04/09/2868553.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> both through planning processes and the use of crown lease terms that have tightly limited the use of parcels of land. Land in the ACT is held on 99-year crown leases from the national government, although most leases are now administered by the Territory government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/property_purchases/leases_licenses/grants_of_leases |title=Grants of leases |publisher=ACT Planning & Land Authority |access-date=13 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929065643/http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/property_purchases/leases_licenses/grants_of_leases |archive-date=29 September 2009}}</ref> There have been persistent calls for constraints on development to be liberalised,<ref name=rest/> but also voices in support of planning consistent with the original 'bush capital' and 'urban forest' ideals that underpin Canberra's design.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Alexandra |first1=Jason |last2=Norman |first2=Barbara |date=23 July 2020 |title=The city as forest - integrating living infrastructure, climate conditioning and urban forestry in Canberra, Australia |journal=Sustainable Earth |volume=3 |issue=1 |page=10 |doi=10.1186/s42055-020-00032-3 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2020SuERv...3...10A}}</ref>

Many of Canberra's suburbs are named after former Prime Ministers, famous Australians, early settlers, or use Aboriginal words for their title.<ref name=name/> Street names typically follow a particular theme; for example, the streets of Duffy are named after Australian dams and reservoirs, the streets of Dunlop are named after Australian inventions, inventors and artists and the streets of Page are named after biologists and naturalists.<ref name=name>{{cite web |url=http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/tools_resources/maps_land_survey/place_names/place_name_processes |title=Place name processes |publisher=ACT Planning & Land Authority |date=11 May 2009 |access-date=10 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419123735/http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/tools_resources/maps_land_survey/place_names/place_name_processes |archive-date=19 April 2013}}</ref> Most diplomatic missions are located in the suburbs of Yarralumla, Deakin, and O'Malley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://protocol.dfat.gov.au/Mission/list.rails |title=Foreign Embassies in Australia |publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |access-date=23 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321131224/http://protocol.dfat.gov.au/Mission/list.rails |archive-date=21 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are three light industrial areas: the suburbs of Fyshwick, Mitchell, and Hume.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.australianhumanitiesreview.org/archive/Issue-September-2000/johnston.html |last=Johnston |first=Dorothy |title=Cyberspace and Canberra Crime Fiction |date=September 2000 |work=Australian Humanities Review |access-date=13 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107064831/http://www.australianhumanitiesreview.org/archive/Issue-September-2000/johnston.html |archive-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> {{wide image|Canberra From Black Mountain Tower.jpg|800px|Panorama of Canberra and Lake Burley Griffin set against the backdrop of distant New South Wales, taken from the Telstra Tower}} {{overlay |image = Canberra viewed from Mount Ainslie.jpg |width = 870 |height = 582 |columns = 4 |legend1title = Points of Interest Looking South from Mount Ainslie |overlay1 = War Memorial |overlay1left = 500 |overlay1top = 530 |overlay1link = Australian War Memorial |overlay2 = Anzac Parade |overlay2left = 430 |overlay2top = 470 |overlay2link = Anzac Parade, Canberra |overlay3 = Old Parliament House |overlay3left = 375 |overlay3top = 245 |overlay3link = Old Parliament House, Canberra |overlay4 = New Parliament House |overlay4left = 375 |overlay4top = 195 |overlay4link = Parliament House, Canberra |overlay5 = National Gallery |overlay5left = 110 |overlay5top = 260 |overlay5link = National Gallery of Australia |overlay6 = High Court |overlay6left = 230 |overlay6top = 275 |overlay6link = High Court of Australia |overlay7 = Questacon |overlay7left = 540 |overlay7top = 250 |overlay7link = Questacon |overlay8 = National Library |overlay8left = 735 |overlay8top = 248 |overlay8link = National Library of Australia |overlay9 = Edmund Barton Building |overlay9left = 30 |overlay9top = 270 |overlay9link = Edmund Barton Building |overlay10 = Brindabella Ranges |overlay10colour = green |overlay10left = 210 |overlay10top = 55 |overlay10link = Brindabella Range |overlay11 = Lovett Tower |overlay11colour = red |overlay11left = 530 |overlay11top = 125 |overlay11link = Lovett Tower |overlay12 = Ben Chifley Building |overlay12left = 75 |overlay12top = 330 |overlay12link = Australian Security Intelligence Organisation |overlay13 = Lake Burley Griffin |overlay13colour = blue |overlay13left = 810 |overlay13top = 310 |overlay13link = Lake Burley Griffin |overlay14 = Limestone Avenue |overlay14colour = red |overlay14left = 650 |overlay14top = 525 |overlay14link = Limestone Avenue, Canberra |overlay15 = Fairbairn Avenue |overlay15left = 205 |overlay15top = 525 |overlay15link = Fairbairn Avenue |overlay16 = Parkes Way |overlay16left = 420 |overlay16top = 350 |overlay16link = Parkes Way |overlay17 = R G Casey Building |overlay17left = 125 |overlay17top = 202 |overlay17link = Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia) |overlay18 = John Gorton Building |overlay18left = 220 |overlay18top = 240 |overlay18link = John Gorton Building |overlay19 = King Edward Terrace |overlay19left = 420 |overlay19top = 275 |overlay20 = Presbyterian Church of Saint Andrew |overlay20left = 175 |overlay20top = 200 |overlay21 = St John's Anglican Church |overlay21left = 635 |overlay21top = 375 |overlay21link = St John the Baptist Church, Reid }}

===Sustainability and the environment=== The average Canberran was responsible for 13.7 tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 June 2012 |title=Sustainability issues in Canberra – background |url=http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/significant_projects/planning_studies/sustainable_future/sustainability_issues_in_canberra__background |publisher=ACT Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426120230/http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/significant_projects/planning_studies/sustainable_future/sustainability_issues_in_canberra__background |archive-date=26 April 2013}}</ref> In 2012, the ACT Government legislated greenhouse gas targets to reduce its emissions by 40 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020, 80 per cent by 2050, with no net emissions by 2060.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.actconference.com.au/?q=News&id=4567f709-a37e-c5be-fec6-521e9b7ab45a |title=Minister showcases Canberra's sustainability success |date=28 August 2013 |first=Simon |last=Corbell |author-link=Simon Corbell |access-date=14 October 2013 |archive-date=22 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022224248/http://www.actconference.com.au/?q=News&id=4567f709-a37e-c5be-fec6-521e9b7ab45a |url-status=live}}</ref> The government announced in 2013 a target for 90% of electricity consumed in the ACT to be supplied from renewable sources by 2020,<ref name="renewable" /> and in 2016 set an ambitious target of 100% by 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-commits-to-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-target-by-2020-simon-corbell-20160428-goh1l9.html |title=ACT commits to 100 per cent renewable energy target by 2020: Simon Corbell |last=Lawson |first=Kirsten |date=29 April 2016 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528225654/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/act-commits-to-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-target-by-2020-simon-corbell-20160428-goh1l9.html |archive-date=28 May 2016 |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-29/act-to-be-powered-by-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-by-2020/7369004 |title=ACT to be powered by 100pc renewable energy by 2020 |date=29 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609180143/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-29/act-to-be-powered-by-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-by-2020/7369004 |archive-date=9 June 2016 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> Canberra achieved 100% renewable electricity in 2020 and the ACT Government committed in 2024 to Canberra using 100% renewable energy in 2045.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.climatechoices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/2509458/integrated-energy-plan-2024-2030.pdf|title=The Integrated Energy Plan|publisher=ACT Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618212046/https://www.climatechoices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/2509458/integrated-energy-plan-2024-2030.pdfp|page=5|archive-date=18 June 2024|url-status=live|access-date=12 January 2022}}</ref>

In 1996, Canberra became the first city in the world to set a vision of no waste, proposing an ambitious target of 2010 for completion.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 2001 |title=Zero waste |url=http://www.uam.es/personal_pdi/ciencias/jaimefa/jaimecuevas/zerow.pdf |publisher=Residua |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118131737/http://www.uam.es/personal_pdi/ciencias/jaimefa/jaimecuevas/zerow.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2011}}</ref> The strategy aimed to achieve a waste-free society by 2010, through the combined efforts of industry, government and community.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lauer |first=Sandra |date=23 May 2007 |title=Reducing commercial waste going to landfill in Canberra by improving the waste management practices of micro businesses |url=http://fennerschool-people.anu.edu.au/richard_baker/SRES3028/example_work/Sandra%20Lauer/learningportfolio/pdfs/SRES6528_waste_policy_brief.pdf |publisher=ACT Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130519094021/http://fennerschool-people.anu.edu.au/richard_baker/SRES3028/example_work/Sandra%20Lauer/learningportfolio/pdfs/SRES6528_waste_policy_brief.pdf |archive-date=19 May 2013}}</ref> By early 2010, it was apparent that though it had reduced waste going to landfill, the ACT initiative's original 2010 target for absolutely zero landfill waste would be delayed or revised to meet the reality.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2 March 2011 |title=Canberra's waste dilemma |url=http://citynews.com.au/2011/canberras-waste-dilemma/ |journal=CityNews |location=Canberra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505115656/http://citynews.com.au/2011/canberras-waste-dilemma/ |archive-date=5 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Craig |date=1 March 2010 |title=No waste |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-26/no-waste/345222 |work=ABC News |access-date=14 October 2013 |archive-date=27 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127161255/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-26/no-waste/345222 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Plastic bags made of polyethylene polymer with a thickness of less than 35 μm were banned from retail distribution in the ACT from November 2011.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 November 2011 |title=Plastic Bag Ban |journal=Canberra Connect |url=https://www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1316 |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=15 October 2013 |archive-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131015080323/https://www.canberraconnect.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1316 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="PlasticBags">{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-01/act-bag-ban-begins/3611860 |title=ACT bag ban begins |last=Dyett |first=Kathleen |date=1 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112235537/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-01/act-bag-ban-begins/3611860 |archive-date=12 January 2012 |work=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/act-bin-bag-sales/3764100?section=act |title=Bin bag sales booming |date=9 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112175608/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-09/act-bin-bag-sales/3764100?section=act |archive-date=12 January 2012 |work=ABC News}}</ref> The ban was introduced by the ACT Government in an effort to make Canberra more sustainable.<ref name="PlasticBags" />

Of all waste produced in the ACT, 75 per cent is recycled.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nash |first=Lucy |date=18 January 2010 |title=No waste 2010=some waste 2010 |url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2010/01/no-waste-2010-some-waste-2010.html |url-status=dead |work=666 ABC Canberra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111204345/http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2010/01/no-waste-2010-some-waste-2010.html |archive-date=11 January 2015}}</ref> Average household food waste in the ACT remains above the Australian average, costing an average $641 per household per annum.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/money/saving/saving-money-can-help-save-others-20111029-1mp5c.html |title=Saving money can help save others |last=Pryor |first=Penny |date=30 October 2011 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604215124/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/money/saving/saving-money-can-help-save-others-20111029-1mp5c.html |archive-date=4 June 2012 |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref>

==Government and politics== === Territory government === {{See also|Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly|Electoral systems of the Australian states and territories}} thumb|ACT Legislative Assembly<br />and the statue ''Ethos'' (Tom Bass, 1961) There is no local council or city government for Canberra, which thus has no precise definition. The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly administers both the urban area and the rest of the Australian Capital Territory.<ref name="ass"/> At the 2021 census, all but 888 people were calculated to reside in the urban area of Canberra.<ref name=":6"/><ref name="Census2021"/>

The assembly consists of 25 members elected from five districts using proportional representation. The five districts are Brindabella, Ginninderra, Kurrajong, Murrumbidgee and Yerrabi, which each elect five members.<ref name="elecpage">{{cite web |title=Electorates 2016 election |date=27 April 2016 |url=http://www.elections.act.gov.au/electoral_boundaries/electorates/electorates_2016_election |publisher=Elections ACT |access-date=9 December 2016 |archive-date=3 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103212449/http://www.elections.act.gov.au/electoral_boundaries/electorates/electorates_2016_election |url-status=live}}</ref> The Chief Minister is elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and selects colleagues to serve as ministers alongside him or her in the Executive, known informally as the cabinet.<ref name="ass" />

Whereas the ACT has federally been dominated by Labor,<ref name="ABCelections2007" /><ref name="fras" /> the Liberals have been able to gain some footing in the ACT Legislative Assembly and were in government during a period of {{frac|6|1|2}} years from 1995 and 2001. Labor took back control of the Assembly in 2001.<ref name="state_el" /> At the 2004 election, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and the Labor Party won 9 of the 17 seats allowing them to form the ACT's first majority government.<ref name="state_el" /> Since 2008, the ACT has been governed by a coalition of Labor and the Greens.<ref name="state_el" /><ref name="anniv">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/11/2566162.htm |title=Turbulent 20yrs of self-government |date=11 May 2009 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110165810/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-11/turbulent-20yrs-of-self-government/1679008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/act-election-2016/guide/preview/ |title=2016 ACT Election Preview |first=Antony |last=Green |author-link=Antony Green |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=9 December 2016 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220072314/http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/act-election-2016/guide/preview/ |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2022}}, the Chief Minister was Andrew Barr from the Australian Labor Party.

