Our town, Canberra is the capital city of Australia. Located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) about 300 km south of Sydney and 600km north of Melbourne. The area was originally inhabited by the indigenous Ngunnawal people, who had lived in the region for tens of thousands of years. However, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that Europeans began to settle in the area.
In 1820, the explorer Charles Throsby came across the Limestone Plains, which were situated between the Murrumbidgee and Molonglo rivers. At that time, there were no permanent European settlements in the area, although it was used as grazing land for cattle and sheep.
In 1824, the Surveyor-General of New South Wales, Major Thomas Mitchell, explored the area and named the Molonglo River. He also recommended that the area would be suitable for future settlement. However, it wasn’t until the 1850s that the first European settlers arrived in the region.
In 1859, the New South Wales government set aside 2,000 acres of land for a future capital city, which they named Canberra. The name ‘Canberra’ is derived from the Ngunnawal word for ‘meeting place’.
In 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was formed, and it was decided that a new capital city would be built to house the federal government. The Constitution of Australia specified that the capital city had to be located in New South Wales, but not within 100 miles of Sydney. After much debate and consideration of different sites, the Limestone Plains were chosen as the location for the new capital city.
In 1911, an international competition was held to select a design for the new city. The competition was won by an American architect, Walter Burley Griffin, and his wife, Marion Mahony Griffin. Their design included a central lake, with government buildings and residential areas arranged around it in a circular pattern. Construction of the city began in 1913, and the first government building, Provisional Parliament House, was completed in 1927.
Canberra officially became the capital of Australia in 1927, and the city continued to grow and develop over the following decades. In the 1950s and 1960s, a number of significant buildings were constructed in Canberra, including the Australian National University, the National Library of Australia, and the National Gallery of Australia.
Today, Canberra is a thriving city with a population of over 400,000 people. It is home to a number of important national institutions, including Parliament House, the High Court of Australia, and the Australian War Memorial. The city is also known for its beautiful parks and gardens, including the Australian National Botanic Gardens and Lake Burley Griffin, which is a popular spot for outdoor recreation.
Overall, the history of Canberra is a fascinating one, and the city continues to play an important role in the political and cultural life of Australia.
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