Canberra is the capital of Australia, but don’t feel too bad if you didn’t already know this. Canberra is the least-known capital city among developed countries, with one study showing 4.68 million people ask Google what Australia’s capital city is each year.
However, Canberra has many unique things to uncover and tourist attractions that make it a shame to overlook. In this article, we’ll explain exactly why Canberra is ranked as one of the happiest cities in Australia – and one of the best to visit if you give it a chance. If you don’t believe us yet that Canberra is an amazing city, it ranked third in Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel – Top Cities” list in 2018.
Why Is Canberra the Capital?
Let’s start by explaining how the relatively small city of 472,000 people became the nation’s capital. When Australia was federated in 1901, a roaring debate started between Melbourne and Sydney as to where the capital should be located. Eventually, a compromise was reached – the new capital would be founded at a roughly equal distance between the two, but still in New South Wales. Canberra now lies 240 km southwest of Sydney – a spot that kept both Victoria and New South Wales happy.
Lots of potential sites were inspected, with the various states bickering about each one. Canberra was eventually chosen as the capital in 1908 thanks to its clean air, good water supply thanks to the Molonglo River and “invigorating” climate, being pretty cold by Aussie standards. It was believed at the time that a colder climate was better for the body and mind, with King O’Malley, one of the first members of the federal parliament, saying that “cold climates have produced the greatest geniuses.”
How was Canberra Named?
The name ‘Canberra’ is believed to be derived from the indigenous word “Kambera” or “Canberry,” meaning “meeting place.” Thanks to its reliable water supply, different ingenious clans from all over the region would meet in what is now Canberra for rituals, marriages, celebrations and initiation ceremonies. This was also fitting for modern Canberra, as a meeting place for politicians. The name was announced on the 12th of March 1913 by Lady Denham, the wife of the Governor-General at the time. Standing on the foundation stone of the city, she announced: “I name the capital of Australia, Canberra – the accent is on the Can.”
Not Just a City, But a Territory
The founding of Canberra also marked the founding of a new territory: the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The ACT spans over 2358 square kilometres within the state of New South Wales. The ACT is the youngest of all of Australia’s states and territories, being formed in 1927 when Parliament first sat in Canberra. Most of the country’s other states and territories were founded in 1901 at the time of the Federation.
It’s called a territory and not a state because the ACT, as well as the Northern Territory, have different levels of power compared to the states. Territories don’t have the power to create laws for their own territory without the assistance of the federal government. This means that the Australian Capital Territory relies on the federal government to approve laws for them into effect in Canberra.
Walter Burley Griffin’s Planned City With Man-Made Lake
Before Canberra was chosen as the capital city, very little stood there except sheep paddocks. This gave Australia a completely clean slate to design its capital. This gave way to an international competition to find a design for the national capital, with 137 entries from all over the world. In May 1912, American architect Walter Burley Griffin won the competition with his vision of a city filled with nature, a man-made lake, and nestled in between mountains. He pictured the leafy “garden” suburbs Canberrans enjoy today.
This is how the lake in the heart of Canberra, Lake Burley Griffin, got its namesake. If you take a stroll around Lake Burley Griffin, it’s easy to see why Canberra is one of the world’s happiest cities, with many of Canberra’s most iconic places surrounding its shores. You can get a spectacular view of the city and a bit of adventure by taking one of Canberra’s iconic hot air balloons over the lake. The best time to do this, and arguably the best time to visit Canberra in general, is the autumn season when the whole city turns orange and red thanks to its many deciduous trees.
Home of our Science, Culture and History Centres
Canberra is known for being home to many national institutes of science, design and art that have had global impacts. Many of them have some of the most beautiful architecture Australia has to offer and sit around the lake, making tourism a big part of the ACT’s economy. Here are just a few worth national institutions worth checking out:
CSIRO
Canberra hosts the CSIRO, a public science organisation that the world has to thank for some serious innovations – namely Wifi in 1996, which has earned them $430 million in royalties since. We also have them to thank for the plastic banknotes Australians use today, and running NASA’s spacecraft tracking facilities in Australia. CSIRO also invented the bug spray Aeroguard (fun fact, they tested it on Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Australia in 1996 by liberally spraying her with it during a golf game).
National Gallery Of Australia
The national gallery is another one of the city’s gems, being home to an extensive collection of artwork. You’ll find some of the most famous paintings from Australian artists like Sidney Nolan and Russell Drysdale, as well as paintings from renowned international artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Jason Pollock and Pablo Picasso. It’s also home to the largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in the world. The National Gallery also has fascinating exhibitions running year round.
It also boasts beautiful brutalist architecture and free entry. It’s one of the best places to visit in Canberra for tourists and locals alike, especially on a rainy day. The National Portrait Gallery of Australia is also right next door, with over 400 portraits of some of Australia’s most influential people.
