Canberra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CanberraAustralian Capital Territory |
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City map plan of Canberra
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 Canberra
Location in Australia
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| Population | 466,566 (June 2023) (8th) | ||||||||
| • Density | 503.932/km2 (1,305.18/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Established | 12 March 1913 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 578 m (1,896 ft) | ||||||||
| Area | 814.2 km2 (314.4 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | AEDT (UTC+11:00) | ||||||||
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Canberra is the capital city of Australia. It was chosen as the capital after Australia's colonies joined together to form one nation. Canberra is Australia's biggest inland city. It is also the eighth-largest city in Australia overall.
The city is located in the northern part of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This area is at the northern end of the Australian Alps, which is Australia's highest mountain range. In June 2023, Canberra had an estimated population of 466,566 people.
The land where Canberra now stands has been home to Aboriginal Australians for up to 21,000 years. Groups like the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples lived here. European settlers arrived in the early 1800s. You can still see old buildings like St John's Anglican Church and Blundells Cottage from that time.
After a long debate about whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the capital, a decision was made. The new capital would be built in New South Wales, but at least 100 km from Sydney. Canberra was officially named in 1913. American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin won a worldwide competition to design the city. Construction began in 1913.
Canberra is unique because it is a completely planned city. The Griffins' design used geometric shapes. It was built around important natural landmarks like Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie. Because Canberra is in a mountainous area, it's the only mainland Australian city where you can see snow-capped mountains in winter. Snow in the city itself is rare.
As the home of the Government of Australia, Canberra has many important buildings. These include Parliament House, Government House, and the High Court. It also has many national museums and cultural places. Some examples are the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National University, and the National Gallery.
Canberra has been ranked as one of the best cities in the world to live in and visit. The government is the biggest employer, but other industries are growing. These include healthcare, education, retail, and construction. Canberra has a lower unemployment rate and higher average income than the rest of Australia. Its population is also younger and more highly educated.
Canberra's design is inspired by the garden city movement. This means it has lots of natural green spaces. You can see the city's unique layout from the Telstra Tower or the top of Mount Ainslie. Other cool places include the National Arboretum and Lake Burley Griffin.
Popular annual events include Floriade, a huge flower festival. There's also the Enlighten Festival, Skyfire, and the National Multicultural Festival. Canberra's main sports venues are Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval.
Contents
What's in a Name?
How Canberra Got Its Name
The name "Canberra" comes from the Ngunnawal language. This was spoken by a local Aboriginal clan. Early British settlers called them the "Canberry" or "Nganbra" tribe.
In 1823, Joshua John Moore, an early European landowner, named his property "Canberry." The name "Canberra" started to appear on maps around 1857.
Many other names were suggested for the city. Some funny ones included "Gonebroke" and "Swindleville." Others were "Austral," "Aurora," and "Union City."
Canberra's Story
Early Peoples and Settlers
The first people in the Canberra area were the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal, and Ngambri peoples. They managed the land carefully, using fire and farming yams. They also hunted for food. Old tools and rock art show that people lived here 21,000 years ago.
In 1820, Charles Throsby led the first British trip to the area. By 1823, the area was known as the Limestone Plains. British settlement likely began in late 1823. James Cowan started a sheep farm on what is now the Acton Peninsula.
Other settlers soon followed. Around 1825, James Ainslie started a sheep farm for Robert Campbell. This area became known as Duntroon. The Campbells built a dairy in 1832, which is Canberra's oldest European building.
The Anglican church of St John the Baptist was built in 1845. It is the oldest public building still standing in the city. Canberra's first school, St John's School, opened next to the church in the same year.
Becoming the Nation's Capital
The idea of a national capital began in the late 1800s. After Australia's colonies joined together, they needed a capital city. There was a big argument about whether Sydney or Melbourne should be chosen.
They finally agreed on a compromise. The new capital would be in New South Wales, but at least 100 km from Sydney. Many places were considered, including Dalgety and Yass. In 1908, the Yass-Canberra region was chosen. The land was given to the federal government in 1911. This created the Federal Capital Territory.
