Canberra is the largest inland city of Australia and the seat of the government. Many distant features like planned townships, an open skyline, mountain cover, and year-round pleasant weather make it stand apart from the rest of the country.

The plains and valleys of Canberra have been home to Indigenous people for over 21,000 years. Canberra’s etymology traces to the word ‘Kamberri’, used by the inhabitants before the Europeans discovered the mainland.

In the initial decades of colonization, little emphasis was laid on the landlocked area of the territory. The Europeans continued to establish their strongholds throughout the 19th century, driving the majority of indigenous people out of the city. The city garnered national prominence after the efforts of notable settlers such as the Murray and Gibbes families.

Canberra’s designation as the capital of Australia was finalized after much contention, as the cities of Sydney and Melbourne appeared to be more developed and poised to host the seat of the government. But, it was the constitutional commandment of section 125, stating that the capital must be in the state of New South Wales that settled the issue. Eagerly, parliament passed the Seat of Government Act in 1908, changing the course of Canberra’s history.

On March 12, 1913, Lady Gertrude Mary Denman, wife of then Governor-General Lord Denman, announced the official name of the city with the proclamation, “I name the capital of Australia, Canberra.” Ever since then, the third Monday of March is observed in the celebration of the great city of Canberra. The day was moved from the third Monday of March to the second in 2007 to have it fall closer to its original date, March 12.

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