# Canberra

> capital city of Australia

**Wikidata**: [Q3114](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3114)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/canberra

## Summary
Canberra is the capital city of Australia and the federal capital of the Australian Capital Territory, serving as the nation's primary political center. Established as a planned national capital in 1908 and officially inaugurated as the federal capital on May 9, 1927, it is a large human settlement located on the Australian continent. With a population exceeding 473,000 as of mid-2024, it functions as the administrative heart of the country, housing key government institutions and international diplomatic missions.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: City, big city, political city, and planned national capital (announced 1908, official federal capital since 1927-05-09).
- **Location**: Situated within the Australian Capital Territory on the Australian continent; coordinates are 35.293055555556° S, 149.12694444444° E.
- **Inception**: Founded on March 12, 1913; the site was announced as the capital in 1908.
- **Area**: 471.78 square kilometres.
- **Population**: 473,855 (as of June 2024); 452,670 (Urban Centre and Locality, August 2021 Census); 381,488 (2014); 357,222 (2011).
- **Elevation**: 578 metres above sea level.
- **Timezone**: UTC+10:00.
- **Official Language**: English.
- **Demonym**: Canberran (English); Canberrien (masculine singular, French); Canberrienne (feminine singular, French); Kanberano.
- **Postal Codes**: Range from 2600 to 2617.
- **Local Dialing Codes**: 0251, 0252, 0261, 0262.
- **UN/LOCODE**: AUCBR.
- **Temperature Records**: Maximum 44.0°C (January 4, 2020); Minimum -10°C (July 11, 1971).
- **Sister Cities**: Nara (since 1993-10-26), Beijing (since 2000-09-14), Dili (since 2004-06-07), Wellington City (since 2016-07-06), Yangzhou (since 1997), Hangzhou (since 1998-10-29), Monterrey, and Brasília.
- **Capital Of**: Australia, Australian Capital Territory, and Jervis Bay Territory.
- **Website**: https://act.gov.au (English).
- **Subreddit**: r/canberra (English, started 2009-08-20).
- **Geographic Features**: Located in or next to Lake Burley Griffin.
- **Identifiers**: GND 4085133-3, VIAF 140704500, LCCN n79021725, GeoNames 2172517, Freebase /m/0dp90.

## FAQs
**What is the historical timeline of Canberra's establishment?**
The site was selected as the planned national capital in 1908, with the city officially founded on March 12, 1913. It served as the temporary seat of government until the federal capital was officially inaugurated on May 9, 1927.

**How large is the city and how many people live there?**
Canberra covers an area of 471.78 square kilometres and had a recorded population of 473,855 as of June 2024. The urban centre and locality specifically counted 452,670 residents during the 2021 Australian Census.

**What are the extreme weather conditions recorded in the city?**
The highest temperature ever recorded in Canberra was 44.0°C on January 4, 2020. Conversely, the lowest temperature recorded was -10°C on July 11, 1971.

**Which international cities are Canberra's sister cities?**
Canberra maintains sister city relationships with Nara, Beijing, Dili, Wellington City, Yangzhou, Hangzhou, Monterrey, and Brasília. These partnerships began at various times between 1993 and 2016, fostering international cultural and economic ties.

**What unique identifiers and codes are assigned to Canberra?**
The city is assigned the UN/LOCODE AUCBR and local dialing codes including 0251 and 0262. It holds numerous authority identifiers, such as the Library of Congress number n79021725 and the GND ID 4085133-3.

## Why It Matters
Canberra is the definitive political and administrative hub of Australia, designed specifically to resolve the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne by serving as a neutral federal capital. As the seat of the Australian government, it hosts Parliament House and the High Court, making it the central node for national decision-making and legislative processes. Its status as a "planned national capital" distinguishes it from organic growth cities, reflecting a deliberate architectural and urban planning vision that influences Australian governance and national identity. The city's role extends beyond domestic administration; it is a critical center for international diplomacy, hosting foreign embassies and maintaining sister city relationships that facilitate global cooperation.

## Notable For
- **Planned Design**: It is a unique example of a "planned national capital," with its layout and inauguration dates (1908 announcement, 1913 founding, 1927 official opening) marking a specific era of urban planning history.
- **Political Centrality**: It serves as the capital for three distinct entities simultaneously: the Commonwealth of Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Jervis Bay Territory.
- **Geographic Precision**: The city is precisely located at latitude -35.293055555556 and longitude 149.12694444444, situated on the Australian continent at an elevation of 578 metres.
- **Demographic Growth**: It has demonstrated significant population growth, rising from 357,222 in 2011 to over 473,000 by 2024.
- **International Recognition**: It is recognized by major global encyclopedias and databases, including Encyclopædia Britannica, Treccani, and the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, with dedicated entries in over 100 languages.
- **Cultural Records**: The city holds specific weather records, including a maximum of 44.0°C and a minimum of -10°C, and features distinct landmarks like Parliament House at dusk.

## Body

### Geographic and Physical Characteristics
Canberra is situated on the Australian continent within the Australian Capital Territory. The city covers a total area of 471.78 square kilometres and is located at coordinates 35.293055555556° South and 149.12694444444° East. Its elevation stands at 578 metres above sea level. The city is located in or next to Lake Burley Griffin, a significant artificial lake that defines its central landscape. The local timezone is UTC+10:00. The postal code range for the city spans from 2600 to 2617. Local dialing codes include 0251, 0252, 0261, and 0262. The city's UN/LOCODE is AUCBR.

