European Settlement in Canberra

Some of the state's first European settlers resided in a homestead in Acton peninsula, employed by Joshua John Moor who named the property Canberry, or Canberra.

Other sheep stations were built as more settlers arrived during the 1800’s, and the population grew gradually in this agricultural region throughout the nineteenth century.

In 1908 Australian Capital Territory was chosen as the state of the Nation’s Capital, due to rivalry between the country’s two largest cities Sydney and Melbourne.

Canberra’s growth over the first few decades was slow, however a new rail line linking Canberra with Queanbeyan was eventually built, and the construction of additional commercial and government buildings encouraged further migration.