1820
In 1820 explorers Joseph Wild, James Vaughan and Charles Throsby Smith, following the discovery of Lake George earlier that year, crossed the stony range of hills beside Lake George and saw what is now the site of Canberra, built on limestone plains.

Joshua John Moore took up the first land grant on the Limestone Plains, naming his property ‘Canberry’ after hearing local Aborigines using the word ‘Kamberra’. Kamberra, as spoken by tribes on the Limestone Plains, meant ‘a meeting place’, either of rivers or of tribes joining together to feast on Bogong Moths in mountains to the south.

Robert Campbell, wealthy Sydney merchant, sent his overseer James Ainslie to collect 700 sheep from the government flocks at Bathurst in New South Wales and find suitable pasture for them. Aided by Aborigines, Ainslie reached the Limestone plains and built huts on the slopes about the Molonglo River.

1860
Transport and communications linking Canberra and Sydney gradually improved.

A railway reached Goulburn in 1869 then Yass in 1876, Queanbeyan, a town near Canberra, was linked to Goulburn by a coach service.

In 1880, a great contribution to agriculture occurred in the Canberra. William Farrer settled near Tharwa and for 11 years experimented to produce varieties of wheat resistant to drought and rust, suitable to the varying conditions of Australian farming – these experiments laid the foundations of the modern Australian wheat industry.

1901
On January 1, The Commonwealth of Australia was established. This event was called “Federation.” (Queen Victoria signed the Constitution Act.)

The search for a site to locate the national capital took place. 40 districts were proposed, 23 of these inspected and the choice narrowed to seven, including Canberra.

In 1908 the Yass-Canberra area was selected as it best filled the requirements of adequate water supply, climate and landform.

2368 square kilometers were acquired for the Australian Capital Territory, with access to the sea at Jervis bay.

Charles Scrivener, Surveyor-General, selected the most suitable area of the territory for construction of the city. He chose the broad flood-plain of the Molonglo River, 550 metres above sea level, with additional land to the north and south.

1911
An international competition for a city plan was launched attracting 137 entries. First prize was awarded to American landscape architect Walter Burley Griffin from Chicago. Griffin’s aim was to obtain unity by applying the natural advantages of the landform to the civic necessities.

Dominating Griffin’s plan was a central artificial lake and a ‘parliamentary triangle’ in which the most important national buildings were to be placed. The surrounding residential areas had a geometric street pattern circular and radial in shape, all fitting well into the general topography.

On 12 March, Canberra was formally named at the laying of a foundation stone on Capital Hill.

World War I, changes of government and lack of money slowed progress of the city but several major works were undertaken including a rail link from Queanbeyan and a power station in Kingston.

Under the guidance of the Federal Capital Advisory Committee construction progressed slowly. Road and sewerage layouts continued, Parliament House was constructed, and shops were built in Civic, Manuka and Kingston.

1930
The Depression, World War II and post-war shortages caused stagnation in development, but a few national projects were brought to fruition including the Australian War Memorial (1941) and the Australian-American Memorial (1954).

Federal Government under Robert Menzies established the National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) to create a capital city of which all Australians would be proud. The Commission was responsible for: completing establishment of Canberra as the seat of Federal government; developing Canberra as the administrative centre; creating the buildings, avenues, lakes, parks and other features appropriate to Australia’s national capital; and designing living areas with high standards of amenities and attractive surroundings.

NCDC was responsible for a number of major projects including Kings Avenue Bridge (1962) and Commonwealth Bridge (1963) which provided crossings so that Lake Burley Griffin could be filled in 1963. The lake was formed by damming the Molonglo River in 1963.

On 14 March, 1964, Canberra was about to celebrate the opening of it's new lake, Burley Griffin. As part of the Canberra day celebrations, the Canberra Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society planned and promoted a commemorative Hovercraft race. As N.F. Lamb, Chairman of the Society put it, "The hovercraft was chosen as a project because success is possible in this field by one man's personal efforts at a very limited cost." Hence, Canberra can make a curious claim-to-fame as the site of the World's First "Ground Effect Machine" Race. The term Ground Effect Machine latter took the generic term, "hovercaft"..

Other developments included; Anzac Parade (1965); Royal Australian Mint (1965); the National Library (1968); the Australian National Botanic Gardens, the Carillon and Captain Cook Memorial Jet (1970). Between 1961 and 1965 new office blocks, retail stores, banks, theatres and law courts filled in the Civic Centre.

Canberra was growing fast because of the transfer of Public Service departments in the 1960s, which meant that new towns were planned. In 1962, the first new town, Woden, was built 12 kilometres south of Civic Centre.

In 1967 Belconnen, to the north west of Civic Centre, was designed and construction begun.

1970
In 1973 Tuggeranong, the third new town, was commenced south of Woden.

In 1975 construction of the fourth new town, Gungahlin, begun. All four satellite cities were built as independent cities with their own commercial, employment and retail centres, each having potential to develop its individual character.

In 1988, the new Parliament House was completed to replace the temporary House (built in 1927). The design for the new building by American firm Mitchell Giurgola, in partnership with Australian-born architect Richard Thorp, was selected in 1980 from 329 entrants in a world-wide competition.

Today Canberra has Government offices dotted around the lake, in the city, Belconnen, Woden and Tuggeranong. A number of national institutions have been established in the capital – the National Library, the National Gallery, the Australian National University, the CSIRO and Questacon – the National Science and Technology Centre.

More than 60 countries have established diplomatic missions in Canberra. Most are within close range of the Parliamentary triangle in choice residential areas.

80 years ago Canberra did not exist. Today it is a totally beautiful, modern city, befitting the capital of a young and prosperous Australia. The city has been enhanced by the planting of millions of trees, the creation of its attractive lakes, by fine buildings and careful planning. It is like Walter Burley Griffin predicted, ‘unlike any other city in the world.’