The Australian federal government retains some influence over the ACT government. In the administrative sphere, most frequently this is through the actions of the National Capital Authority which is responsible for planning and development in areas of Canberra which are considered to be of national importance or which are central to Griffin's plan for the city,<ref name="nca">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=315&Itemid=284 |title=Administration of National Land |date=18 December 2008 |publisher=National Capital Authority |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218171546/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=315&Itemid=284 |url-status=live}}</ref> such as the Parliamentary Triangle, Lake Burley Griffin, major approach and processional roads, areas where the Commonwealth retains ownership of the land or undeveloped hills and ridge-lines (which form part of the Canberra Nature Park).<ref name="nca" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=312&Itemid=281 |title=Capital Works Overview |date=23 October 2008 |publisher=National Capital Authority |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=16 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516063457/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=312&Itemid=281 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=314&Itemid=283 |title=Maintenance and Operation of Assets |date=23 October 2008 |publisher=National Capital Authority |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=16 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516063401/http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=314&Itemid=283 |url-status=live}}</ref> The national government also retains a level of control over the Territory Assembly through the provisions of the ''Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988''.<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|acta1988482|Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988}}</ref> This federal act defines the legislative power of the ACT assembly.<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|acta1988482/sch4.html|Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988}} Schedule 4.</ref>

=== Federal representation === The ACT was given its first federal parliamentary representation in 1949 when it gained a seat in the House of Representatives, the Division of Australian Capital Territory.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=289}}<ref name="1948act" /> However, until 1966, the ACT member could only vote on matters directly affecting the territory and did not count for purposes of forming government.<ref name="1948act">{{cite web |title=ACT Representation (House of Representatives) Act 1974 (Cth) |publisher=National Archives of Australia |url=https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-116.html |access-date=29 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216225427/https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-sdid-116.html |archive-date=16 December 2017}}</ref> In 1974, the ACT was allocated two Senate seats and the House of Representatives seat was divided into two.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=289}} A third was created in 1996, but was abolished in 1998 because of changes to the regional demographic distribution.<ref name="ABCelections2007" /> A third seat was recreated at a redistribution in 2018 as the Division of Bean.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/redistributions/2017/act/final-report/index.html|title=Australian Capital Territory redistribution: 9. Report of the augmented Electoral Commission|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241105191526/https://www.aec.gov.au/redistributions/2017/act/final-report/index.html| archive-date=5 November 2024|url-status=live|access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref> The House of Representatives seats have mostly been held by Labor and usually by comfortable margins.<ref name=ABCelections2007>{{cite web |title=Canberra |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/canb.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 December 2007 |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-date=9 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309231931/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/canb.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=fras>{{cite web |title=Fraser |url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/fras.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 December 2007 |access-date=31 January 2010 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110165728/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/fras.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The Labor Party has held all seats at every federal election since 1980, although it lost a byelection for the Division of Canberra in 1995.<ref name=state_el>{{cite web |title=Federal Election Preview: Australian Capital Territory|date=31 January 2022 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2025/guide/preview-act |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=10 January 2026 |archive-date=6 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406095427/https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2025/guide/preview-act |url-status=live}}</ref> The ALP and the Liberal Party held one Senate seat each until the 2022 election when Independent candidate David Pocock unseated the Liberal candidate Zed Seselja.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-14/david-pocock-independent-wins-act-senate-unseats-zed-seselja/101149606 |title=ACT elects David Pocock as first independent senator, unseating Liberal Zed Seselja |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=14 June 2022 |access-date=7 July 2022 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702104341/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-14/david-pocock-independent-wins-act-senate-unseats-zed-seselja/101149606 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Judiciary and policing === {{Main|Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory|Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory|ACT Policing}}

{{See also|Crime in the Australian Capital Territory}} [[File:High Court Canberra Australia.jpg|thumb|High Court of Australia]] The Australian Federal Police (AFP) provides all of the constabulary services in the territory in a manner similar to state police forces, under a contractual agreement with the ACT Government, through its community policing arm, ACT Policing.<ref name="afpact">{{cite web |url=https://police.act.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are |title=Who we are |publisher=Australian Federal Police |date=2025 |access-date=23 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114163057/https://police.act.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are |archive-date=14 January 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> People who have been charged with offences are tried either in the ACT Magistrates Court or, for more severe offences, the ACT Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/about-the-courts/history-of-the-supreme-court |title=History of the ACT Supreme Court |publisher=The Supreme Court of the ACT |access-date=23 December 2025 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330024022/https://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/about-the-courts/history-of-the-supreme-court |archive-date=30 March 2025}}</ref> Since 2009, prisoners, including those on remand have been held at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kittel |first=Nicholas |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2008/11/26/2430325.htm |archive-date=1 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501045814/http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2008/11/26/2430325.htm |title=ACT prison built to meet human rights obligations |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=26 November 2008 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal deal with minor civil law actions and other various legal matters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acat.act.gov.au/about_acat |publisher=ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal |title=About ACAT |access-date=23 December 2025 |archive-date=13 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313101959/https://www.acat.act.gov.au/about_acat |url-status=live}}</ref>

Canberra is often described as Australia's safest city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/news/canberra-dubbed-australias-safest-city/|title=Canberra dubbed Australia's safest city|author-first= Lachlan |author-last=Moore|publisher=Compare The Market|date=29 Apr 2025|access-date=23 December 2013}}</ref> {{As of|2024}}, the most common crimes in the ACT were property related crimes, unlawful entry with intent and motor vehicle theft. They affected 1,449 and 920 people (305 and 193 per 100,000 persons respectively). Rates of sexual assault, 428 (89 per 100,000 persons) are also below the national average (147 per 100,000). These rates are lower than the equivalent figures for other states and the Northern Territory, except for motor vehicle theft.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/recorded-crime-victims/latest-release |title=4510.0 – Recorded Crime – Victims, Australia, 2024 |date=3 September 2025 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=23 December 2025 |archive-date=3 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903064140/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/recorded-crime-victims/latest-release |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/national-state-and-territory-population/jun-2024|title=National, state and territory population, June 2024|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=12 December 2024 |access-date=23 December 2025}}</ref>

==Economy== [[File:ACT Government, Canberra.jpg|thumb|Just under a third of Canberrans are employed in the public sector, working in government departments such as the ACT Government]] In November 2025, the unemployment rate in Canberra was 4.4%, almost identical with the national unemployment rate of 4.3%.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release |title=Labour Force, Australia |date=November 2025 |access-date=27 December 2025 |archive-date=27 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251127022232/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release |url-status=live}}</ref> Canberra had a higher median level of weekly personal income than any Australian state capital (which ranged from $762 to $881) at the 2021 census. The median level of personal income was $1,204 compared with the national average of $805.<ref name="8ACTE 2021">{{Census 2021 AUS|id=8ACTE |name=Australian Capital Territory|access-date=25 January 2026|quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=1GSYD |name=Greater Sydney|access-date=25 January 2026|quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=2GMEL|name=Greater Melbourne|access-date=25 January 2026|quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=3GBRI |name=Greater Brisbane|access-date=25 January 2026|quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=4GADE |name=Greater Adelaide|access-date=25 January 2026|quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=5GPER|name=Greater Perth|access-date=25 January 2026|quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=6GHOB|name=Greater Hobart|access-date=25 January 2026|quick=on}}</ref> The median house price in Canberra as of December 2025 was $893,907, lower than Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, but higher than Melbourne, Hobart and Darwin, among capital cities.<ref name="APU">{{cite web |url=https://australianpropertyupdate.com.au/apu/softer-but-still-resilient-housing-market-in-2026 |title=Softer, but still resilient, housing market in 2026|publisher=Australian Property Update|access-date=8 January 2026 |archive-date=8 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108080109/https://australianpropertyupdate.com.au/apu/softer-but-still-resilient-housing-market-in-2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Median weekly rents in Canberra in June 2025 of $677 were similarly about midway in comparison with other state and territory capital cities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-24/rental-price-growth-slows-in-australian-capital-cities/105564548|title=Rental price growth slows in Australian capital cities, Cotality data shows|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=24 July 2025|access-date=8 January 2026}}</ref> [[File:50 Marcus Clarke Street Feb 2016.jpg|left|thumb|The Civic is home to various administrative departments, such as the Department of Education, Skills and Employment]] [[File:Bunda Street July 2021.jpg|left|thumb|Bunda Street in Canberra's shopping district; tourism, retail and hospitality are also major employers.]] The city's main industry is public administration and safety, which accounted for 27.1% of Gross Territory Product in 2018-19 and employed 32.49% of Canberra's workforce.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/399979/GSP.pdf/_recache |publisher=ACT Government |title=CMTED Brief |access-date=29 March 2020 |archive-date=12 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312155536/https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/399979/GSP.pdf/_recache |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="EDA ACT Economic Indicators">{{cite web |url=https://app.remplan.com.au/eda-australiancapitalterritory/economy/industries/employment?state=pBPJF7!zqpdU432PIpMAxgHbd5omIpFefArbs1rWD4UyEABnslfkI00mvCxMa |publisher=EDA Australia |title=EDA ACT Economic Indicators |access-date=29 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329020321/https://app.remplan.com.au/eda-australiancapitalterritory/economy/industries/employment%3Fstate%3DpBPJF7!zqpdU432PIpMAxgHbd5omIpFefArbs1rWD4UyEABnslfkI00mvCxMa |url-status=live}}</ref> The Australian Public Service accounted for about 25% all jobs as at November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-25 |title=State of the Service reveals how APS staffing levels have changed in Canberra |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9118521/state-of-the-service-shows-the-size-of-the-aps-in-canberra/ |access-date=2026-01-02 |website=www.canberratimes.com.au |language=en-au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-12 |title=Labour Force, Australia, November 2025 {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia/latest-release |access-date=2026-01-02 |website=www.abs.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> The headquarters of many Australian Public Service agencies are located in Canberra, and Canberra is also host to several Australian Defence Force establishments, most notably the Australian Defence Force headquarters and {{HMAS|Harman}}, which is a naval communications centre that is being converted into a tri-service, multi-user depot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/establishments/hmas-harman |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |title=HMAS Harman |access-date=3 April 2013 |year=2008 |archive-date=15 May 2016 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160515124414/http://www.navy.gov.au/establishments/hmas-harman |url-status=live}}</ref> Other major sectors by employment include Health Care (10.54%), Professional Services (9.77%), Education and Training (9.64%), Retail (7.27%), Accommodation & Food (6.39%) and Construction (5.80%).

<ref name="EDA ACT Economic Indicators" />[[File:NASA's Deep Space Antenna Upgrade to Affect Voyager.jpg|thumb|right|A growing number of Canberrans work in the science and technology sector, such as at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.]]

The former RAAF Fairbairn, adjacent to the Canberra Airport was sold to the operators of the airport,<ref name="fb">{{cite web |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/units/place_1686.asp |title=Fairbairn: Australian War Memorial |publisher=Australian War Memorial |year=2010 |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=25 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225011808/http://www.awm.gov.au/units/place_1686.asp |url-status=live}}</ref> but the base continues to be used for RAAF VIP flights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/bases/fairbairn.htm |title=RAAF Museum Fairbairn |publisher=RAAF Museum |year=2009 |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=20 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120024953/http://airforce.gov.au/RAAFmuseum/research/bases/fairbairn.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/units/34sqn.htm |title=No 34 Squadron |publisher=RAAF Museum |year=2009 |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-date=20 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120001833/http://airforce.gov.au/RAAFmuseum/research/units/34sqn.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> A growing number of software vendors have based themselves in Canberra, to capitalise on the concentration of government customers; these include Tower Software and RuleBurst.<ref>{{cite web |title=USFTA begins to reap results |date=15 January 2007 |work=Australian Financial Review |last=Sutherland |first=Tracy |url=http://www.tradewatch.org.au/AUSFTA/Article43.html |access-date=17 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013075812/http://www.tradewatch.org.au/AUSFTA/Article43.html |archive-date=13 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/hp-bids-for-tower-software/story-e6frgamo-1111115951854 |title=HP bids for Tower Software |last=Sharma |first=Mahesh |work=The Australian |date=2 April 2008 |access-date=17 June 2010}}</ref> A consortium of private and government investors is making plans for a billion-dollar data hub, with the aim of making Canberra a leading centre of such activity in the Asia-Pacific region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/canberra-a-data-hub-target/story-e6frgamo-1111114545957 |title=HP bids for Tower Software |last=Colley |first=Andrew |work=The Australian |date=2 October 2007 |access-date=17 June 2010}}</ref> A Canberra Cyber Security Innovation Node was established in 2019 to grow the ACT's cyber security sector and related space, defence and education industries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canberra Cyber Security Innovation Node launches |url=https://itbrief.com.au/story/canberra-cyber-security-innovation-node-launches |publisher=IT Brief |access-date=29 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329020322/https://itbrief.com.au/story/canberra-cyber-security-innovation-node-launches |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{main|Demographics of Canberra}}

