Canberra

This article is about the capital of Australia. For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation).

Canberra
Kanbarra (Ngunawal)
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra viewed from Mount Ainslie
Canberra viewed from Mount Ainslie
National Carillon
National Carillon
Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
Black Mountain Tower
Telstra Tower
National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
National Gallery of Australia
National Gallery of Australia
Old Parliament House & New Parliament House
Capital Hill and Old Parliament House
City map plan of Canberra
City map plan of Canberra
Canberra is located in Australia
Canberra
Canberra
Coordinates35°17′35″S 149°07′37″E / 35.29306°S 149.12694°E / -35.29306; 149.12694
Population466,566 (June 2023)[1] (8th)
 • Density503.932/km2 (1,305.18/sq mi)
Established12 March 1913
Elevation578 m (1,896 ft)[2]
Area814.2 km2 (314.4 sq mi)[3]
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
 • Summer (DST)AEDT (UTC+11:00)
Location
Territory electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
20.4 °C
69 °F		 7.0 °C
45 °F		 579.5 mm
22.8 in

Canberra (/ˈkænbərə/ ⓘ KAN-bər-ə) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest Australian city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory[10] at the northern tip of the Australian Alps, the country's highest mountain range. As of June 2023, Canberra's estimated population was 466,566.[1]

The area chosen for the capital had been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians for up to 21,000 years,[11] by groups including the Ngunnawal and Ngambri.[12] European settlement commenced in the first half of the 19th century, as 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. Following a long dispute over whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the national capital,[13] a compromise was reached: the new capital would be built in New South Wales, so long as it was at least 100 mi (160 km) from Sydney. The capital city was founded and formally named as Canberra in 1913. A plan by the American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin was selected after an international design contest, and construction commenced in 1913.[14][15] Unusual among Australian cities, it is an entirely planned city. The Griffins' plan featured geometric motifs and was centred on axes aligned with significant topographical landmarks such as Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, Capital Hill and City Hill. Canberra's mountainous location makes it the only mainland Australian city where snow-capped mountains can be seen in winter, although snow in the city itself is uncommon.

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. It is the location of many social and cultural institutions of national significance such as 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.[16][17][18][19][20] Although the Commonwealth Government remains the largest single employer in Canberra, it is no longer the majority employer. Other major industries have developed in the city, including in health care, professional services, education and training, retail, accommodation and food, and construction.[21] 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 2016 Census, 32% of Canberra's inhabitants were reported as having been born overseas.[22]

Canberra's design is influenced by the garden city movement and incorporates significant areas of natural vegetation. 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, born out of the 2003 Canberra bushfires, and Lake Burley Griffin, named for Walter Burley Griffin. Highlights in the annual calendar of cultural events include Floriade, the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere,[23][24] 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 main hub of Canberra's bus and light rail transport network.

  1. ^ a b "Regional population, 2022-23". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. ^ "GFS / BOM data for CANBERRA AIRPORT". Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and SYDNEY". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and MELBOURNE". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and ADELAIDE". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and BRISBANE". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Great Circle Distance between CANBERRA and PERTH". Geoscience Australia. March 2004. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  9. ^ Augmented Electoral Commission for the Australian Capital Territory (July 2018). "Redistribution of the Australian Capital Territory into electoral divisions" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2018. 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.
  10. ^ "Canberra map". Britannica. 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Community Stories: Canberra Region". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Nowroozi, Isaac (19 February 2021). "Celebrating Marion Mahony Griffin, the woman who helped shape Canberra". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  15. ^ Lewis, Wendy; Balderstone, Simon; Bowan, John (2006). Events That Shaped Australia. New Holland. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-74110-492-9.
  16. ^ "Canberra ranked 'best place to live' by OECD". BBC News. 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  17. ^ Riordan, Primrose (7 October 2014). "Canberra named the best place in the world...again". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Why Canberra is Australia's most liveable city". Switzer Daily. 4 February 2020. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  19. ^ "'Criminally overlooked': Canberra named third-best travel city in the world". ABC News. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Lonely Planet lists Canberra as one of the world's three hottest destinations". The Guardian. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference EDA ACT Economic Indicators was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ "Canberra blooms: Australia's biggest celebration of spring - People's Daily Online". en.people.cn. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  24. ^ "Floriade - the biggest blooming show in Australia". Australian Traveller. 5 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.