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is where Australia commemorates those who have died in the war and all those who have served. The names of those Australia lost in war are inscribed in bronze on the walls, a bone-chilling reminder of the cost of war. It’s a world-class museum with over a million visitors each year, and gallery spaces covering Australia’s involvement in each major conflict.
National Museum of Australia
Another one of the best things to do in Canberra is visit the National Museum. Located on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, it’s free to visit the museum and learn about the heritage of Australia, with lots of different exhibitions featuring history, arts and culture.
National Library of Australia
The National Library, built in 1968, is one of the top things to see in Canberra. The Classical style of the library is breath-taking, with large Grecian-style marble columns inspired by the Pantheon. Inside you’ll find the largest reference library in Australia, with an estimated 16 million items and 15 thousand metres of manuscript material. Tours are offered daily.
Hub of the Australian Public Service and Australian Defence Force
Canberra is host to the federal government and all its department headquarters, making the Australian Public Service (APS) one of the largest employers in Canberra. This has led to the conception that all Canberrans work for the APS, and while this isn’t exactly true, you’re definitely more likely to run into a public servant in Canberra than anywhere else. According to the Australian Public Service Commission, the APS employs 42% of Canberra’s population – a much higher proportion than any other Australian city. The Australian Defence Force is also based in Canberra, employing approximately 10,000 people according to their census.
Highest Educated City
Many people who move to Canberra either do so to work for the government, or study at one of its outstanding universities. The Australian National University in Canberra is ranked 1st in Australia, and 30th in the world according to their website.
This might be why Canberra is Australia’s most educated city. Just under 40% of Canberran adults have a bachelor’s degree, and 98% have a Year 12 Certificate- a higher amount than any other city in the country.
Great Beer, Food and Wine
Canberrans pride themselves on their great food, and the proof is in the pudding: Canberra is home to the most restaurants per capita in Australia, with 267.30 restaurants per 100,000 people. Canberra is the perfect place to connect with your inner foodie with so many multicultural, award-winning speciality restaurants to choose from.
Canberra also has a thriving wine industry right at its doorstep, thanks to its high country and cool-climate where Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Shiraz varieties can thrive. There are more than 40 boutique wineries within a 35-minute drive from the centre of Canberra, and they’re exceptional wines as well – in 2021, 13 Canberra wines won gold medals at the New South Wales Wine Awards.
Canberra has also established itself as a beer hub with two of the best breweries in Australia, Capital Brewing Co in Fyshwick and Bentspoke in Braddon. Bentspoke’s Crankshaft IPA won best craft beer 2 years in a row in the 2021 and 2022 Gabs Hottest 100, with Capital Brewing not far behind 6th and 9th place in 2022.
Bird’s Eye View of the Bush Capital From Mount Ainslie
Canberra has always colloquially been referred to as the bush capital. This is partially because of the vast nature reserves scattered all throughout the city and the surrounding mountain ranges that curve around Canberra. The best place to see how full of nature Canberra really is is from the scenic view on top of Mount Ainslie Lookout.
At an elevation of 843 meters above sea level, Mount Ainslie offers stunning panoramic views of some of Canberra’s most beautiful features – the gorgeous slopes of Black Mountain with Telstra Tower perched on top, the angular architecture of Parliament House and its 81-metre flag pole, and of course the beautiful Lake Burley Griffin.
You can drive to the top of Mountain Ainslie, but walking or cycling will give you a chance to see lots of native flora and fauna as well. The track is rated at a medium-difficulty level, with a 4.5km return hike along a sealed track. The return walk will take you between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. Along the way, the signs commemorate World War 2 Kokoda campaign with lots of information about what it was like for Australia’s soldiers. It’s definitely a Canberra must-see.
Australia’s New and Old Parliament Houses
Canberra, being the federal capital, holds much to learn about the history of our young nation’s government, both past and present. Both Australia’s current and former parliament houses are open to the public every day and have a wealth of information to be learned as well as beautiful architecture.
Old Parliament House
The Old Parliament House was the seat of Australia’s parliament from 1927 to 1988 when a new one was built. Between 1988 and 2009 it was home to one of the central government departments, Prime Minister and Cabinet. Today, it serves as the Museum of Australian Democracy. You can learn about Australian history all the important individuals and events that shaped the country into what it is today, see the office of former prime ministers, and the old House of Representatives.
New Parliament House
After 1988, Parliament moved to a new site on top of Capital Hill. It’s now one of Australia’s most recognizable landmarks, with acclaimed architecture and a flag at the top the size of a double-decker bus that can be seen from most vantage points in Canberra.
It’s well worth visiting, with opportunities to see parliament in action. During sitting days you can see question time, when Parliament scrutinises the work of the government, and watch parliamentary committees.
Will You be Visiting?
Now that you know about Canberra and all its top attractions, we hope you see the value in visiting. If you’re looking to read more about Canberra, you can learn more about Canberra’s culture and test your knowledge with our fun Canberra knowledge quiz.