[[File:Belconnen Apartments - DSC07473-HDR.jpg|thumb|High-density residential apartments in Belconnen; Canberra has one of the fastest growing populations in the nation<ref name=":6" />]] As of June 2025, Canberra's estimated population, including the whole of the ACT, was 484,630.<ref name=ABSGCCSA/> At the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the population of the ACT was 453,558,<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Regional population, 2021 |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release |url-status=live |access-date=11 September 2022 |archive-date=16 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916130045/https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/latest-release}}</ref> while the population of the Canberra built-up area was 452,670, so 888 were located in the rural part of the ACT.<ref name="Census2021">{{Census 2021 AUS|id=UCL802001|name=Canberra - Queanbeyan (Canberra Part) |access-date=29 October 2017|quick=on }}</ref> This was up from 395,790 at the 2016 census,<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=UCL802001|name=Canberra - Queanbeyan (Canberra Part) |access-date=29 October 2017|quick=on }}</ref> and 355,596 at the {{CensusAU|2011}}.<ref name="Census2011">{{Census 2011 AUS|id=UCL802001|name=Canberra - Queanbeyan (Canberra Part) |access-date=29 October 2017|quick=on }}</ref> Canberra has been the fastest-growing city in Australia in recent years, having grown 23.3% from 2011 to 2021.<ref name=":6" />

Canberrans are relatively young, highly mobile and well educated. In 2021, the median age was 35 years and only 13.8% of the population was aged over 65 years.<ref name="Census2021"/> Between 1996 and 2001, 61.9% of the population either moved to or from Canberra, which was the second highest mobility rate of any Australian capital city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/812343b3e6694d5dca256d3c0001f4c9?OpenDocument |title=Australian Demographic Statistics, Dec 2002 |date=5 June 2003 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=9 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609122038/http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/812343b3e6694d5dca256d3c0001f4c9?OpenDocument |url-status=live}}</ref> A 2024 report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that 49% of ACT residents aged 15–74 held a bachelor's degree or higher, the highest proportion among all Australian states and territories.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 November 2024 |title=Education and Work, Australia |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/education/education-and-work-australia/latest-release |access-date=5 June 2025 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref> According to statistics collected by the National Australia Bank, Canberrans on average gave significantly more money to charity in 2014 than Australians in other states and territories, for both dollar giving and as a proportion of income.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/sweet-charity-territory-leads-in-giving-20131103-2wv1f.html |title=Sweet charity: territory leads in giving |date=4 November 2013 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104074239/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/sweet-charity-territory-leads-in-giving-20131103-2wv1f.html |archive-date=4 November 2013 |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;" |+ Country of birth (2021)<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au">{{cite web |date=28 June 2022 |title=Snapshot of Australian Capital Territory |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/snapshot-act-2021 |url-status=|archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=5 June 2025 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref> ! Birthplace{{refn|group="N"|In accordance with the Australian Bureau of Statistics source, England, Scotland, Mainland China and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau are listed separately}} !! Population |- | Australia ||306,896 |- | India||17,203 |- |England |13,245 |- | China (including SARs and Taiwan) ||12,149 |- | Nepal||5,689 |- | New Zealand||5,122 |}

At the 2021 census, the most commonly nominated ancestries were:{{refn|group="N"|As a percentage of 373,561 persons who nominated their ancestry at the 2016 census.}}<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au"/>  {{columns-list|colwidth=13em| *English (32.0%) *Australian (31.5%){{refn|group="N"|The Australian Bureau of Statistics has stated that most who nominate "Australian" as their ancestry are part of the Anglo-Celtic group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/49f609c83cf34d69ca2569de0025c182!OpenDocument |title=Feature Article - Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Australia |first=James |last=Jupp |website=www.abs.gov.au |date=January 1995 |access-date=16 June 2019 |archive-date=20 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420205113/http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs%40.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/49f609c83cf34d69ca2569de0025c182%21OpenDocument |url-status=live}}</ref>}} *Irish (11.6%) *Scottish (10.0%) *Chinese (5.7%) *Indigenous (2.0%){{refn|group="N"|name=ancestry|Of any ancestry. Includes those identifying as Aboriginal Australians or Torres Strait Islanders. Indigenous identification is separate to the ancestry question on the Australian Census and persons identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may identify any ancestry.}} }}

The 2021 census showed that 28.7% of Canberra's inhabitants were born overseas.<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au"/> Of inhabitants born outside Australia, the most prevalent countries of birth were India, England, China and Nepal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/8ACTE?opendocument |title=2016 Census QuickStats: Australian Capital Territory |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=2 October 2021 |archive-date=19 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119012713/https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/8ACTE?opendocument |url-status=live}}</ref> 2.0% of the population, or 8,949 people, identified as Indigenous Australians (Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders) in 2021. This was an increase from 6,508 counted in 2016, and lower than the Australian percentage of 3.2% in 2021.{{refn|group="N"|name=ancestry}}<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au"/>

At the 2021 census, 71.3% of people spoke only English at home, down from 72.7% in 2016. The other languages most commonly spoken at home were Mandarin (3.2%), Nepali (1.3%), Vietnamese (1.1%), Punjabi (1.1%) and Hindi (1.0%).<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au"/>

In 2021, the main religious affiliation in the ACT was Catholicism (19.3%), Anglicanism (8.2%) and Hinduism (4.5%). 43.5% described themselves as having no religion and 5.2 did not state a religion.<ref name="Census2021"/>

== Culture ==

===Education=== {{Main|Education in the Australian Capital Territory}}

[[File:ANU School of Art, Canberra.jpg|thumb|right|ANU School of Art (formerly the Canberra High School)]] The two main tertiary institutions are the Australian National University (ANU) in Acton, with over 10,200 undergraduate and over 7,100 postgraduate students,<ref name=anu>{{cite web|url=https://www.anu.edu.au/about/facts-about-anu|title=Facts about ANU|publisher=Australian National University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251204180712/https://www.anu.edu.au/about/facts-about-anu|archive-date=4 December 2025|url-status=live|access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref> and the University of Canberra (UC) in Bruce, with over 11,800 undergraduate and 6,300 postgraduate students.<ref name=uc>{{cite web |url=https://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc|title=About UC|publisher=University of Canberra |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260101040910/https://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc |archive-date=1 January 2026 |url-status=live|access-date=28 January 2026}}</ref> Established in 1946,{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|pp=258-262}} the ANU has always had a strong research focus and is ranked among the leading universities in the world and one of the best in Australia by the ''Times Higher Education World University Rankings'' and the QS World University Rankings.<ref name=anu/> There are two religious university campuses in Canberra: Signadou in the northern suburb of Watson is a campus of the Australian Catholic University;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acu.edu.au/locations/canberra?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21103541975&gbraid=0AAAAADjBE4Bp4GGIQNiwfani4fEe9UjE8&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkPzLBhD4ARIsAGfah8iamkODLmisg3v1MTvHklNAZj3V15RUpLZMmU4FJk5gw5Z4bAkQ0MIaAk-FEALw_wcB |title=Canberra |publisher=Australian Catholic University |date= |access-date=1 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260201084233/https://www.acu.edu.au/locations/canberra?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21103541975&gbraid=0AAAAADjBE4Bp4GGIQNiwfani4fEe9UjE8&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkPzLBhD4ARIsAGfah8iamkODLmisg3v1MTvHklNAZj3V15RUpLZMmU4FJk5gw5Z4bAkQ0MIaAk-FEALw_wcB |archive-date=1 February 2026}}</ref> St Mark's National Theological Centre in Barton is part of the secular Charles Sturt University.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stmarks.edu.au/ |title=St Mark's National Theological Centre|publisher=St Mark's National Theological Centre |access-date=2 February 2026|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251221221509/https://stmarks.edu.au/ |archive-date=21 December 2025}}</ref> The ACT Government announced on 5 March 2020 that the CIT campus and an adjoining carpark in Reid would be leased to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) for a peppercorn lease, for it to develop as a campus for a new UNSW Canberra.<ref name="2020-03-05_ABC">{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-05/unsw-to-build-1bn-campus-in-heart-of-canberra/12028028 |title=UNSW strikes prime land deal with ACT Government to build $1 billion campus in central Canberra|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305060659/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-05/unsw-to-build-1bn-campus-in-heart-of-canberra/12028028 |archive-date=5 March 2020|url-status=live |newspaper=ABC News Online|date=5 March 2020|access-date=2 February 2026}}</ref> UNSW released a master plan in 2021 for a 6,000 student campus to be realised over 15 years at a cost of $1 billion.<ref>{{cite web |last=Brewer |first=Peter |date=29 January 2021 |title=First glimpse of bold plans for university campus on Constitution Avenue |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7105840/first-glimpse-of-bold-plans-for-university-campus-on-constitution-avenue/ |access-date=2 February 2026 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU |archive-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129063004/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7105840/first-glimpse-of-bold-plans-for-university-campus-on-constitution-avenue/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Australian Defence College has two campuses: the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC) plus the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS) at Weston, and the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) beside the Royal Military College, Duntroon located in the inner-northern suburb of Campbell.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/defence-activities/education-training/education-providers/australian-defence-college |archive-date=28 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128225135/https://www.defence.gov.au/defence-activities/education-training/education-providers/australian-defence-college |url-status=live|title=Australian Defence College |publisher=Australian Defence College |access-date=2 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northcanberra.org.au/northcan/ |title=Campbell |publisher=North Canberra Community Council |access-date=2 February 2026 |archive-date=10 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251210122004/https://www.northcanberra.org.au/northcan/|url-status=live}}</ref> ADFA teaches military undergraduates and postgraduates and includes UNSW Canberra at ADFA, a campus of the University of New South Wales.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unsw.edu.au/canberra/about-us/our-campuses/unsw-adfa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215051513/https://www.unsw.edu.au/canberra/about-us/our-campuses/unsw-adfa |archive-date=15 December 2025 |title=The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) |publisher=Australian Defence Force Academy |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> Duntroon provides Australian Army officer training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/about/locations-property/base-induction/royal-military-college |title=Royal Military College |publisher=Department of Defence|access-date=2 February 2026 |archive-date=15 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250915134441/https://www.defence.gov.au/about/locations-property/base-induction/royal-military-college |url-status=live}}</ref>

Tertiary level vocational education is also available through the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), with campuses in Bruce, Woden, Gungahlin, Tuggeranong and Fyshwick.<ref>{{cite web|date= |title=CIT Locations |url=https://cit.edu.au/about/locations |access-date=4 January 2026 |publisher=Canberra Institute of Technology |language=en-AU |archive-date=1 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260101083713/https://cit.edu.au/about/locations |url-status=live}}</ref> The combined enrolment of the CIT campuses was about 20,000 students students in 2023.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://cit.edu.au/about/publications/past-annual-reports/6211855950_CIT_2023_Annual_Report_FA.pdf |title=CIT Annual Report 2023 |publisher=Canberra Institute of Technology |year=2023 |page=20 |access-date=4 February 2026 |archive-date=4 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260204112807/https://cit.edu.au/about/publications/past-annual-reports/6211855950_CIT_2023_Annual_Report_FA.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the transfer of land in Reid for the new UNSW Canberra, a new CIT campus in Woden was completed in July 2025.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 October 2025 |title=CIT Woden Campus |url=https://www.act.gov.au/builtforcbr/browse-all-projects/education/cit-woden-campus |access-date=4 February 2026 |publisher=ACT Government |language=en-AU |archive-date=12 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112185855/https://www.act.gov.au/builtforcbr/browse-all-projects/education/cit-woden-campus |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016 there were 140 schools in Canberra; 93 were operated by the government and 47 were private.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/2875367/2025-ACT-schools-census-February.pdf |title=Census of ACT Schools, February 2025|publisher=ACT Government|date=2 July 2025|access-date=5 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.act.gov.au/education-and-training/education-service-providers/regulating-non-government-schools|title=Regulating non-government schools|publisher=ACT Government|date=19 September 2025|access-date=5 February 2026}}</ref> Canberra also has the highest percentage of non-government (private) school students in Australia, accounting for 40.6 per cent of ACT enrollments.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/public-schools-win-young-but-lose-seniors-20130507-2j63d.html |archive-date=28 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228235058/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/public-schools-win-young-but-lose-seniors-20130507-2j63d.html |title=Public schools win young, but lose seniors |first=Emma |last=Macdonald |date=8 May 2013 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref>

