Canberra has been affectionately known as the Bush Capital by residents and visitors alike all our lives. You may just think it’s been called the bush capital because we are literally surrounded by bush. You would be correct on that one but the meaning goes far deeper and further back than you may realise.
In the early 1900’s, when the Government was deciding where exactly our capital city would be located, they determined that the capital needed to stay within New South Wales. This came after many debates of whether or not Sydney or Melbourne should be the capital. While they decided it should be within New South Wales, it was not going to be in Sydney. However, a section of the Constitution required that the capital be located within a 100 mile radius to Sydney. This 100 mile radius only covered bushland and paddocks at this stage which displeased the politicians sitting temporarily in Melbourne. This name came with negative media attention for nearly a decade until Mr Walter Burley Griffin revealed his plan that ultimately won over Canberra in 1912. It’s uncertain whether it was journalists or politicians that coined the name ‘Bush Capital’. But regardless of who came up with the name, we love it and it has been here to stay, in the Bush Capital.
To experience the Bush Capital in a different way, check out our article on top campsites in Canberra.