Canberra is the capital of Australia, home to an estimated 484,630 people as of 2025, which makes it the country's largest inland city and the eighth-largest by population. This page is about living in Canberra: where it sits, how it began, who lives here, what the weather does and how the city is served.
It is a city with a clear plan behind it. That shapes almost everything, from the views to the way the suburbs sit against the hills.
Setting and layout
Canberra occupies most of the northern quadrant of the Australian Capital Territory. Its urban area borders New South Wales to the northwest, northeast and southeast. To the south and west rise the Brindabellas, which form the northern part of the Australian Alps, the country's highest mountain range.
Unusually for an Australian city, Canberra is entirely planned. The design is by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, and it was influenced by the garden city movement. Geometric motifs line up with natural landmarks: Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, Capital Hill and City Hill. You can take in the design from the Telstra Tower, the city's highest point, or from the summit of Mount Ainslie. Lake Burley Griffin and the National Arboretum are among its other notable features.
For a wider look at the city, our Canberra destination guide is the place to start.
A short history
First Nations peoples
The area chosen for the capital had been inhabited by Aboriginal Australians for up to 21,000 years, by groups including the Ngunnawal and Ngambri. Other groups with a connection to the land include the Ngarigo and the Ngambri-Guumaal. Early British settlers described two Ngunnawal clans: the Canberry or Nganbra clan, who lived mostly around Sullivan's Creek with ceremonial grounds at the base of Galambary (Black Mountain), and the Pialligo clan, whose land lay around what is now Canberra Airport. Both managed the land carefully with fire, farmed yams and hunted for food.
Galambary is an important meeting and business site, mainly for men's business, and was used as an initiation site. Mount Ainslie is primarily a place of women's business. Archaeological evidence in the region includes rock shelters, rock paintings and engravings, burial places, camps, quarry sites and stone tools.
British settlement and the capital
Charles Throsby Smith led the first British expedition to the area in October 1820, and by 1823 the district was known as the Limestone Plains. A sheep station on what is now the Acton Peninsula, formed in late 1823 by James Cowan for Joshua John Moore, marks the probable start of settlement. Moore named his property "Canberry", and the form "Canberra" began appearing around 1857.
Robert Campbell's property, first called Pialligo and later Duntroon, included a dairy built in 1832. It is regarded as the oldest standing European building in Canberra. St John's Anglican Church and Blundells Cottage also survive from early settlement.
Federation was achieved on 1 January 1901. Canberra was chosen as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, and it was founded and formally named in 1913.
Population and work
At the 2021 Census, 28.7% of Canberra's inhabitants were born overseas. Compared with national averages, unemployment is lower, average income is higher, tertiary education levels are higher and the population is younger. Canberra has also been ranked among the world's best cities to live in and visit.
The Australian Public Service accounted for about 25% of all jobs as at November 2025. Other major industries include health care, professional services, education and training, retail, accommodation and food, and construction.
Institutions and annual events
As the seat of government, Canberra holds Parliament House, Government House, the High Court building and the headquarters of many government agencies. National institutions include the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National University, the Royal Australian Mint, the Australian Institute of Sport, the National Gallery, the National Museum and the National Library. Defence institutions include the Royal Military College Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy. All foreign embassies in Australia are here too.
Annual events include Floriade, the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, along with the Enlighten Festival, Skyfire, the National Multicultural Festival and Summernats. The main sporting venues are Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval. Dates change, so check our Canberra events page, and see Canberra attractions for the sights themselves.
Canberra climate by month
Canberra has four distinct seasons. These are the 1991-2020 averages for the Canberra area. Summer afternoons reach about 28 degrees in January, while July nights drop to about 1 degree. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year, and every month has roughly 24 to 28 sunny days.
| Month | Max (C) | Min (C) | Rain (mm) | Rain days | Sunny days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.0 | 13.1 | 68.2 | 10.1 | 27.3 |
| February | 26.4 | 12.9 | 78.5 | 10.3 | 24.4 |
| March | 23.4 | 10.9 | 63.0 | 8.8 | 27.6 |
| April | 19.1 | 7.7 | 40.8 | 7.2 | 27.3 |
| May | 14.8 | 4.5 | 39.9 | 7.3 | 28.2 |
| June | 11.1 | 2.6 | 73.7 | 10.0 | 26.2 |
| July | 10.4 | 1.3 | 52.0 | 8.9 | 28.1 |
| August | 11.7 | 1.4 | 57.9 | 9.6 | 28.3 |
| September | 15.1 | 3.7 | 57.7 | 9.2 | 27.5 |
| October | 18.8 | 6.1 | 64.6 | 9.9 | 27.6 |
| November | 22.1 | 8.9 | 76.9 | 10.9 | 26.2 |
| December | 25.2 | 11.0 | 72.1 | 9.5 | 27.3 |
February is the wettest month at 78.5 mm, and May the driest at 39.9 mm. We would pack layers for the cold months, as the winter minimums sit close to freezing.
Getting in, out and around
Canberra Airport serves domestic and international flights. Interstate trains leave from Canberra railway station, and coaches from the Jolimont Centre. City Interchange and Alinga Street station form the hub of the bus and light rail network.
By road, Canberra is about a three-hour drive from Sydney and an eight-hour drive from Melbourne, with scenic country routes along the way. If you would rather not drive, several tours cover the Sydney run. The Canberra Private Tour from Sydney takes 10 to 12 hours and is listed from $1600. The Canberra Private Day Tour runs 10 hours from $360. For arrivals, Canberra Airport Transfers start from $141.11.
Planning a stay? Our Canberra accommodation page covers where to sleep, and the Canberra travel guide adds practical detail. For statewide information, see Visit NSW, and for more background there is Wikipedia: Canberra.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Canberra?
It has an estimated population of 484,630 as of 2025. That makes it Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest by population.
How far is Canberra from Sydney and Melbourne?
It is about a three-hour drive from Sydney and an eight-hour drive from Melbourne.
What is the weather like in Canberra?
It is distinctly seasonal. January averages a maximum of 28.0 degrees, while July averages a minimum of 1.3 degrees. Rainfall is moderate year-round, and sunny days are plentiful in every month.