===Arts, entertainment and events=== {{See also|Music of Canberra}} [[File:National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra, 2022, 03 (2).jpg|thumb|National Film and Sound Archive]] Canberra is home to many national monuments and institutions such as Parliament House,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260201033349/https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament |archive-date=1 February 2026 |url-status=live |title=Visit Parliament |publisher=Parliament of Australia |access-date=9 February 2026}}</ref> the High Court<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hcourt.gov.au/visiting-high-court/visitors |title=Visitors |publisher=High Court of Australia |access-date=9 February 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260103004008/https://www.hcourt.gov.au/visiting-high-court/visitors |archive-date=3 January 2026}}</ref> the National Gallery of Australia,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nga.gov.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220191609/https://nga.gov.au/|archive-date=20 February 2025|url-status=live|title=NGA|access-date=13 February 2026}}</ref> the National Portrait Gallery,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.portrait.gov.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209161419/https://www.portrait.gov.au/|archive-date=9 February 2026|url-status=live|title=National Portrait Gallery|publisher= National Portrait Gallery|access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref> the National Library,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.library.gov.au/visit |title=Visit |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=17 February 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114172756/https://www.library.gov.au/visit |archive-date=14 November 2025}}</ref> the National Archives,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.naa.gov.au/australian-capital-territory |title=Australian Capital Territory |publisher=National Archives of Australia |access-date=7 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251230011046/https://www.naa.gov.au/australian-capital-territory |archive-date=30 December 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> Questacon<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.questacon.edu.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105062910/https://www.questacon.edu.au/|archive-date=5 January 2026|url-status=live|title=Welcome to Questacon|publisher=National Science and Technology Centre|access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref> and the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moadoph.gov.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260127185327/https://www.moadoph.gov.au/|archive-date=27 January 2026|url-status=live|title=Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House|publisher=Museum of Australian Democracy|access-date=12 February 2026}}</ref> all lying in the Parliamentary Triangle.{{sfn|Reid|2024|pp=214-215}}<ref name="map" /> Many Commonwealth government buildings in Canberra are open to the public, including Parliament House, the High Court and the Royal Australian Mint.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ramint.gov.au/visit-our-museum?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22762408926&gbraid=0AAAAABOmkiL3_KBTKN3Dk05iga6M_WxMh&gclid=CjwKCAiAqKbMBhBmEiwAZ3UboMgv1cunGi7KPm-nNWOwDVfB6Sx9Y29xMax1wjPIuTVdslAmKSaJcRoCBrwQAvD_BwE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260209112745/https://www.ramint.gov.au/visit-our-museum?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22762408926&gbraid=0AAAAABOmkiL3_KBTKN3Dk05iga6M_WxMh&gclid=CjwKCAiAqKbMBhBmEiwAZ3UboMgv1cunGi7KPm-nNWOwDVfB6Sx9Y29xMax1wjPIuTVdslAmKSaJcRoCBrwQAvD_BwE |archive-date=9 February 2026|url-status=live |title=Visit our Museum |publisher=Royal Australian Mint |access-date=9 February 2026}}</ref> Nearby, in Campbell, Acton and Civic are the Australian War Memorial,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/visit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251220025143/https://www.awm.gov.au/visit|archive-date=20 December 2025|url-status=live|title=Visit|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=13 February 2026}}</ref> the Australian Academy of Science,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.science.org.au/about-us/shine-dome/about-shine-dome |title=The Shine Dome |publisher=Australian Academy of Science |access-date=8 February 2026 |archive-date=8 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208112910/https://www.science.org.au/about-us/shine-dome/about-shine-dome |url-status=live}}</ref> the National Film and Sound Archive,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfsa.gov.au/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260206085247/https://www.nfsa.gov.au/about|archive-date=6 February 2026|url-status=live|title=About|publisher= National Film and Sound Archive|access-date=13 February 2026}}</ref> the National Museum<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nma.gov.au/visit |title=Visit |publisher=National Museum of Australia |access-date=9 February 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203224434/https://www.nma.gov.au/visit |archive-date=3 February 2026}}</ref> and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/about-aiatsis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260101014136/https://aiatsis.gov.au/about-aiatsis|archive-date=1 January 2026|url-status=live|title=About AIATIS|publisher= Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|access-date=13 February 2026}}</ref>{{sfn|Reid|2024|pp=214-215}}<ref name="map" /> [[File:National Museum of Australia 03.jpg|left|thumb|The National Museum of Australia established in 2001 records Australia's social history and is one of Canberra's more architecturally daring buildings.]]

Lake Burley Griffin is the site of the Captain James Cook Memorial<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/captain-cook-memorial |title=Captain Cook Memorial|access-date=17 February 2026|publisher=National Capital Authority |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251014165152/https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/captain-cook-memorial |archive-date=14 October 2025}}</ref> and the National Carillon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/national-carillon |title=National Carillon|access-date=17 February 2026|publisher=National Capital Authority |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260103030833/https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/national-carillon |archive-date=3 January 2026}}</ref> Other sites in the Parliamentary Triangle are{{sfn|Reid|2024|pp=214-215}}<ref name="map">{{cite web |url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions |title=Attractions |access-date=7 February 2026|publisher=National Capital Authority |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250908043615/https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions |archive-date=8 September 2025}}</ref> Commonwealth Place,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/commonwealth-place|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251225225834/https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/commonwealth-place|archive-date=25 December 2025|url-status=live|title=Commonwealth Place|publisher=National Capital Authority|access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> Reconciliation Place<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/reconciliation-place|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105110653/https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/reconciliation-place|archive-date=5 January 2026|url-status=live|title=Reconciliation Place|publisher=National Capital Authority|access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref> and Commonwealth Park,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/commonwealth-park|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907202703/https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/commonwealth-park|archive-date=7 September 2025|url-status=live|title=Commonwealth Park|publisher=National Capital Authority|access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref> which is the site of Canberra's annual Floriade. This is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere and features a large display of flowers every Spring.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canberra blooms: Australia's biggest celebration of spring - People's Daily Online |url=http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1011/c90000-9621974.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613014251/http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1011/c90000-9621974.html |archive-date=13 June 2021 |access-date=5 February 2021 |website=en.people.cn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=5 September 2014 |title=Floriade - the biggest blooming show in Australia |url=https://www.australiantraveller.com/act/canberra/floriade-the-biggest-blooming-show-in-australia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228160620/https://www.australiantraveller.com/act/canberra/floriade-the-biggest-blooming-show-in-australia/ |archive-date=28 February 2021 |access-date=5 February 2021 |website=Australian Traveller}}</ref>{{sfn|Reid|2024|p=220}} The Canberra Balloon Spectacular is held in March on the Patrick White Lawns, next to the National Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canberraballoonspectacular.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208220643/https://canberraballoonspectacular.com/|archive-date=8 February 2026|url-status=live|title=Welcome to The Canberra Balloon Spectacular 2026!|publisher=Canberra Balloon Spectacular|access-date=18 February 2026}}</ref>{{sfn|Reid|2024|p=220}} Located to the north of the lake are the Australian National Botanic Gardens,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/reconciliation-place|archive-url=https://visit.anbg.gov.au/|archive-date=11 February 2026|url-status=live|title=Australian National Botanic Gardens|publisher=Australian National Botanic Gardens|access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref> the Australian–American Memorial, Anzac Parade, which is lined by several memorials,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/anzac-parade|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112061150/https://www.nca.gov.au/attractions/anzac-parade|archive-date=12 January 2026|url-status=live|title=Anzac Parade|publisher=National Capital Authority|access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref><ref name="map"/>{{sfn|Reid|2024|pp=214-215}} the National Arboretum<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260205045538/https://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/|archive-date=5 February 2026|url-status=live|title=National Arboretum Canberra!|publisher=National Arboretum Canberra|access-date=18 February 2026}}</ref>{{sfn|Reid|2024|p=220}} and the National Zoo and Aquarium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalzoo.com.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129123324/https://www.nationalzoo.com.au/|archive-date=29 January 2026|url-status=live|title=More than a Zoo|publisher=National Zoo and Aquarium|access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref> [[File:Floriade Canberra 2010.jpg|thumb|Floriade is held in Commonwealth Park every spring. It is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref name="floriadeaustralia">{{cite web |url=http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/about-floriade/environmental-care/ |title=Environmental care |work=www.floriadeaustralia.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226235141/http://www.floriadeaustralia.com/about-floriade/environmental-care/ |archive-date=26 February 2015 |url-status=dead |access-date=9 March 2015}}</ref>]]

The Canberra Museum and Gallery in the city is a repository of local history and art, housing a permanent collection and visiting exhibitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cmag.com.au/ |title=Canberra Museum and Gallery |archive-date=8 February 2026|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208215313/https://www.cmag.com.au/ |publisher=ACT Government|access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref> Several historic homes are open to the public: Lanyon and Tuggeranong Homesteads in the Tuggeranong Valley,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historicplaces.com.au/lanyon-homestead |title=Lanyon |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=10 February 2025 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251118093432/https://www.historicplaces.com.au/lanyon-homestead |archive-date=18 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://canberrahomestead.com/ |title=Welcome to Tuggeranong Homestead |publisher=Tuggeranong Homestead |access-date=10 February 2025 |archive-date=12 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251212031213/https://canberrahomestead.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Mugga-Mugga in Symonston,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historicplaces.com.au/mugga-mugga-cottage |title=Mugga-Mugga Cottage|publisher=ACT Government |access-date=10 February 2025 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251207055544/https://www.historicplaces.com.au/mugga-mugga-cottage |archive-date=7 December 2025}}</ref> and Blundells' Cottage in Parkes all display the lifestyle of the early European settlers.<ref name=BLUNDELL/> Calthorpes' House in Red Hill is a well-preserved example of a 1920s house from Canberra's very early days.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.historicplaces.com.au/calthorpes-house |title=Calthorpes' House |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=10 February 2025 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260205045454/https://www.historicplaces.com.au/calthorpes-house |archive-date=5 February 2026}}</ref> Strathnairn Homestead is an historic building which also dates from the 1920s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Strathnairn — A Place for People| page= 11 |url=https://issuu.com/2badvertising/docs/6531r_strathnairn_book_singlepages_ |access-date=10 February 2026}}</ref> The Schoolhouse Museum at St John's Anglican Church in Reid showcases school life in the 1840s.<ref>{{cite web |title=St John's Schoolhouse Museum |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/st-johns-schoolhouse-museum/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |publisher=National Trust of Australia |archive-date=6 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251206193202/https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/places/st-johns-schoolhouse-museum/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Canberra Symphony Orchestra at Llewellyn Hall April 2022.jpg|left|thumb|Llewellyn Hall is home to the Canberra Symphony Orchestra]] Canberra has many venues for live music and theatre: the Canberra Theatre and Playhouse which hosts many major concerts and productions;<ref>{{cite book |title=The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia: Opera, Dance, Music |isbn=1-86448-005-X |last1=Atkinson |first1=Ann |last2=Knight |first2=Linsay |last3=McPhee |first3=Margaret |pages=46–47 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=1996}}</ref> and Llewellyn Hall (within the ANU School of Music), a world-class concert hall are two of the most notable.<ref name=rg>{{cite book |title=Rough Guide to Australia |last=Daly |first=Margo |publisher=Rough Guides |year=2003 |page=67 |isbn=1-84353-090-2}}</ref> The Street Theatre is a venue with less mainstream offerings.<ref name=rg/> The Albert Hall was the city's first performing arts venue, opened in 1928. It was the original performance venue for theatre groups such as the Canberra Repertory Society.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs250.aspx |title=Fact sheets |publisher=National Archives of Australia |access-date=17 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809131626/http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/publications/fact-sheets/fs250.aspx |archive-date=9 August 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Canberra Skyfire 2017 (203911129).jpeg|thumb|The annual Skyfire fireworks display over Lake Burley Griffin, held during the Enlighten Festival]]

There are numerous bars and nightclubs which also offer live entertainment, particularly concentrated in the areas of the city and Braddon.{{sfn|Reid|2024|pp=212-220}} All town centres have a library.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.library.act.gov.au/find-us|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260202174455/https://www.library.act.gov.au/find-us|archive-date=2 February 2026|url-status=live|title=Hours & Locations|publisher=Libraries ACT|access-date=11 February 2026}}</ref> Popular cultural events include the National Folk Festival,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.folkfestival.org.au/ |title=National Folk Festival |publisher=National Folk Festival |access-date=17 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223111744/https://www.folkfestival.org.au/|url-status=live |archive-date=23 December 2025}}</ref> the Royal Canberra Show,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.canberrashow.org.au/|title=Royal Canberra Show |publisher=Royal Canberra Show |access-date=17 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251217064352/https://www.canberrashow.org.au/ |archive-date=17 December 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> the Summernats car festival,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://summernats.com.au/|title=Summernats |publisher=Summernats |access-date=17 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260102201423/https://summernats.com.au/ |archive-date=2 January 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> Enlighten festival<ref>{{cite web |url=https://enlightencanberra.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23461657560&gbraid=0AAAAA9TZvt2C_0ad9v4oI2GeTs-NFoMCJ&gclid=CjwKCAiAwNDMBhBfEiwAd7ti1C-8yLdOjTNFDJJCTE7Sp_8l5Rr6l5S2c53uI1EBKWRU0jd3H54Q9BoCgN0QAvD_BwE|title=Enlighten |publisher=Enlighten |access-date=17 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260217121000/https://enlightencanberra.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23461657560&gbraid=0AAAAA9TZvt2C_0ad9v4oI2GeTs-NFoMCJ&gclid=CjwKCAiAwNDMBhBfEiwAd7ti1C-8yLdOjTNFDJJCTE7Sp_8l5Rr6l5S2c53uI1EBKWRU0jd3H54Q9BoCgN0QAvD_BwE |archive-date=17 February 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> and the National Multicultural Festival in February.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://multiculturalfestival.com.au/|title=Celebrate the world, right here in Canberra|publisher=National Multicultural Festival |access-date=17 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260204021445/https://multiculturalfestival.com.au/ |archive-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> The National Dinosaur Museum is located on the Barton Highway north of Canberra.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114161331/https://nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au/|archive-date=14 January 2026|url-status=live|title=National Dinosaur Museum|publisher=National Dinosaur Museum|access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>[[File:War memorial 01.jpg|right|thumb|The Australian War Memorial]]

