Canberra Day
225 days until Canberra Day
About Canberra Day
Canberra Day marks the official naming of Australia's national capital in 1913. Celebrated on the second Monday in March, it is a public holiday observed exclusively in the Australian Capital Territory.
History
The holiday commemorates 12 March 1913, when Lady Gertrude Denman, wife of Governor-General Lord Denman, announced the name 'Canberra' at a foundation ceremony on Kurrajong Hill, the present-day site of Parliament House. Selected as a compromise between Melbourne and Sydney, the area was developed into a planned city based on the winning design by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin.
Originally held on the third Monday of March, the ACT Government shifted Canberra Day to the second Monday of March in 2007. This adjustment was made to align the long weekend more consistently with the annual Canberra Festival and reduce scheduling conflicts with Easter.
Traditions & Celebrations
Canberra Day is celebrated with community festivities held across the capital, particularly along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and within Commonwealth Park. A major highlight of the long weekend is the Canberra Balloon Spectacular, featuring hot air balloon launches at dawn from the lawns of Old Parliament House. Residents and visitors enjoy outdoor concerts, cultural performances, food stalls, and family activities, while many use the long weekend to visit the city's national cultural institutions.
Did you know?
- Lady Denman pronounced the capital's name with the stress on the first syllable ('CAN-bra'), helping set the standard Australian pronunciation.
- The name 'Canberra' is generally understood to derive from a word in the local Ngunnawal language meaning 'meeting place'.
- Canberra Day is celebrated only in the Australian Capital Territory; neighbouring New South Wales towns such as Queanbeyan do not have the day off.
- The Canberra Balloon Spectacular held during the holiday period is one of the few hot air ballooning events worldwide to launch from the grounds of a national parliament.
Canberra Day dates by year
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canberra Day a national public holiday in Australia?
No, Canberra Day is a public holiday strictly within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and is not observed in other states or territories.
When is Canberra Day observed?
Canberra Day is observed every year on the second Monday in March.
Why was the date of Canberra Day changed in 2007?
The ACT Government moved the holiday from the third Monday in March to the second Monday in March to align it better with the Canberra Festival and avoid clashing with Easter.