An international design competition was held in 1911. Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin from the US won the competition. Their plan was chosen in 1912. Construction began in 1913.
On March 12, 1913, Lady Denman announced the city would be named "Canberra." This happened at Kurrajong Hill, which is now Capital Hill, where the current Parliament House stands. Canberra Day is now a public holiday in March.
Growing Through the Years
In 1927, the Provisional Parliament House opened in Canberra. The Commonwealth parliament moved there. The Prime Minister Stanley Bruce moved into The Lodge a few days earlier.
City development slowed down during the Great Depression and World War II. After the war, Canberra was often called "several suburbs in search of a city." Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies wanted to speed up its growth.
The National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) was formed in 1957. They finally completed Lake Burley Griffin in 1964. This lake is a central part of Griffin's design. Many important buildings were then built along its shores. These include the National Library, the High Court, and the National Gallery.
New suburbs were built in areas like Woden Valley, Belconnen, and Tuggeranong. Many were named after famous Australians or politicians.
On May 9, 1988, the new and larger Parliament House opened on Capital Hill. This was part of Australia's 200th birthday celebrations.
Canberra's Landscape
Canberra covers an area of 814.2 square kilometers. It is near the Brindabella Ranges, which are part of the Australian Alps. The city is about 150 km inland from Australia's east coast. Its elevation is about 580 meters. The highest point is Mount Majura at 888 meters.
The Molonglo River flows through Canberra. It has been dammed to create Lake Burley Griffin, a famous feature of the city. The Molonglo River then flows into the Murrumbidgee. Other creeks have also been dammed to form Lakes Ginninderra and Tuggeranong.
Canberra's Weather
Canberra has an oceanic climate. In January, the warmest month, the average high temperature is about 29°C. In July, the coldest month, the average high is about 12°C.
Frost is common in winter. Snow is rare in the city center. However, you can often see snow on the nearby Brindabella Range in winter. The highest temperature ever recorded was 44.0°C in January 2020. The lowest was -10.0°C in July 1971.
Canberra gets about 100 clear days each year. It has less rainfall than most other capital cities. Thunderstorms usually happen between October and April.
How Canberra is Built
Canberra is a planned city. The inner city was designed by Walter Burley Griffin. Major roads in the central area follow a wheel-and-spoke pattern. Griffin's plan used many geometric shapes.
Lake Burley Griffin was designed to connect with Canberra's landmarks. The lake divides the city into two parts. The Parliament House is on Capital Hill. From there, you can look across the lake to the Australian War Memorial at the foot of Mount Ainslie.
The area surrounded by Commonwealth Avenue, Kings Avenue, and Parkes Way is called the Parliamentary Triangle. This is the heart of Griffin's design.
Canberra's urban areas are organized into districts, town centers, and suburbs. There are seven main residential districts. Each has a town center for shops and activities. The districts were settled over time, starting with Canberra Central in the 1920s.
Many of Canberra's suburbs are named after former Prime Ministers, famous Australians, or early settlers. Street names often follow a theme. For example, streets in Duffy are named after Australian dams.
Green and Sustainable Canberra
Canberra is working to be more sustainable. In 2012, the ACT Government set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They aim for 100% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020.
In 1996, Canberra aimed to become a "no waste" city. This goal was to reduce waste going to landfills. From November 2011, thin plastic bags were banned in shops.
About 75% of all waste in the ACT is recycled. The annual Floriade flower festival uses green energy and promotes water saving.
Canberra's Economy
Canberra has a low unemployment rate (2.9% in February 2020). It also has the highest average income of any Australian capital city. The average weekly wage is $1827.
The city's main industry is public administration and safety. This means many people work for the government. Canberra is home to many Australian Public Service offices. It also has several Australian Defence Force bases.
Other important industries include healthcare, professional services, education, retail, and construction.
A growing number of people work in science and technology. For example, the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is here. Canberra is also becoming a center for cyber security.
People of Canberra
In 2021, Canberra's population was 453,558. It has been one of Australia's fastest-growing cities.
Canberrans are generally young and well-educated. The average age is 35 years. About 43% of adults have at least a bachelor's degree.