===Media=== As Australia's capital, Canberra is the most important centre for much of Australia's political reportage and thus all the major media, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the commercial television networks, and the metropolitan newspapers maintain local bureaus. News organisations are represented in the ''press gallery'', a group of journalists who report on the national parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pressgallery.net.au/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251219215056/https://pressgallery.net.au/|archive-date=19 December 2025|url-status=live|title=Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery|access-date=11 February 2026}}</ref> The National Press Club of Australia in Barton has regular television broadcasts of its lunches at which a prominent guest, typically a politician or other public figure, delivers a speech followed by a question-and-answer session.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://npc.org.au/speaker-archive |title=Speaker archive |publisher=National Press Club of Australia |access-date=11 February 2026 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251027050203/https://npc.org.au/speaker-archive |archive-date=27 October 2025}}</ref> Canberra has a daily newspaper, ''The Canberra Times'', which was established in 1926.{{sfn|Wigmore|1971|p=87}}<ref>{{cite news |title=History of a paper anniversary |newspaper=The Canberra Times |publisher=Fairfax Media |first=Jack |last=Waterford |author-link=Jack Waterford |date=3 March 2013 |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/history-of-a-paper-anniversary-20130302-2fd76.html |archive-date=17 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917072242/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/history-of-a-paper-anniversary-20130302-2fd76.html}}</ref>

There are a number of AM and FM stations broadcasting in Canberra (AM/FM Listing). Commercial operators include the Capital Radio Network (2CA and 2CC), and Austereo/ARN (104.7 and Mix 106.3). There are also several community operated stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radio-australia.org/radio/australian-capital-territory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251203212237/https://www.radio-australia.org/radio/australian-capital-territory |archive-date=3 December 2025|url-status=live|title=Australian Capital Territory Radio Stations| website=radio-australia.org|access-date=23 February 2026}}</ref> Each of Australia's three commercial television networks and two public broadcasters broadcast in Canberra, each over a primary channel and several multichannels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yourtv.com.au/guide/canberra/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222101122/https://www.yourtv.com.au/guide/canberra/ |archive-date=22 February 2026|url-status=live|title=Canberra TV Guide| website=radio-australia.org|access-date=23 February 2026}}</ref> *ABC Canberra (ABC) *SBS New South Wales (SBS) *Network 10 Southern NSW & ACT (CTC) – Network 10 owned and operated station *Seven Network Southern NSW & ACT (CBN) – Seven Network owned and operated station *WIN Television Southern NSW & ACT (WIN) – Nine Network affiliate

===Sport=== {{Main|Sport in the Australian Capital Territory}}

[[File:BruceStadium19032005.JPG|right|thumb|A rugby league match at Canberra Stadium]]

In addition to local sporting leagues, Canberra has a number of sporting teams that compete in national and international competitions. The best known teams are the Canberra Raiders and the ACT Brumbies who play rugby league and rugby union respectively; both have been champions of their leagues.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brumbies Crowned Super 12 Champions. |url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_3684.php |publisher=Irish Rugby |date=22 May 2004 |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013130431/http://irishrugby.ie/6855_3684.php  |archive-date=13 October 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Premiership Records |url=http://www.nrl.com/nrlhq/referencecentre/premiershiprecords/tabid/10436/default.aspx |publisher=NRL |access-date=19 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029072434/http://www.nrl.com/nrlhq/referencecentre/premiershiprecords/tabid/10436/default.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2015}}</ref> Both teams play their home games at Canberra Stadium,<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009013150/http://www.ais.org.au/facilities/stadium.asp |archive-date=9 October 2007 |title=Canberra Stadium |url=http://www.ais.org.au/facilities/stadium.asp |publisher=Australian Institute of Sport |access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> which was used to hold group matches in football for the 2000 Summer Olympics<ref>{{cite web|title=Football at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/2000/FTB/ |publisher=SR Olympics Sports|date=2016|access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417042504/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/2000/FTB/ |archive-date=17 April 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> and in rugby union for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=Complete draw for 2003 Rugby World Cup |url=http://www.abc.net.au/rugbyunion/worldcup/2003/draw/default.htm |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |year=2003 |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-date=12 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012151723/http://abc.net.au/rugbyunion/worldcup/2003/draw/default.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> Canberra United represents the city in the A-League Women (formerly the W-League), the national women's soccer league and were champions in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.w-league.com.au/article/canberra-stun-glory-to-claim-westfield-w-league-title/6xmn7cpmofm1107q4r79plrvd |title=Canberra stun Glory to claim Westfield W-League title|publisher=W-League |date=21 December 2014 |access-date=15 January 2026 |archive-date=25 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225041225/http://www.w-league.com.au/article/canberra-stun-glory-to-claim-westfield-w-league-title/6xmn7cpmofm1107q4r79plrvd |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ACT division of the Australian Football League bid for a club for the national competition in 1981.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127058242 |title=Weaknesses exposed in VFL transfer plan |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=55 |issue=16,746 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=2 August 1981 |access-date=9 December 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219070532/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127058242 |url-status=live}}</ref> The league has rejected numerous such proposals over the years and, since 2013, it has designated Canberra as being represented by the Greater Western Sydney Giants,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-expansion-tasmania-19th-team-northern-territory-afl-team-where-should-afl-expand-20-teams-in-afl/news-story/e68ec72b8103f3443b5b22059cd0dbe5 |title=Tassie wants in, so does the NT. Where will AFL teams 19 and 20 come from? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202074248/https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-expansion-tasmania-19th-team-northern-territory-afl-team-where-should-afl-expand-20-teams-in-afl/news-story/e68ec72b8103f3443b5b22059cd0dbe5 |archive-date=2 December 2021 |url-status=live| first=Max |last=Laughton |newspaper=Fox Sports |date=5 March 2020}}</ref> which has played three home games at Manuka Oval each season since 2013<ref name="GIANTS add gold for Canberra">{{cite web | url=http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2013-04-09/giants-add-gold-for-canberra | title=GIANTS add gold for Canberra| date=9 April 2013 | access-date=18 January 2026| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411121707/http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2013-04-09/giants-add-gold-for-canberra |archive-date=11 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> with support from the ACT Government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/21/greater-western-sydney-giants-under-fire-over-deeply-disappointing-tabcorp-sponsorship|title=Greater Western Sydney Giants under fire over 'deeply disappointing' Tabcorp sponsorship|newspaper=The Guardian| access-date=18 January 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220142936/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/21/greater-western-sydney-giants-under-fire-over-deeply-disappointing-tabcorp-sponsorship|archive-date=20 February 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> The city also has a successful basketball team, the Canberra Capitals, which has won nine national women's basketball titles, most recently in 2019-20.<ref>{{cite news |title=UC Capitals win ninth WNBL Championship | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-04/canberra-capitals-win-ninth-wnbl-championship/12026930|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=4 March 2020 |access-date=15 January 2026 |archive-date=4 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304142711/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-04/canberra-capitals-win-ninth-wnbl-championship/12026930 |url-status=live}}</ref> The historic Prime Minister's XI cricket match is played at Manuka Oval annually.{{sfn|Growden|2008|pp=200-210}} Other significant annual sporting events include the annual Canberra Marathon, established in 1976,<ref name="Canberra Marathon">{{cite news |title=Mobil marathon receives a boost to status, fields|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118138355|publisher=Canberra Times|date=17 September 1994|access-date=17 January 2025|via=Trove|archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref> and the Challenge Canberra middle distance triathlon race was established in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://challenge-canberra.com/news/australias-capital-city-to-host-challenge-canberra-2023/#:~:text=The%20fast%2C%20flat%20three%2Dlap,the%20flagship%20middle%20distance%20race.| title=Australia's Capital City to Host Challenge Canberra 2023|publisher=Challenge Canberra|date=10 November 2022|access-date=17 January 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205042416/https://challenge-canberra.com/news/australias-capital-city-to-host-challenge-canberra-2023/|archive-date=5 December 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The Canberra Tennis International has been held at the Canberra Tennis Centre, Lyneham since 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2015/7393/mds.pdf|title=2015 Canberra Tennis International|website=protennislive.com|access-date=19 January 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105194453/http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2015/7393/mds.pdf|archive-date=5 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> usually annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tennis.com.au/act/news/2025/10/24/the-capitals-premier-tennis-event-returns-for-2026|title=The Capital's premier tennis event returns for 2026|date=24 October 2025|publisher=Tennis ACT|access-date=19 January 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251206002051/https://www.tennis.com.au/act/news/2025/10/24/the-capitals-premier-tennis-event-returns-for-2026|archive-date=6 December 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:PM's 11 Cricket at Manuka Oval.jpg|thumb|The annual Prime Minister's XI cricket match at Manuka Oval]]

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is located in the Canberra suburb of Bruce.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=304}} The AIS is a specialised educational and training institution providing coaching for elite junior and senior athletes in a number of sports. The AIS has been operating since 1981 and has achieved significant success in producing elite athletes, both local and international.{{sfn|Sparke|1988|p=304}} The majority of Australia's team members and medallists at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney were AIS graduates.<ref>{{cite news |title=History and successes |url=http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history |publisher=Australian Institute of Sport |access-date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118055747/http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/history |archive-date=18 January 2013}}</ref>

A Canberra-wide series of bicycle paths are available to cyclists for recreational and sporting purposes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visitcanberra.com.au/things-to-do/cycling-in-canberra|title=Cycling In Canberra|publisher=ACT Government|access-date=20 January 2026}}</ref> Canberra Nature Parks have a large range of walking paths, horse and mountain bike trails.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parks.act.gov.au/find-a-nature-park/canberra-nature-park|title=Canberra Nature Park|date=14 December 2021 |publisher=ACT Government|access-date=20 January 2026}}</ref> Water sports like sailing, rowing and dragon boating are held on Canberra's lakes.<ref name="Top ways">{{cite web|url=https://visitcanberra.com.au/articles/top-ways-to-explore-lake-burley-griffin|title=Top ways to explore Lake Burley Griffin|publisher=ACT Government|access-date=20 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dbact.com.au/|title=Welcome to Dragon Boat ACT |publisher=Dragon Boat ACT|access-date=20 January 2026}}</ref> A popular form of exercise for people working near or in the Parliamentary Triangle is to do the "bridge to bridge walk/run" of about 5 km around Lake Burley Griffin, crossing the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and Kings Avenue Bridge, using the paths beside the lake. The walk takes about 1 hour, making it ideal for a lunchtime excursion. This is also popular on weekends. Such was the popularity during the COVID-19 isolation in 2020 that the ACT Government initiated a 'Clockwise is COVID-wise' rule for walkers and runners.<ref name="Top ways"/><ref name="2020-04-19_ABC">[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-18/coronavirus-exercise-and-other-walking-tracks-in-canberra/12157876 Coronavirus restrictions-approved exercise in Canberra — excluding a walk around the lake] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423123731/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-18/coronavirus-exercise-and-other-walking-tracks-in-canberra/12157876 |date=23 April 2020 }}, Niki Burnside, ABC News Online, 19 April 2020</ref>

