The Canberra region has been a place of gathering, learning and connection for First Nations peoples for tens of thousands of years. The Traditional Custodians maintain a continuing relationship with this Country, grounded in deep knowledge, cultural practice and custodianship. That enduring connection remains central to the region’s identity today and informs how the landscape’s patterns, pathways and places are understood. The name “Canberra” is commonly understood to come from an Indigenous word meaning “meeting place” - a reflection of its long history as a place of coming together.

The modern city was later conceived with intention and imagination. The design by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, selected through an international competition in 1912, established a capital city that engages with its natural setting. Their plan – with its vistas from Mount Ainslie to Capital Hill, central lake system and network of axes and open spaces – continues to influence Canberra’s character and form.

Today, Canberra has grown into a vibrant and knowledge-rich city – a hub for government, research, education and creative endeavour. The natural landscape remains ever-present, with accessible national parks, lakeside promenades and places of ongoing cultural significance. Together, their combined vision gave rise to a capital aligned with nature’s geometry - with vistas from Mount Ainslie to Capital Hill, a central ornamental lake and a network of axes and open spaces that continue to define Canberra’s unique character.