### History and Inception
The concept of Canberra as a planned national capital was announced in 1908. The city was officially founded on March 12, 1913. It functioned as a planned national capital with a start time of 1908, though this specific status was later marked as "announced only" in some records. The city officially became the federal capital on May 9, 1927, a date marked as the official start time for its federal capital status. The inception of the city is recorded as 1913-03-12. It is classified as a city, a big city, and a political city.

### Demographics and Population
As of June 2024, the population of Canberra was recorded at 473,855. The 2021 Australian Census, conducted on August 10, 2021, counted 452,670 people in the urban centre and locality (UCL802001). Historical population data includes 381,488 in 2014 and 357,222 in 2011. The official language of the city is English. The demonym for residents is "Canberran" in English. In French, the demonym is "Canberrien" for the masculine singular and "Canberrienne" for the feminine singular. Another variation, "Kanberano," is also used.

### Governance and Political Status
Canberra serves as the capital of Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Jervis Bay Territory. It is the seat of the federal government and the primary political city of the nation. The official name is "Canberra." The city is part of the Canberra-Queanbeyan region. It is located in the Australian Capital Territory. The city's official website is https://act.gov.au, which operates in English. The subreddit r/canberra, which started on August 20, 2009, serves as a community platform for the city.

### International Relations and Sister Cities
Canberra maintains a network of sister cities and twinned administrative bodies. These include Nara, Japan, with a partnership starting on October 26, 1993. Beijing, China, became a sister city on September 14, 2000. Dili, Timor-Leste, was established as a sister city on June 7, 2004. Wellington City, New Zealand, joined the network on July 6, 2016. Other sister cities include Yangzhou (since 1997), Hangzhou (since October 29, 1998), Monterrey, and Brasília. These relationships are documented through official agreements and government communications.

### Climate and Environmental Records
The city experiences a range of temperatures, with a recorded maximum of 44.0°C on January 4, 2020. The minimum temperature record is -10°C, set on July 11, 1971. These records are sourced from general climate data references. The city is situated on the Australian continent, influencing its climate patterns.

### Cultural and Media Presence
Canberra has a significant presence in digital and media spaces. It has a dedicated subreddit (r/canberra) and a Lemmy community (canberra@aussie.zone). The city is the subject of a Quora topic titled "Canberra-Australian-Capital-Territory-Australia." It is featured in the BBC News topic "australia-news/canberra" and the Guardian topic "australia-news/canberra." The city has a Facebook location ID (106270089409734) and a Google Play store ID. It is also a topic on Reddit and has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons.

### Identifiers and Authority Records
Canberra is identified by numerous global authority IDs. The GND ID is 4085133-3. The VIAF ID is 140704500. The Library of Congress Authority ID is n79021725. The GeoNames ID is 2172517. The Freebase ID is /m/0dp90. The FAST ID is 1204562. The NDL Authority ID is 00650639. The MusicBrainz Area ID is 61490d91-cbed-40a9-a8c6-d5c339b5438b. The OpenStreetMap Node ID is 21674637, and the Relation ID is 3339545. The Wikidata item is Q3114. The BBC Things ID is 62d833cc-cffd-400d-9260-2c95083c976a. The WorldCat Entities ID is E39PBJmP6BTMTWWrWJdDDTDDv3.

### Visual and Media Assets
The city has several official images and media assets. An aerial view is available via Wikimedia Commons. A nighttime view of Parliament House at dusk is also documented. The coat of arms of Canberra is represented by the image of the Coat of Arms of the Australian Capital Territory. A locator map image is available for the city. The page banner and commons gallery for Canberra are hosted on Wikimedia Commons.

### Linguistic and Encyclopedic Coverage
Canberra is covered in over 100 languages on Wikipedia, including English, Chinese, Arabic, French, German, Japanese, and many others. It has entries in the Encyclopædia Britannica Online, Treccani's Enciclopedia Italiana, and the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana. The city is also featured in the Larousse encyclopedia, the Brockhaus Enzyklopädie, and the Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition). It has a dedicated entry in the Vikidia encyclopedia and the Klexikon. The city is indexed in the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names and the Archinform location database.

### Classification and Categorization
The city is classified as a "planned national capital" and a "federal capital." It is part of the "Canberra-Queanbeyan" region. The city has specific categories for people born there, people who died there, and people associated with it. It is also categorized under "Maps of Canberra" and "Views of Canberra." The city is a "big city" and a "political city." It is listed on the "Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4" focus list. The city is associated with the "demographics of Canberra" topic.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/nara_japan)
3. [Source](https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/117726/canberra-nara-sister-city-agreement-english.pdf)
4. [Source](https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/beijing_china)
5. [Source](https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/dili)
6. [Source](http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/capitals-across-the-ditch-to-become-sister-cities-20160608-gperg3.html)
7. [Source](https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/wellington,-new-zealand)
8. [Source](https://wellington.govt.nz/your-council/international-relations/sister-cities/canberra)
9. [Source](http://wb.yangzhou.gov.cn/yzwb/yhjw/2018-01/29/content_948a2076cc7d4d919f3f13bbcdbad525.shtml)
10. [Source](https://www.monterrey.gob.mx/pdf/portaln/PPOA/Programa_Operativo_Anual_2018_de_la_Secretaria_de_Desarrollo_Economico.pdf)
11. [Source](https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/communication/cir/hangzhou_china)
12. Virtual International Authority File
13. BnF authorities
14. Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2015
15. Or mes2be sch :  mes2besch zoom Section: Part J—Charging Zones
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. MusicBrainz
18. [Source](https://www.citypopulation.de/php/australia-australiancapitalterritory.php)
19. [Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2021](https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/UCL802001)
20. [Source](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/2023-24)
21. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
22. GeoNames
23. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/au.htm)
24. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
25. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)