{|class="sortable wikitable" |+ Active sports teams in Canberra  |- ! Club ! League ! Sport ! Venue ! Established |- | ACT Meteors | WNCL | Cricket | Manuka Oval | 2009<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-06-18/act-meteors-rise-into-national-womens-cricket/1324802|title=ACT Meteors rise into national women's cricket|newspaper=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 June 2009|access-date=12 January 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030031839/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-06-18/act-meteors-rise-into-national-womens-cricket/1324802|archive-date=30 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | ACT Brumbies Men's | Super Rugby | Rugby Union | GIO Stadium | 1995<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133919276 |title=Brumbies ready to fire up in Super 12 competition |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=71 |issue=22,152 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=11 December 1995 |access-date=12 January 2026 |page=23 |via=National Library of Australia }}</ref> |- | ACT Brumbies Women | Super Rugby Women's | Rugby Union | GIO Stadium/Viking Park | 2018<ref>{{cite news|url=https://region.com.au/women-from-all-walks-of-life-unite-to-form-a-super-team-fit-for-the-history-books/240237/|title=Women from all walks of life unite to form a super team fit for the history books|date=7 April 2018|newspaper=Region |access-date=12 January 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250625090148/https://region.com.au/women-from-all-walks-of-life-unite-to-form-a-super-team-fit-for-the-history-books/240237/|archive-date= 25 June 2025| url-status=live}}</ref> |- | Canberra Raiders | NRL | Rugby League | GIO Stadium | 1981<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126831820|title=Joining NSW league means hard work|newspaper=Canberra Times|date=15 April 1981|via=Trove|access-date=12 January 2026}}</ref> |- | Canberra Raiders Women's | NRLW | Rugby League | GIO Stadium | 2022<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-drive/katrina-fanning-raiders-nrlw-licence/13930648|title=Canberra Raiders granted NRLW licence|date=15 Jun 2022|newspaper=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=15 Jun 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260113111023/https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/canberra-drive/katrina-fanning-raiders-nrlw-licence/13930648|archive-date=13 January 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | Canberra United FC | A-League Women | Soccer | McKellar Park | 2008<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/soccer/canberras-best-players-on-national-stage/1228759.aspx |title=Canberras best players on national stage |publisher=Canberra Times|author=Sherwood, M |date=28 July 2008 |access-date=13 January 2026 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804111405/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/soccer/canberras-best-players-on-national-stage/1228759.aspx |archive-date=4 August 2008}}</ref> |- | Canberra Brave | AIHL | Ice hockey | Phillip Ice Skating Centre | 2014<ref name="CBRBRAVEANNOUNCED">{{cite web | url=http://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=78382 | title=CBR Brave Granted Provisional License | publisher=Australian Ice Hockey League | first=Andrew | last=McMurty | date=5 March 2014 | access-date=13 January 2026 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315201353/http://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=78382 | archive-date=15 March 2014 | url-status=live}}</ref> |- | Canberra Chill | Hockey One | Field hockey | National Hockey Centre | 2019<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hockey.org.au/News/a-new-era-begins-hockey-one-is-here |title=A New Era Begins – Hockey One Is Here! |publisher=Hockey Australia |website=hockey.org.au |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417082255/http://hockey.org.au/News/a-new-era-begins-hockey-one-is-here |archive-date=17 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | University of Canberra Capitals | WNBL | Basketball | AIS Arena | 1986<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118195221|title=Capitals begin title quest against Tigers|newspaper=Canberra Times|date=3 April 1986|via=Trove|access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref> |}

==Infrastructure==

===Health=== [[File:Canberra Hospital February 2018.jpg|thumb|The Canberra Hospital]]

Canberra has two large public hospitals, the approximately 600-bed Canberra Hospital—formerly the Woden Valley Hospital—in Garran and the 250-bed North Canberra Hospital in Bruce.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.act.gov.au/work-with-act-government/act-government-health-careers/our-hospitals-and-health-services|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408044653/https://www.act.gov.au/work-with-act-government/act-government-health-careers/our-hospitals-and-health-services|archive-date=8 April 2025|url-status=live|title=Our hospitals and health services|publisher=ACT Government|date=10 September 2025|access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="Canberra Clinical School">{{cite web|url=https://medicine-psychology.anu.edu.au/about-us/structure-locations-and-clinics/canberra-clinical-school|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250315202257/https://medicine-psychology.anu.edu.au/about-us/structure-locations-and-clinics/canberra-clinical-school|archive-date=15 March 2025|url-status=live|title=Canberra Clinical School|publisher=Australian National University|access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref> The latter was called Calvary Public Hospital Bruce before its acquisition by the ACT Government in 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://region.com.au/mixed-emotions-as-calvary-public-hospital-bruce-officially-becomes-north-canberra-hospital/678272/|title=Mixed emotions as Calvary Public Hospital Bruce officially becomes North Canberra Hospital|newspaper=Region Canberra|date=3 July 2023|access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/rachel-stephen-smith-mla-media-releases/2023/services-transition-at-north-canberra-hospital-and-clare-holland-house|title=Services transition at North Canberra Hospital and Clare Holland House|publisher=ACT Government|date=3 July 2023|access-date=13 November 2025}}</ref> Both are teaching institutions.<ref name="Canberra Clinical School"/> The largest private hospital is the Calvary John James Hospital in Deakin, which is being redeveloped to include 98 beds by 2028,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.calvarycare.org.au/hospitals/calvary-john-james-hospital-canberra/redevelopment-2025-2028 |title=Welcome to Calvary John James Hospital |publisher=Calvary John James Hospital |access-date=24 February 2026 |archive-date=1 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251101153759/https://www.calvarycare.org.au/hospitals/calvary-john-james-hospital-canberra/redevelopment-2025-2028 |url-status=live}}</ref> Calvary Bruce Private Hospital<ref>{{cite web|title=Calvary Bruce Private Hospital|url=https://www.calvarycare.org.au/hospitals/calvary-bruce-private-hospital|publisher=Calvary|access-date=24 February 2026}}</ref> in Bruce and Healthscope's National Capital Private Hospital <ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to National Capital Private Hospital|url=https://nationalcapitalprivatehospital.com.au/|publisher=National Capital Private Hospital|access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref> in Garran are also major healthcare providers.

The Royal Canberra Hospital was located on Acton Peninsula on Lake Burley Griffin; it was closed in 1991 and was demolished in 1997 in a controversial and fatal implosion to facilitate construction of the National Museum of Australia.{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=18}}{{sfn|National Capital Development Commission|1988|p=17}}<ref name=map/><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Canberra Times |publisher=Fairfax Media |title=15 years since hospital implosion tragedy |date=13 July 2012 |access-date=25 September 2013 |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/15-years-since-hospital-implosion-tragedy-20120713-22034.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714042848/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/15-years-since-hospital-implosion-tragedy-20120713-22034.html |archive-date=14 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s64319.htm |last=Reynolds |first=Fiona |title=Increasing pressure on ACT Chief Minister |date=5 November 1999 |work=A.M. |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=2 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104173854/http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s64319.htm |archive-date=4 November 2012}}</ref> Ambulance services are provided by the ACT Ambulance Service, one of four operational agencies of the ACT Emergency Services Agency.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://esa.act.gov.au/emergency-services |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114092333/https://esa.act.gov.au/emergency-services |archive-date=14 January 2026 |url-status=live|title=Emergency Services |publisher=ACT Emergency Services Agency |access-date=24 February 2026}}</ref>

===Transport=== ====Roads==== [[File:Highways into Canberra (6768361501).jpg|thumb|The Glenloch Interchange connects the Tuggeranong Parkway with Parkes Way]] [[File:ACTION (BUS 680) Volgren Optimus bodied Scania K360UA 6x2-2 (Euro VI) at the intersection of Alinga St and Northbourne Ave (1).jpg|thumb|ACTION Volgren bodied Scania K360UA]] [[File:Tram at Alinga Street light rail stop July 2022.jpg|thumb|Alinga Street light rail station]] The automobile is by far the dominant form of transport in Canberra, comprising 76.5% of trips in 2017.<ref name=road>{{cite web |url=https://www.transport.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1613302/200601-ACT-Transport-Strategy_web.pdf| page=44 |title=ACT Transport Strategy 2020 |publisher=ACT Government|date=2020 |access-date=3 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226110631/https://www.transport.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1613302/200601-ACT-Transport-Strategy_web.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> The speed limit in most suburban roads is {{cvt|50|km/h}}, but some major suburban roads have a speed limit of {{cvt|60|km/h}}. School zones, for some hours on school days, and town centres have limits of {{cvt|40|km/h}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/roads-and-paths/road-safety/speeding |title=Speeding |date=28 March 2023 |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=3 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250705053101/https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/roads-and-paths/road-safety/speeding |archive-date=5 July 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> Limited access dual carriageway roads, generally known as parkways, have higher speed limits, including the Tuggeranong Parkway, which links Canberra's CBD and Tuggeranong and has a speed limit of {{cvt|100|km/h}} for most of its length.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7120881/canberra-to-get-its-first-variable-speed-limit-road/|title=Tuggeranong Parkway to get variable speed limits|newspaper=Canberra Times|access-date=3 March 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523051635/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7120881/canberra-to-get-its-first-variable-speed-limit-road/ |archive-date=23 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1974 the National Capital Development Commission announced a shift in transport planning to prioritise public transport and discourage commuting by car.<ref>{{cite conference |title=The Canberra short term transportation study |year=1976 |author1=Morris, R W |author2=O'flaherty, C A |author3=Paterson, J |conference=Australian Transport Research Forum |location=Adelaide |url=https://trid.trb.org/view/1208702 }}</ref> The Commission's Transport Policy was a progressive, possibly radical, approach to transport planning for the time. Unwilling to accept the advice of a 1977 traffic study, the NCDC abandoned its commitment to expert-led planning, suppressed the modelling report and revived its car-oriented transport plans from the 1960s.<ref name="Mees2014">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.progress.2013.03.002 |title=A centenary review of transport planning in Canberra, Australia |author=Paul Mees |journal=Progress in Planning |volume=87 |year=2014 |pages=1–32 |bibcode=2014ProgP..87....1M }}</ref> This led to Canberra being a car-dominated city today. In 2006 Canberrans were the most likely of any Australian city dwellers to use their cars to get to work.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2016/01/canberrans--cars-and-congestion--public-transport-in-the-act-- |title=Canberrans, cars and congestion: public transport in the ACT |author=Jenny Stewart |publisher=University of New South Wales |date=2016-01-20 }}</ref>

In an effort to improve road safety, traffic cameras were first introduced to Canberra by the Kate Carnell Government in 1999.<ref name=LawsonTraffic>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/impact-of-traffic-cameras-on-speed-put-under-microscope-20140310-34i1n.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311005208/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/impact-of-traffic-cameras-on-speed-put-under-microscope-20140310-34i1n.html |archive-date=11 March 2014 |title=Impact of traffic cameras on speed put under microscope |date=11 March 2014 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |first=Kirsten |last=Lawson |publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref> The traffic cameras installed in Canberra include fixed red-light and speed cameras and point-to-point speed cameras; together they brought in revenue of approximately $11 million per year in fines in about 2014.<ref name=LawsonTraffic/> There are two local taxi companies. Aerial Capital Group enjoyed monopoly status until the arrival of Cabxpress in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/02/03/1839551.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218043332/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/02/03/1839551.htm |archive-date=18 February 2011 |title=Taxi company 'not concerned' at losing monopoly |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=3 February 2007}}</ref> In October 2015 the ACT Government passed legislation to regulate ride sharing, allowing ride share services including Uber to operate legally in Canberra.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-30/uber-launches-in-canberra/6898514 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission |title=Uber launches in ACT as Canberra becomes first city to regulate ride sharing |date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101065334/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-30/uber-launches-in-canberra/6898514 |archive-date=1 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/uber-goes-live-in-canberra-with-more-than-a-hundred-drivers-registered-20151030-gkmqaa.html |publisher=Fairfax Media |newspaper=The Canberra Times |title=Uber goes live in Canberra with more than 100 drivers registered |first=Tom |last=McIlroy |date=30 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105033829/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/uber-goes-live-in-canberra-with-more-than-a-hundred-drivers-registered-20151030-gkmqaa.html |archive-date=5 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/oct/30/act-chief-minister-launches-uber-in-canberra-calling-it-a-real-step-forward |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 October 2015 |title=ACT chief minister launches regulated Uber in Canberra, calling it 'a real step forward' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103153733/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/oct/30/act-chief-minister-launches-uber-in-canberra-calling-it-a-real-step-forward |archive-date=3 November 2015}}</ref> The ACT Government was the first jurisdiction in Australia to enact legislation to regulate the service.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.afr.com/technology/fullyregulated-uber-services-start-in-canberra-20151029-gkmgko |publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030134534/http://www.afr.com/technology/fullyregulated-uber-services-start-in-canberra-20151029-gkmgko |archive-date=30 October 2015 |date=30 October 2015 |newspaper=Australian Financial Review |title=Fully-regulated Uber services start in Canberra}}</ref> Since then many other ride sharing and taxi services have started in ACT namely Ola, Glide Taxi<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.canberraairport.com.au/transport/taxis/ |title=Taxis |website=Canberra Airport |language=en-US |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430052154/https://www.canberraairport.com.au/transport/taxis/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and GoCatch<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gocatch.com/2018/05/29/australian-owned-ride-booking-app-gocatch-to-begin-driving-canberra-airport-customers/ |title=Australian-owned ride-booking app GoCatch to begin driving Canberra Airport customers |website=GoCatch |language=en-AU |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430052108/https://www.gocatch.com/2018/05/29/australian-owned-ride-booking-app-gocatch-to-begin-driving-canberra-airport-customers/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Canberra is about three hours by road from Sydney on the Federal Highway (National Highway 23),{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|loc=inside cover}} which connects with the Hume Highway (National Highway 31) near Goulburn, and seven hours by road from Melbourne on the Barton Highway (National Highway 25), which joins the Hume Highway at Yass.{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|loc=inside cover}} It is a two-hour drive on the Monaro Highway (National Highway 23) to the ski fields of the Snowy Mountains and the Kosciuszko National Park.{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|p=20}} Batemans Bay, a popular holiday spot on the New South Wales coast, is also two hours away via the Kings Highway.{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|p=20}} Interstate coach services operate on these roads, with three companies operating a Sydney-Canberra express route: Murrays, FlixBus, and Greyhound Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://region.com.au/new-canberra-to-sydney-bus-service-rolls-in-with-10-fares/919845/|title= New Canberra to Sydney bus service rolls in with $10 fares|first=James|last=Coleman|date=10 November 2025|work=Region Media}}</ref> Other coach routes include: Murrays buses to Wollongong (via Moss Vale) and Narooma (via Batemans Bay); FlixBus buses to Melbourne (via Albury); V/Line buses to Wodonga (via Gundagai) and Bairnsdale and Traralgon (via Cooma); NSW TrainLink buses to Bombala and Eden (via Cooma), Wagga Wagga, Cootamundra and Goulburn; and CDC Canberra buses to Queanbeyan, Yass and Bungendore.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ptcbr.org/transport-in-the-capital-region/|title=Transport in the Capital Region|work=Public Transport Association of Canberra|date=November 2025}}</ref>

