In 1911 Canberra was declared Australia’s capital city, a decision influenced by its neutral location between the competing urban centres of Sydney and Melbourne.
What seemed like a token gesture aimed at solving the long running dispute between Australia’s two largest cities resulted in Canberra being dismissed as an administrative backwater for many years.
Today, the city is shaking itself free from the shackles of this long-held belief and showing itself to be a dynamic modern city on the move. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in 2018 when Canberra was named on Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel list.
As a city, Canberra is typically cosmopolitan, with plenty of sophistication and style to match the country’s larger cities, not to mention the many wonderful museums and cultural institutions on offer.
The museums and galleries in Canberra offer a uniquely Australian focus on art and history, which is contributing to the overall narrative of modern Autralian life. If you’ve never visited Canberra, there really has never been a better time to go.
When it comes to cool factor, Canberra has it covered, with a plethora of cafes and design shops that rival even Melbourne’s hippest establishments. Braddon is the city’s creative quarter, home to coffee roasteries, world-class eateries, and a whole host of chic industrial buildings that have been renovated and repurposed. The area is thriving, with an ever-changing array of boutiques and craft shops that add an inimitable character to the area.
Canberra's sizable student population is also contributing to its flourishing creative scene. One of the best ways to witness the city’s creative energy for yourself is to attend the weekly Old Bus Depot Markets. Here you’ll find everything from vintage clothing and homewares, to freshly roasted coffee and top-class organic produce. The market is packed with interesting things to buy, eat and sample. The atmosphere is also wonderfully social, with live music also to be enjoyed. The Old Bus Depot Markets run every Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
To experience more of Canberra’s cool, make your way to New Acton, an audacious cultural hub, featuring stunning architecture and design, as well as a plethora of other creative projects that have transformed the area. Take time to explore the Nishi Gallery, a cultural space that explores the human experience through the lens of local identity and the natural and built world.
Heavy investment in Canberra’s cultural institutions has breathed new life into the city, with its galleries and museums now regarded amongst the best in Australia. Explore around the Parliamentary Triangle, then enjoy a peaceful picnic by the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
Canberra has cool and charm in abundance. For the best way to see it all, pick up a rental car and hit the road.
