Business categories in Canberra, ACT

Welcome to Canberra, ACT

Canberra is our nation’s capital. It sits in the north of the Australian Capital Territory. It lies 660 north-east of Melbourne and 280km south-east of Sydney. Canberra has a population of over 381,000 people. Most of these people are public servants.

History

The meaning of “Canberra” is debatable. Some say “Canberra” comes from the Ngunnawal word “Kambera” or “Canberry”. This means “meeting place”. Others, such as Ngunnawai Elder, Don Bell, say that the name means “women’s breasts”. This refers to Black Mountain and Mt Ainslie.

Canberra is a planned city. So, the city’s roads sit in a wheel-and-spoke pattern. This is different to other cities whose streets have a grid pattern. You will notice that Canberra has lots of roundabouts.

Lifestyle

As Australia’s capital, Canberra is home to Parliament House. It is the site of Australia’s government. Students can enter the building and watch politics in action.

Tourists visit Canberra to look at its cultural and historical sites. These sites include the Australian War Memorial and the Royal Mint. Other attractions include the National Zoo and Aquarium. The National Dinosaur Museum is popular. Visiting students love Questacon.