Discover a whole new world… In the City. Canberra

Parks

Parks and green spaces of all kinds are important sanctuaries for the modern man. With the majority of the world’s population now living in cities, it is essential that we still have the opportunity to come together with nature in our everyday life. Spending some time in on the grass, in the shadow of the trees have a positive effect on most of us.

Public health and fitness improvements are other proven benefit of investments in parks and green areas. Increased community engagement and community-based efforts to counter the climate crisis can also be added to this list.

The ACT is fortunate given that geographically, 72% of the Territory is parkland and open space. Canberra is possibly the city with the most accessible parks and open space system in Australia. More than half of the open space in ACT is forest and open woodland, all of which silently work as the community’s green lungs and water purifiers. For more information

There are two main parks in the City Centre, City Hill and Glebe Park, plus a number of green open spaces for City workers and residents to enjoy.

City Hill – surrounded by Vernon Circle

From the early days of the federal capital, planners placed emphasis on development of the “civic and business” side of the city north of the lake. City Hill was to be the focal point of the Civic area. The landscaped hill, now surrounded by Vernon Circle, is a significant landmark on the main entrance into Canberra. Since 1989 the hill, with the Australian Capital Territory flag flying from its central flagpole, has also been a symbol of self-government.

Walter Burley Griffin saw City Hill as a significant point on his prize-winning plan for Canberra. Six important avenues have their origin here. Two of these – Commonwealth and Constitution Avenues – are sides of the parliamentary triangle which is Griffin’s intended symbolic heart of the Capital. The other avenues are Ainslie, Northbourne, University, and Edinburgh.

The hill has remained the symbolic point of gathering for the local population throughout its history. On 13 February 1954, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was welcomed at the foot of the hill by the people of Canberra. A plaque, at the intersection of London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue, marks the location of the day.

Glebe Park – eastern side of the City Centre, accessible from Coranderrk, Ballumbir, Akuna and Bunda Streets.

Glebe Park is an important green sanctuary in the city. Its large trees and distinctive stone and steel picket fences set it apart from all other parks in Canberra. For many office workers, shoppers, tourists, and residents of nearby Reid, it is the City’s most accessible park.

The park is a small part of a 40hectare grant, which was transferred by merchant and pastoralist Robert Campbell to the Church of England in the early 1840s when the area was known as “Canberry”.

A century after trees were planted on the land, a community campaign made sure that those trees and their descendants be kept safe by creating a public park there. The park was officially defined and named on 14 December 1983. After construction by the National Capital Development Commission between 1983 and 1988 it was officially opened on Canberra Day March 12 1989.

In keeping with the historic background of the existing trees and their informal character the park has been designed to reflect the character of a traditional English park.

A 19th century style rotunda, a children’s playground and a large sculpture depicting “Egle, the Queen of Serpants” can also be found in the park.

West Row Park

West Row Park has recently been upgraded thanks to a major investment by Canberra CBD Limited.

West Row Park is a a small, yet delightful spot in the heart of the city, opposite the West Row restaurant/entertainment precinct. In it’s previous state it was easily overlooked but has now claimed its rightful place as part of the City Centre’s green space.

The park provides a calm, thoughtful space that reflects its centrepiece, the Inge King sculpture ‘Red and Blue’ which was added last year by the ACT Government.

The $500,000 upgrade was designed to include self-sustaining landscaping, seating, lighting and an improved staged area for the sculpture. The ACT Government also recognise the importance of the park and they contributed $100,000 to the verge areas.

Veterans Park

In the corner of Northbourne Avenue and Bunda Street you find Veterans Park. The small park holds a memorial for Australian Servicemen who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the wars in Vietnam, Korea, Borneo and Malaysia.

The circular fountain was reviled in 1981 and redeveloped in 1986/1987.

For more information on the parks

Download