The start of Capital history here

Today (12 March 2019) is the start of Capital history here.

What is Capital history here? The plan is that Capital history here will be a celebration of the best of history. A place where the past and present talk. A place where people who care about history and heritage can connect.

It’s getting started but the hope is it will become a favourite resource for finding out about the history of the Canberra Region, Australia. This includes letting people know about regional history happenings and winning works of history.

I wanted to start Capital history here today as it is a special date in the history of the Canberra Region.

On this day, in 1913 (106 years ago), Canberra became Canberra, Australia’s capital city. The official ceremony included the laying of the city’s foundation stones by the Governor-General Lord Denman; the Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher; and the Minister for Home Affairs, King O’Malley. The moment, though, that seems to be best remembered is Lady Denman’s official naming of the city. The first time Australians had heard the name of their capital Canberra and how it would be pronounced.

Of course, the Canberra Day public holiday celebrates this event each year.

Do you know where Canberra’s foundation stones are? A new discovery to me, the Commencement Column sits at the front of Parliament House. See picture below.

I would love to have a Commencement Column for Capital history here. Any ideas?

The Commencement Column, Capital Hill, Canberra