The Canberra Page

12/06/2026

2001 in Canberra: no National Portrait Gallery, the last Liberal Chief ... and a brand new Japanese institution. Food writer Lucy Ridge says Iori remains a blast a quarter of a century on.

When I heard that Iori was closed for renovations, I was nervous. What would change? Might this 25-year-old institution lose…

12/06/2026

Do you remember when Civic looked like this?
It was 1980 and you can see the brand-new Telstra Tower in the background of this image taken where London Circuit meets the Sydney Building.

Photo: Libraries ACT.

12/06/2026

Canberra, we've got you sorted this week 👉

There's a lot to get excited about across Canberra this week, with the National Wine Festival, the Spanish and Latin…

11/06/2026

Just a reminder of what the main street of Queanbeyan looked like with cars in it ...
The year was 1961 and it looks like Holdens ruled. It was also a time, when, according to local legend, a casino thrived in Monaro Street.
Care to take a punt on whether it was fact or fiction?

Photo: Queanbeyan Museum.

11/06/2026

At a time when money was tight, one local couple looked to the 10-cent refund scheme for bottles and cans to help pay for their wedding. 🗑️

To pay for a wedding, you and the love of your life might be looking for a lottery to win,…

11/06/2026

They reckon you should never work with animals or children ... but it looks like things were different in 1967 - especially when it came to promoting what we now know as the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
The site, traditional country of the Ngunnawal people, remains one of the most popular attractions of the region today with its unique natural beauty and wildlife.

Photo: National Archives of Australia.

11/06/2026

Did you discover cheaper fuel down the coast last weekend? ⛽️

It might soon be cheaper for Canberra motorists to drive to the South Coast, fill up the tank, and drive…

11/06/2026

Rates, fees, levies and charges are going up across the Territory. Here's what the budget means for your wallet.

The ACT Budget will raise residential rates by an average of 5 per cent in 2026-27, lift other charges and…

10/06/2026

Are there any coin-operated laundromats left in Canberra like this one?
The one at Dickson was very popular with students and folk who couldn't fit a Hills Hoist in their backyard, but they don't seem to be as popular as say this one, pictured in 1967 Canberra.

Photo: National Archives of Australia.

10/06/2026

Is over-regulation the reason for so many empty shops in Canberra? Here's why the Property Council's Ashlee Berry believes so.

Take a walk through any of Canberra’s town centres and you’ll see it straight away - empty ground-floor shops that…