====Public transport==== Transport Canberra, provides bus and light rail services throughout the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transport.act.gov.au/about-us |title=About |publisher=Transport Canberra |access-date=3 March 2026 |archive-date=1 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260101005854/https://www.transport.act.gov.au/about-us |url-status=live}}</ref> CDC Canberra provides bus services between Canberra and nearby areas of New South Wales, including Queanbeyan, Bungendore, Murrumbateman and Yass.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cdccanberra.com.au/about/company-profile/ |title=About |publisher=CDC Canberra |access-date=11 March 2026 |archive-date=9 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250809150026/https://cdccanberra.com.au/about/company-profile/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A light rail line commenced service on 20 April 2019 linking the CBD with the northern district of Gungahlin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trams run near empty as light rail turns one |url=https://canberraweekly.com.au/trams-run-near-empty-as-light-rail-turns-1/ |website=Canberra Weekly |date=20 April 2020 |publisher=Newstate Media |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414225715/https://canberraweekly.com.au/trams-run-near-empty-as-light-rail-turns-1/ |url-status=live}}</ref> A planned Stage 2A of Canberra's light rail network will run from Alinga Street station to Commonwealth Park, adding three new stops at City West, City South and Commonwealth Park.<ref>{{cite web |title=London Circuit to be raised for light rail stage 2A |url=https://canberraweekly.com.au/london-circuit-to-be-raised-for-light-rail-stage-2a/ |website=Canberra Weekly |date=12 September 2019 |publisher=Newstate Media |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303235227/https://canberraweekly.com.au/london-circuit-to-be-raised-for-light-rail-stage-2a/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Work on stage 2 commenced in November 2022<ref>{{Cite press release|date=22 November 2022 |title=Rethink your routine: London Circuit to close from 2 December |url=https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/chris-steel-mla-media-releases/2022/rethink-your-routine-london-circuit-to-close-from-2-december|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310065627/https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/chris-steel-mla-media-releases/2022/rethink-your-routine-london-circuit-to-close-from-2-december| archive-date=10 March 2023|url-status=live |access-date=15 March 2026 |publisher=ACT Government}}</ref> and the line is expected to be open in early 2028.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Light Rail Stage 2A: City to Commonwealth Park|date=2 May 2025 |url=https://www.act.gov.au/lightrailtowoden/stage-2a |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105123625/https://www.act.gov.au/lightrailtowoden/stage-2a| archive-date=5 January 2026|url-status=live|access-date=15 March 2026 |publisher=ACT Government}}</ref> At the 2021 census, 6.3% of the journeys to work involved public transport, while 4.0% walked to work.<ref name="Census2021"/>

====Interstate rail====

An interstate NSW TrainLink railway service connects Canberra to Sydney.<ref name=traindestinations>{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|Southern Region}}</ref> Canberra railway station is in the inner south suburb of Kingston.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.countrylink.info/travel_passes/travelpass_agencies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220052328/http://www.countrylink.info/travel_passes/travelpass_agencies |archive-date=20 February 2011 |title=Travel pass agencies |publisher=CountryLink |date=14 December 2009 |access-date=23 April 2010}}</ref> Between 1920 and 1922 the train line crossed the Molonglo River and ran as far north as the city centre, although the line was closed following major flooding and was never rebuilt, while plans for a line to Yass were abandoned. A {{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on}} gauge construction railway was built in 1923 between the Yarralumla brickworks and the provisional Parliament House; it was later extended to Civic, but the whole line was closed in May 1927.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Canberra's Engineering Heritage |url=http://www.engineer.org.au/chapter02.html |archive-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723191327/http://engineer.org.au/chapter02.html |chapter=Railways |last=Shellshear |first=Walter M. |access-date=7 June 2010 |publisher=Engineers Australia}}</ref> Train services to Melbourne are provided by way of a NSW TrainLink bus service which connects with a rail service between Sydney and Melbourne in Yass, about a one-hour drive from Canberra.<ref name=traindestinations/>{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|p=20}}

Plans to establish a high-speed rail service between Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/19/business/worldbusiness/19iht-ausrail.2.t.html |title=Sydney to Canberra in 80 Minutes–by High-Speed Train |work=The New York Times |date=19 July 2000 |access-date=7 June 2010 |last=Richardson |first=Michael |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501033851/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/19/business/worldbusiness/19iht-ausrail.2.t.html |archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> have not been implemented, as the various proposals have been deemed economically unviable.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eriksrailnews.com/archive/hst2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306111425/http://eriksrailnews.com/archive/hst2.html |archive-date=6 March 2012 |title=Oz HSR Received? |work=The Australian |date=29 October 2002 |access-date=7 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Somer |first=Belinda |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s312944.htm |title=Govt considers rail link between eastern cities |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=14 June 2001 |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=13 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113164105/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s312944.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The original plans for Canberra included proposals for railed transport within the city,<ref name=railways>{{cite journal |title=Railways in the Australian Capital Territory |last=MacDonald |first=B.T. |journal=Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin |date=May 1967 |pages=106–116}}</ref> however none eventuated.<ref name=railways/> The phase 2 report of the most recent proposal, the High Speed Rail Study, was published by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport on 11 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Transport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625111825/http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/high_speed/files/HSR_Phase_2-Main_Report_Low_Res.pdf |author1=AECOM |author2=Booz and Co |author3=KPMG |author4=Hyder |author5=Acil Tasman |author6=Grimshaw Architects |archive-date=25 June 2013 |url=http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/high_speed/files/HSR_Phase_2-Main_Report_Low_Res.pdf |title=High Speed Rail Study Phase 2 Report |id=Libraries Australia ID 50778307 |date=April 2013 |ref={{harvid|High Speed Rail Study Phase 2 Report|2013}}}}</ref> A railway connecting Canberra to Jervis Bay was also planned but never constructed.{{sfn|Gibbney|1988|pp=58, 60}}

[[File:Canberra International Airport 01.jpg|thumb|Canberra Airport terminal]]

====Air travel==== Canberra Airport provides direct domestic services to Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sunshine Coast and Sydney with connections to other domestic centres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_flight_info/departures.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902105846/http://www.canberraairport.com.au/air_flight_info/departures.cfm |archive-date=2 September 2012 |title=Departures |publisher=Canberra Airport |access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref> There are also direct flights to small regional towns: Ballina, Dubbo, Newcastle and Port Macquarie in New South Wales. Canberra Airport is, as of September 2013, designated by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development as a restricted use designated international airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/international/icao/desig_airports.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510090836/http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/international/icao/desig_airports.aspx |archive-date=10 May 2013 |publisher=Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development |title=Designated International Airports in Australia |date=27 February 2013}}</ref> International flights have previously been operated by both Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways. Fiji Airways has announced direct flights to Nadi commencing in July 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fiji Airways to Start Flying to Canberra - Reward Flight |url=https://rewardflight.com.au/2023/04/15/fiji-airways-to-start-flying-to-canberra/ |website=rewardflight.com.au |date=15 April 2023}}</ref> Until 2003 the civilian airport shared runways with RAAF Base Fairbairn. In June of that year, the Air Force base was decommissioned and from that time the airport was fully under civilian control.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Farewell to Fairbairn |journal=Air Force |publisher=Royal Australian Air Force |volume=45 |issue=12 |last=Hogan |first=Richard |date=July 2003}}</ref>

====Active transport====

Canberra has one of the highest rates of active travel of all Australian major cities, with 7.1 per cent of commuters walking or cycling to work in 2011.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2013/canberra-ranks-highly-in-national-report |first=Simon |last=Corbell |author-link=Simon Corbell |date=31 July 2013 |title=Canberra ranks highly in national report |archive-date=18 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318234349/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2013/canberra-ranks-highly-in-national-report}}</ref> An ACT Government survey conducted in late 2010 found that Canberrans walk an average of 26 minutes each day.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.transport.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/397245/Pages_from_EDS_ACT_Transport_Policy_FA_final_web.pdf |page=38 |title=Transport for Canberra: Transport for a sustainable city 2012–31 |publisher=ACT Government |date=March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131155700/https://www.transport.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/397245/Pages_from_EDS_ACT_Transport_Policy_FA_final_web.pdf |archive-date=31 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> According to ''The Canberra Times'' in March 2014, Canberra's cyclists are involved in an average of four reported collisions every week.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/costs-add-up-as-more-cyclists-take-to-public-roads-and-suffer-tumbles-20140318-350pg.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319000315/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/costs-add-up-as-more-cyclists-take-to-public-roads-and-suffer-tumbles-20140318-350pg.html |archive-date=19 March 2014 |date=19 March 2014 |title=Costs add up as more cyclists take to public roads and suffer tumbles |first=Phillip |last=Thomson}}</ref> The newspaper also reported that Canberra is home to 87,000 cyclists, translating to the highest cycling participation rate in Australia; and, with higher popularity, bike injury rates in 2012 were twice the national average.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/cycling-campaign-group-pedal-power-slams-act-government-on-injury-rates-20140625-zslas.html |newspaper=The Canberra Times |publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625122459/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/cycling-campaign-group-pedal-power-slams-act-government-on-injury-rates-20140625-zslas.html |title=Cycling campaign group Pedal Power slams ACT government on injury rates |first=John |last=Thistleton |date=25 June 2014}}</ref>

Since late 2020, two scooter-sharing systems have been operational in Canberra: orange scooters from Neuron Mobility and purple scooters from Beam Mobility,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.act.gov.au/our-canberra/latest-news/2020/august/e-scooters-are-coming-to-canberra |title=E-scooters have rolled into Canberra - Our Canberra |publisher=Act.gov.au |date=28 August 2020 |access-date=24 February 2022 |archive-date=10 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010022013/https://www.act.gov.au/our-canberra/latest-news/2020/august/e-scooters-are-coming-to-canberra |url-status=live}}</ref> both Singapore-based companies that operate in many Australian cities. These services cover much of Canberra Central and Central Belconnen, with plans to expand coverage to more areas of the city in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7480748/e-scooters-to-expand-across-entire-city/ |title=E-scooters to expand across entire city |date=23 October 2021 |access-date=22 February 2022 |archive-date=22 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222010650/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7480748/e-scooters-to-expand-across-entire-city/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Utilities=== [[File:Mount Majura Solar Farm August 2024.jpg|thumb|right|The Mount Majura Solar Farm has a rated output of 2.3 megawatts and was opened on 6 October 2016.<ref name="Solar Choice">{{cite web |url=http://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/news/mount-majura-solar-farm-switches-on-101016 |title=Mount Majura Solar Farm powers up in ACT |publisher=Solar Choice |date=11 October 2016 |access-date=6 January 2016 |archive-date=18 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018143129/http://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/news/mount-majura-solar-farm-switches-on-101016 |url-status=live}}</ref>]]

The government-owned Icon Water manages Canberra's water and sewerage infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actew.com.au/About/Who-are-we/What-we-do.aspx |title=What we do |publisher=ACTEW |access-date=22 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403000353/http://www.actew.com.au/About/Who-are-we/What-we-do.aspx |archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> ActewAGL is a joint venture between ACTEW and AGL, and is the retail provider of Canberra's utility services including water, natural gas, electricity, and also some telecommunications services via a subsidiary TransACT.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actewagl.com.au/About-us/Who-is-ActewAGL.aspx |title=About our business |publisher=ActewAGL |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125215038/http://www.actewagl.com.au/About-us/Who-is-ActewAGL.aspx |archive-date=25 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Canberra's water is stored in four reservoirs, the Corin, Bendora and Cotter dams on the Cotter River and the Googong Dam on the Queanbeyan River. Although the Googong Dam is located in New South Wales, it is managed by the ACT government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actew.com.au/Water-Supply-System/The-water-network.aspx |publisher=ActewAGL |title=The Water Network |access-date=22 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328102934/http://www.actew.com.au/Water-Supply-System/The-water-network.aspx |archive-date=28 March 2015}}</ref> Icon Water owns Canberra's two wastewater treatment plants, located at Fyshwick and on the lower reaches of the Molonglo River.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actew.com.au/Sewerage-System/What-is-sewage/Sewage-Treatment-Plants/Fyshwick-Sewage-Treament-Plant.aspx |title=Fyshwick Sewage Treatment Plant |publisher=ActewAGL |access-date=22 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312003432/http://www.actew.com.au/Sewerage-System/What-is-sewage/Sewage-Treatment-Plants/Fyshwick-Sewage-Treament-Plant.aspx |archive-date=12 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actew.com.au/Sewerage-System/What-is-sewage/Sewage-Treatment-Plants/Lower-Molonglo-Water-Quality-Control-Centre.aspx |title=Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre |publisher=ActewAGL |access-date=22 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312003423/http://www.actew.com.au/Sewerage-System/What-is-sewage/Sewage-Treatment-Plants/Lower-Molonglo-Water-Quality-Control-Centre.aspx |archive-date=12 March 2015}}</ref>

