There are several theories about the name Canberra. It may derive from the Ngunnawal words "Kambera" or "Canberry," meaning "meeting place." Located 160 km from Sydney and at an elevation of about 580 meters above sea level, Canberra is graced by the gentle flow of the Molonglo River and surrounded by numerous hills, the highest of which is Mount Majura at 888 meters. With an area of 814.2 km² and a population of over 380,000, it is the largest inland city and the eighth-largest city in Australia.

I arrived in Canberra in early June. Here and there, pines and other evergreens still retained their vibrant colors, but rows of maples and various other trees had already turned yellow, red, or brown. Amid this colorful painting were the gray and white hues of bare trees that had shed all their leaves. Autumn was passing, and winter was approaching with morning frost and chilly winds. Everything seemed to be harmonizing with nature in a symphony of changing seasons.

There are several theories about the name Canberra. It may derive from the Ngunnawal words "Kambera" or "Canberry," meaning "meeting place." Canberra (Nganbra or Nganbira) also means "woman's breasts," a reference to the two mountains, Black Mountain and Mount Ainslie, which face each other. Another theory is that the name comes from "Canberry," a common plant in the area.

On January 1, 1901, six colonies — New South Wales (capital: Sydney), Victoria (capital: Melbourne), Queensland (capital: Brisbane), Western Australia (capital: Perth), South Australia (capital: Adelaide), and Northern Territory (capital: Darwin) — along with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), merged to form the Commonwealth of Australia, part of the British Commonwealth. In 1908, the long-standing rivalry over the capital's location between Sydney and Melbourne was settled: the temporary government was placed in Melbourne, and New South Wales ceded Canberra to the federal government to establish the capital (ACT).

Construction and Development

Canberra began construction in 1913 after an international competition for the best design, won by American architect Walter Burley Griffin. His design for the city center featured geometric patterns, concentric hexagons, and octagonal roads radiating from a central point, aligning with the terrain. Looking at Canberra's map, the main roads form a large axis connecting two central hubs, City Centre and Capital Hill, resembling large "wheels" or "spider webs" akin to a Bagua diagram.

The most famous landmarks in Canberra are the two Parliament Houses, both beautiful and majestic. The Old Parliament House served the Federal Parliament from May 1927 to May 1988. During Australia's bicentennial celebration, the New Parliament House was inaugurated at Capital Hill.

The New Parliament House

The New Parliament House is ultra-modern with unique and impressive architecture, almost "hidden" underground with lush green lawns on its roof and a towering flagpole with four high-reaching legs. I braved the rain and cold winds to take photos atop this extraordinary building.

Inside, it's truly impressive to step into the vast hall with its stone floors and grand stone columns.

The building is full of interesting features to explore and contemplate: from the magnificent hallways and offices to the images and artifacts documenting the history of Parliament's activities, to land agreements between Aboriginal leaders and the government, and mementos from countries presented to the Australian people. The faces of Australian MPs and parliamentary leaders throughout history are prominently displayed, including a special section for female parliamentarians. Notably, alongside the ruling party's images are those of the opposition, equally honored.

A particularly striking display is a photograph and a commitment letter from a king, accompanied by an explanation: Due to the royal family's excesses and widespread corruption, British society was in turmoil, and people were disillusioned and distrustful. When the French attacked, many refused to enlist, and soldiers were demoralized, leading to repeated defeats for the British. The king had to write a commitment to uphold the law, stating that everyone, including the king and royal family members, was subject to the law. This strengthened the British military to victory. Since then, the rule of law has become a tradition in all British monarchies and their colonies.

Also impressive are the two large meeting rooms of the Senate and House of Representatives, with distinct designs and colors. It's noteworthy that journalists, the public, and even tourists can attend and observe parliamentary sessions from the upper gallery seats. Visitors often enjoy taking commemorative photos in these special seats... All these elements give the impression that Parliament House is not remote but very approachable and friendly, reflecting the careful attention the parliament and government pay to the people. It's easy to understand why Parliament House is a source of pride for Australians and a must-see attraction in Canberra.

Old Parliament House

From the New Parliament House, you can see the Old Parliament House nearby, facing the same direction. It has now become a museum where you can visit, view art exhibitions, relax in the cafe in the foyer, or stroll through the vast open space in front. The park in front of the building has a row of tents with colorful flags, a pole resembling a Vietnamese New Year tree, and traces of a large campfire. This is the "settlement" of some Australian Aboriginals who have been protesting for land rights, living in tents here for many years.

Capital Hill

Capital Hill was officially named on March 12, 1913. To commemorate this historical milestone, the ACT holds the annual Canberra Day festival on the second Monday of March. The license plates in Canberra often bear the slogan: "Heart of the Nation." The capital is indeed the heart of the country, and the heart of Canberra is Capital Hill - the national administrative center, home to the current Parliament House and many government agencies. From Parliament House, you can also see Anzac Parade and the Australian War Memorial at the foot of Mount Ainslie. This area is also home to many national social and cultural institutions, diplomatic missions, and international organizations. Many federal government buildings are open to the public for free, such as Parliament House, the High Court, and the Royal Australian Mint.

National Museum and Library

After the war, Canberra was once criticized as an "ugly village," but under the leadership of Prime Minister Robert Menzies for over a decade, the city developed rapidly. From 1955 to 1975, Canberra's population grew by more than 50% every five years, and government housing projects were implemented to meet this growth. Many modern buildings sprang up, including the Australian National University with its sculptures and monuments, the National Museum, the National Library, the High Court, and large buildings along the waterfront.

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By the Molonglo River

After four years of construction, Lake Burley Griffin was completed in 1964. The lake, quite large, is uniquely designed, stretching from east to west, surrounding Capital Hill and dividing the city into two halves, like a sparkling blue mirror enhancing Canberra's beauty.

A friend from Canberra told me that the city hosts many national cultural events annually, such as folk festivals, the Royal Canberra Show, car festivals like Summernats and Stonefest, the Enlighten Festival, and the Multicultural Festival. Notably, Floriade, the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, is held in Commonwealth Park every spring. The festival showcases various beautiful and diverse flowers and promotes environmental activities and green energy use. Every March, the city comes alive with a series of festivals combined with Canberra Day. On nine mornings in March, from the lawn in front of the Old Parliament House, hot air balloons of all shapes, sizes, and colors take off, offering wonderful and impressive performances during the Canberra Balloon Festival.

The Canberra Museum and Gallery houses local history and art, including a unique collection of residential buildings. Visiting historical sites such as Lanyon Homestead, Tuggeranong Homestead, Mugga-Mugga Cottage, Blundells Cottage, or Calthorpes' House offers insight into the lives of the first European settlers in the area.

As he bid me farewell, my friend cheerfully added: "Each season in Canberra has its own beauty. But during the changing seasons, when nature is transitioning, that beauty becomes more vivid, unique, and impressive..."

If so, I must have been very fortunate.

Author: Vu Thanh