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In 2016, 32% of Canberra's residents were born overseas. The most common birthplaces outside Australia were England, China, India, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Most people (72.7%) speak only English at home. Other common languages include Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Cantonese.
About 50% of ACT residents identify as Christian. The most common groups are Catholic and Anglican. About 36.2% say they have no religion.
Culture and Fun
Learning and Schools
Canberra has two main universities: the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Canberra (UC). The ANU is known for its strong research and is ranked among the best universities in the world.
The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) is also in Canberra. It trains military students. The Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) offers vocational education.
In 2016, Canberra had 132 schools. Most suburbs were designed to have a primary school and a preschool nearby. Canberra has the highest percentage of students attending private schools in Australia.
Arts and Entertainment
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Canberra is home to many national places. These include the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Museum. Many government buildings are open to the public, like Parliament House.
Lake Burley Griffin has the Captain James Cook Memorial and the National Carillon. Other interesting places are the Telstra Tower, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, and Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre.
The Canberra Museum and Gallery shows local history and art. You can also visit historic homes like Blundells' Cottage to see how early European settlers lived.
Canberra has many places for live music and theatre. The Canberra Theatre and Playhouse hosts big concerts. Llewellyn Hall is a world-class concert hall.
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Popular events include the National Folk Festival, the Royal Canberra Show, and the Summernats car festival. The National Multicultural Festival and Celebrate Canberra festival are also popular.
Canberra is a sister city with Nara, Japan, and Beijing, China. The Canberra Nara Candle Festival celebrates this friendship each spring.
Media in Canberra
As the capital, Canberra is important for political news. All major media, like the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, have offices here. Journalists who report on the national parliament are called the press gallery.
Canberra has a daily newspaper, The Canberra Times, started in 1926. There are also free weekly magazines like CityNews.
Many radio stations broadcast in Canberra. There are also five free-to-air television stations.
Sports in Canberra
Canberra has many sports teams that play in national competitions. The Canberra Raiders play rugby league, and the ACT Brumbies play rugby union. Both teams have won championships. They play their home games at Canberra Stadium.
Canberra United plays in the national women's soccer league. The Canberra Capitals are a successful women's basketball team.
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is in Canberra. It trains elite athletes in many sports. Many Australian Olympic team members have come from the AIS.
Canberra has many sports fields, golf courses, and swimming pools. There are also many bicycle paths for cycling. Water sports like sailing and rowing are popular on Canberra's lakes.
Getting Around Canberra
Transport Options
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Most people in Canberra use cars to get around. The city is designed with major roads connecting different areas. These roads often run through green spaces, which means less traffic congestion.
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ACTION is the government bus service that provides public transport. A light rail line opened in 2019, connecting the city center with the northern district of Gungahlin.
An interstate train service connects Canberra to Sydney. Canberra railway station is in Kingston. There are also bus services to Melbourne.
Canberra is about a three-hour drive from Sydney and seven hours from Melbourne. It's also a two-hour drive to the Snowy Mountains for skiing or to Batemans Bay on the coast.
Canberra Airport has direct flights to many Australian cities. It also has some international flights.
Canberra has a high rate of people walking or cycling to work. Many people enjoy walking or running around Lake Burley Griffin. Scooter-sharing services are also available in some areas.
City Services
Icon Water manages Canberra's water and sewerage. ActewAGL provides electricity, natural gas, and some telecommunications services.
Canberra's water comes from four reservoirs: Corin, Bendora, Cotter, and Googong Dams. The ACT has four solar farms that produce electricity. Many houses also have solar panels. The ACT government aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2020.
Canberra has the highest rate of home internet access in Australia.
Sister Cities
Canberra has three sister cities:
- Beijing, China
- Nara, Japan
- Wellington, New Zealand
Canberra also has friendship city agreements with Hangzhou, China, and Dili, East Timor. These agreements help promote business, culture, and other exchanges.
Images for kids
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Panorama of Canberra and Lake Burley Griffin from the Telstra Tower.
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Points of Interest Looking South from Mount Ainslie.
See also
In Spanish: Canberra para niños