Electricity for Canberra mainly comes from the national power grid through substations at Holt and Fyshwick (via Queanbeyan).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/16792/issuespaperelecinfcontestabilityoctober03.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420202136/http://www.icrc.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/16792/issuespaperelecinfcontestabilityoctober03.pdf |title=Review of Contestable Electricity Infrastructure Workshop |page=13 |date=October 2003 |access-date=10 May 2010 |author=Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission}}</ref> Power was first supplied from the Kingston Powerhouse near the Molonglo River, a thermal plant built in 1913, but this was finally closed in 1957.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 March 1913 |page=5 |title=The Founding of Canberra |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15404837 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218035413/http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15404837 |archive-date=18 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://client14.matrix01.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/148426/473.pdf |title=20048. Kingston Powerhouse Historic Precinct (Entry to the ACT Heritage Register) |publisher=ACT Heritage Council |access-date=11 October 2014 |archive-date=29 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029194648/http://client14.matrix01.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/148426/473.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The ACT has four solar farms, which were opened between 2014 and 2017: Royalla (rated output of 20 megawatts, 2014),<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2014/australias-largest-solar-farm-opens-in-the-act |title=Australia's largest solar farm opens in the ACT |publisher=ACT Government |date=3 September 2014 |access-date=11 October 2014 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019062424/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2014/australias-largest-solar-farm-opens-in-the-act |url-status=live}}</ref> Mount Majura (2.3 MW, 2016),<ref name="Solar Choice"/> Mugga Lane (13 MW, 2017)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/mugga-lane-solar-farm-opens-bringing-act-to-35-per-cent-renewable-energy-20170302-gup673.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302110650/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/mugga-lane-solar-farm-opens-bringing-act-to-35-per-cent-renewable-energy-20170302-gup673.html |archive-date=2 March 2017 |url-status=live |title=Mugga Lane solar farm opens, bringing ACT to 35 per cent renewable energy |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=2 March 2017 |access-date=1 December 2017}}</ref> and Williamsdale (11 MW, 2017).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/government-unveils-36000-new-solar-panels-at-williamsdale-20171004-gyu8z8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129172410/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/government-unveils-36000-new-solar-panels-at-williamsdale-20171004-gyu8z8.html |archive-date=29 November 2017 |url-status=live |title=Government unveils 36,000 new solar panels at Williamsdale |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=5 October 2017 |access-date=1 December 2017}}</ref> In addition, numerous houses in Canberra have photovoltaic panels or solar hot water systems. In 2015 and 2016, rooftop solar systems supported by the ACT government's feed-in tariff had a capacity of 26.3 megawatts, producing 34,910 MWh. In the same year, retailer-supported schemes had a capacity of 25.2 megawatts and exported 28,815 MWh to the grid (power consumed locally was not recorded).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1021129/2016-15-Annual-FiT-Report-Access.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309143807/https://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1021129/2016-15-Annual-FiT-Report-Access.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2017 |url-status=live |title=2015–16 Annual Feed-in Tariff Report |page=7 |publisher=ACT Government |access-date=8 December 2017}}</ref>

There are no wind-power generators in Canberra, but several have been built or are being built or planned in nearby New South Wales, such as the 140.7 megawatt Capital Wind Farm. The ACT government announced in 2013 that it was raising the target for electricity consumed in the ACT to be supplied from renewable sources to 90% by 2020,<ref name=renewable>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2013/act-sets-90-renewable-energy-target-in-law7 |title=ACT sets 90% renewable energy target in law |publisher=ACT Government |date=4 November 2013 |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-date=2 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302195422/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2013/act-sets-90-renewable-energy-target-in-law7 |url-status=live}}</ref> raising the target from 210 to 550 megawatts.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2014/large-scale-feed-in-tariff-law-expanded-to-meet-90-renewables-target |title=Large scale feed-in tariff law expanded to meet 90% renewables target |publisher=ACT Government |date=27 February 2014 |access-date=7 March 2014 |archive-date=7 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307070716/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2014/large-scale-feed-in-tariff-law-expanded-to-meet-90-renewables-target |url-status=live}}</ref> It announced in February 2015 that three wind farms in Victoria and South Australia would supply 200 megawatts of capacity; these are expected to be operational by 2017.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2015/wind-auction-result-delivers-renewable-energy-and-economic-benefits-to-the-act |title=Wind auction result delivers renewable energy and economic benefits to the ACT |publisher=ACT Government |date=6 February 2015 |access-date=10 March 2015 |archive-date=18 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318085524/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2015/wind-auction-result-delivers-renewable-energy-and-economic-benefits-to-the-act |url-status=live}}</ref> Contracts for the purchase of an additional 200 megawatts of power from two wind farms in South Australia and New South Wales were announced in December 2015 and March 2016.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2015/hornsdale-achieves-new-record-price-in-acts-second-wind-auction |title=Hornsdale achieves new record price in ACT's second wind auction |publisher=ACT Government |date=21 December 2015 |access-date=4 March 2016 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306034832/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2015/hornsdale-achieves-new-record-price-in-acts-second-wind-auction |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2016/new-wind-farm-set-to-power-more-than-just-canberra-homes |title=New wind farm set to power more than just Canberra homes |publisher=ACT Government |date=4 March 2016 |access-date=4 March 2016 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306033758/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2016/new-wind-farm-set-to-power-more-than-just-canberra-homes |url-status=live}}</ref> The ACT government announced in 2014 that up to 23 megawatts of feed-in-tariff entitlements would be made available for the establishment of a facility in the ACT or surrounding region for burning household and business waste to produce electricity by 2020.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2014/turning-waste-into-energy |title=Turning waste into energy |publisher=ACT Government |date=7 March 2014 |access-date=11 March 2014 |archive-date=11 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311092251/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/corbell/2014/turning-waste-into-energy |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Twin towns and sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Australia}} Canberra has three sister cities:[[File:Toku in the Nara Peace Park June 2014.jpg|thumb|''Toku'' in the Canberra-Nara Peace Park, which is located in the Lennox Gardens]]

*Beijing, China<ref name=Canberra>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/international |title=Canberra's international relationships |date=22 November 2018 |publisher=Chief Minister's Department |access-date=20 October 2009 |archive-date=12 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112024145/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/international |url-status=live}}</ref> *Nara, Japan<ref name=Canberra/> *Wellington, New Zealand<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-07/canberra-adopts-wellington-as-sister-city/7576458 |title=Canberra adopts New Zealand capital as sister city |date=7 July 2016 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |website=ABC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710210815/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-07/canberra-adopts-wellington-as-sister-city/7576458 |archive-date=10 July 2016}}</ref>

In addition, Canberra has the following friendship cities:

*Hangzhou, China: The ACT Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hangzhou Municipal People's Government on 29 October 1998. The Agreement was designed to promote business opportunities and cultural exchanges between the two cities.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/hangzhou_china |title=Hangzhou, China |publisher=ACT Government Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309070609/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/hangzhou_china |archive-date=9 March 2014}}</ref> *Dili, East Timor: The Canberra Dili Friendship Agreement was signed in 2004, aiming to build friendship and mutual respect and promote educational, cultural, economic, humanitarian and sporting links between Canberra and Dili.<ref>{{citation |title=Dili, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste |url=http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/dili |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309070546/http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/dili |url-status=live |publisher=ACT Government Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate |archive-date=9 March 2014}}</ref> City-to-city relationships encourage communities and special interest groups both locally and abroad to engage in a wide range of exchange activities. The Canberra Nara Candle Festival held annually in spring, is a community celebration of the Canberra Nara Sister City relationship.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 September 2008 |title=Festival celebrates Canberra-Nara friendship |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/26/2375107.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929012547/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/26/2375107.htm |archive-date=29 September 2008 |access-date=23 April 2010 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> The festival is held in Canberra Nara Park on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 October 1999 |title=Canberra Nara Park |url=http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/parks_and_reserves/urban_parks/district_parks/canberra_nara_park |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130917070057/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/parks_and_reserves/urban_parks/district_parks/canberra_nara_park |archive-date=17 September 2013 |access-date=17 September 2013 |publisher=ACT Government Territory and Municipal Services}}</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist|group=N}}

==References== === Citations === {{reflist|30em}}

=== Sources === {{refbegin}} *{{Cite journal |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/featurearticlesbyCatalogue/D41F48B6CB4D1240CA2569DE00281139?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604042204/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs%40.nsf/featurearticlesbyCatalogue/D41F48B6CB4D1240CA2569DE00281139?OpenDocument |archive-date=4 June 2011 |title=The Australian Capital Territory, Canberra the National Capital: Fifty Years of Development |date=25 January 1963 |author=Australian Bureau of Statistics |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |journal=Year Book Australia |url-status=dead}} *{{Cite book |title=Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra: Policy Plan |year=1988 |location=Canberra |publisher=National Capital Development Commission |isbn=0-642-13957-1 |ref={{harvid|National Capital Development Commission|1988}}}} *{{Cite book |title=The Penguin Australia Road Atlas |year=2000 |publisher=Penguin Books Australia |location=Ringwood, Victoria |isbn=0-670-88980-6 |ref={{harvid|Penguin Books Australia|2000}}}} *{{Cite book |title=UBD Canberra |year=2007 |location=North Ryde, New South Wales |publisher=Universal Publishers |isbn=978-0-7319-1882-9 |ref={{harvid|Universal Publishers|2007}}}} *{{Cite book |last=Fitzgerald |first=Alan |title=Canberra in Two Centuries: A Pictorial History |author-link=Alan Fitzgerald (satirist) |year=1987 |location=Torrens, Australian Capital Territory |publisher=Clareville Press |isbn=0-909278-02-4}} *{{Cite book |last=Gibbney |first=Jim |title=Canberra 1913–1953 |year=1988 |location=Canberra |publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service |isbn=0-644-08060-4}} *{{Cite book |last=Gillespie |first=Lyall |title=Canberra 1820–1913 |year=1991 |location=Canberra |publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service |isbn=0-644-08060-4}} *{{Cite book |last=Growden |first=Greg |title=Jack Fingleton: The Man Who Stood Up To Bradman |location=Crows Nest, New South Wales |publisher=Allen & Unwin |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-74175-548-0}} *{{Cite book |last=Sparke |first=Eric |title=Canberra 1954–1980 |year=1988 |location=Canberra |publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service |isbn=0-644-08060-4}} *{{Cite book |last=Reid|first=Sarah|title=Australia |location=Footscray, Victoria |publisher=Lonely Planet |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-83869-390-9}} *{{Cite book |last=Wigmore |first=Lionel |title=Canberra: History of Australia's National Capital |year=1971 |location=Canberra |publisher=Dalton Publishing Company |isbn=0-909906-06-8}} *{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Dudley |title=The Biology of Temporary Waters |year=2006 |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-852811-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSv2HvrNSo0C |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-date=2 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502095245/https://books.google.com/books?id=xSv2HvrNSo0C |url-status=live}} {{refend}}

==External links== {{Wikiquote}} {{Commons}} *{{Wikivoyage inline}} *[http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=-35310000&x=149130000&z=11&l=1&m=a WikiSatellite view of Canberra at WikiMapia] *[http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/ Official Tourism Website] *[http://www.act.gov.au/ The ACT Government webpage] **[http://www.actmapi.act.gov.au/ Canberra region map] – all districts *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121219012913/http://www.australia.com/explore/cities/canberra.aspx Canberra] – Tourism Australia *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130218210206/http://www.canberra100.com.au/ Canberra 100 – Celebrating Canberra's 100th anniversary] *[https://www.arts.act.gov.au/public-art/list List of public art in Australian Capital Territory] *{{OSM relation|5342034}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfyfQD-p4B8 Canberra in the 1920s] - A compilation of footage from National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42cw_9Fyvqw A Guide to Canberra (1958)] - Film from NFSA

{{Australian Capital Territory}} {{Canberra landmarks}} {{Capital cities of Australia}} {{Capital districts and territories}} {{Cities of Australia}} {{List of Oceanian capitals by region}}

Category:Canberra Category:1913 establishments in Australia Category:Australian capital cities Category:Capital cities in Oceania Category:Cities planned by Walter Burley Griffin Category:Metropolitan areas of Australia Category:Planned capital cities Category:Populated places established in 1913 Category:Populated places on the Murrumbidgee River