Major Tourist Attractions In Canberra

The name ‘Canberra’ is meant to be the Aboriginal word for ‘meeting place’.

The first official ‘meeting’ in this ‘meeting place’ happened in 1913, when three foundation stones were tapped into place by the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and King O'Malley.

A gun salute boomed, dogs barked, horses shied, babies cried and people cheered before the official party retired to a large marquee to eat and toast the day's events. One sorry reflection is that there was no Aboriginal representation at this gathering.

Parliament House is a must. Highlights include the huge Arthur Boyd inspired tapestry in the Great Hall, the Tom Roberts’s painting of the opening of parliament in 1901 and the Prime Minister portrait gallery. (Gough’s my favourite – it’s more about vision than visage.)

The 48 marble-clad columns in the foyer are meant to represent a forest of eucalypts, but the symbolism was lost on me. If its trees you want, you can wander the surrounding 23 hectares of gardens or the Parliamentary Parklands Trail.

The Australian War Memorial is also a ‘must do’. It is one of the world's finest military museums, and can be an extremely moving experience. It was opened on Remembrance Day, 1941 and that day, Prime Minister John Curtin referred to it as a 'house of treasures'. These 'treasures' were for the Australians who lost their lives on far-flung battlefields and were buried where they fell. The Memorial gave the families of the dead a solid 'grave' and place of remembrance on their own soil. It has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, featuring the refurbished Bradbury Aircraft Hall and the new Anzac Hall, an exhibition space big enough to take planes, tanks and even the Japanese midget submarine that entered Sydney Harbour in 1942.

At the foot of the War Memorial is Anzac Parade, with its own memorial alcoves. One belongs to Kemal Ataturk, the man who commanded the Turkish forces at Gallipoli (Ataturk means ‘Father of the Turks’). The memorial honours him, and the heroism and sacrifice of both the Anzac and Turkish troops who took part in that bitter campaign.

The red gravel on Anzac Parade itself is said to symbolise blood, and the trees lining the parade are a mix of Australian and New Zealand natives.

If you have children, just down the lake is Questacon, an excellent hands-on science museum. You can experience an earthquake, watch a lightning display, balance a ball in mid air and make music with light beams.

Questacon is adjacent to the National Library of Australia and the International Flag Display. The Flag Display colourfully depicts the city’s international population with 80 flags dedicated to the United Nations and other nations that have a diplomatic presence. The flags are flown continuously and lit at night, casting a vivid reflection on the lake. If, like me, you find that some flags look more like a licorice-allsort than a symbol, each flagpole has a plaque to identify the nation.

The year 2001 saw the opening of the colourful and controversial, yet hugely popular, National Museum of Australia. If you think ‘stuffy’ goes with the word museum, forget it here. It doesn’t look or feel like a museum.

You can actually experience the stories of Australia and Australians using the latest hand-on interactive technology. From the rock art of Kakadu to the Hills Hoist and Vegemite. This is Australia! There are areas especially for children, a waterfront restaurant, two cafes and a shop with a huge range of souvenirs and gift ideas.

If you’re into miniature attractions, Cockington Green is a must. If you’re not into miniature attractions, avoid this like the plague. The centrepiece at the Green is a depiction of life in a British village – only smaller. Miniature buildings, tiny townsfolk going about their daily business, animals and vehicles, all are constructed down to the finest detail in perfect scale.

There are also Australian and international sections. The best time to visit Cockington Green is in spring when the gardens are at their best. Floriade is an annual celebration of flora from mid-September to mid-October and lots of entertainment is thrown in to combine fun with flowers.

Within the grounds of the Australian National University is the art-deco ScreenSound Australia – the National Screen and Sound Archive. The memorabilia traces the history of the radio, film, television and sound industries in Australia.