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CANBERRA DAY (ACT)

When is Canberra Day (ACT) in 2024?

Canberra Day (ACT) in 2024 is on the Monday, 11th of Mar (3/11/2024).

Canberra Day (ACT) is on the 71th day of 2024. There are 295 days left in the year.

Canberra Day (ACT) Facts

  • Date: Mar 11, 2024
  • National
  • Also Called:
  • Celebrations: Celebrations; festivals, reading, partying, traveling
Canberra Day (ACT) iImage Credit: PixaBay.com

The Australian Capital Territory observes Canberra Day as a public holiday on the second Monday in March. The holiday commemorates the day the Australian capital was named in the year 1913 by the wife of General Lord Denman who was the governor at the time. Canberra Day has been in celebration for more than a hundred years.

History of Canberra Day

The Canberra region of the present day Australia was inhabited by the Ngunnawal people for over 20000 years. The indigenous Australians continued to live there even after Europeans settled there in the 1820s. However, as time went on, the numbers of these people declined.

By 1911, European settlement in Australia had expanded, and Canberra became a center of attraction to many. In fact, the city got into an international competition which had more than 130 entries, and Canberra was chosen as the new capital for Australia. An American architect namely Walter Griffin and his wife Marion Griffin also won the competition to design the new city. The architect planned the city of Canberra with large buildings and parks with several water features. The plan also included wide boulevards and green bands that surrounded settlement areas.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) was then declared in 1911, but it became a self-governing territory in 1989. The city of Canberra was named on March 12, 1913, in a ceremony that was graced by the wife of the sitting governor at the time, General Lord Denman.

Over the years, Canberra Day was celebrated on the third Monday of March until 2008 when the date was officially changed to the second Monday of March.

Today, Canberra is the heart of ACT and has also become the hub for the Australia federal politics.

How to Celebrate Canberra Day

You can celebrate Canberra Day by attending the Canberra festival. The festival entails a month-long series of events such as concerts, car shows, performances among other activities.

Also get to learn more about the city of Canberra and how the Australian capital was established. Some of the best books with this information include The Fatal Shore, The Epic of Australia’s Founding and The Unauthorized History of Australia.

Another great way to mark the day would be to host a Canberra Celebration at home. Invite friends and family members and make it lively by engaging in exciting activities. For instance, you can place cutouts of interesting Canberra facts in a box and help everyone learn more about the city.

Considering that the holiday falls on a long weekend, plan a getaway out of the city. For instance, you can take a break from the buzzle of the city and enjoy the countryside by barbecuing, camping with friends or just relaxing alone.

This is also the perfect family day out. Visit any of the various parks in the city of Canberra and have the kids enjoy the thrill of amusement park rides, face painting and dances by live bands. There is also a range of exhibitions, sporting activities and theatrical performances you can enjoy on this day. You can then wrap it all by indulging in a shopping treat. Most of the retail stores will be running amazing Canberra Day discounts.

Remember to spread awareness about this special day on social media using the hashtags #CanberraDay and #CelebrateCanberraDay.

Interesting Facts about Canberra

• The Canberra city has been home to Australia’s executive, legislature and judiciary arms of government for more than 100 years.

• Besides being one of the most beautiful, secure and cleanest cities in the world, Canberra has many attractions among them, Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, National Capital Exhibition and National Film and Sound Archive.

• The city of Canberra is surrounded by a humanmade lake known as Lake Burley Griffin.

• The term Canberra means meeting place

• Before Canberra finally became Australia’s capital, politicians had suggested other towns like Orange, Dalgety, Albury, and Tumut.

Canberra Day (ACT) Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME
  • Mon
  • Mar 14, 2016
  • Mon
  • Mar 13, 2017
  • Mon
  • Mar 12, 2018
  • Mon
  • Mar 11, 2019
  • Mon
  • Mar 09, 2020

List of National and Regional Public Holidays of Australia in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
SundaySunJan 01, 2023Jan 01New Year's Day
MondayMonJan 02, 2023Jan 02New Year's Day Holiday
ThursdayThuJan 26, 2023Jan 26Australia Day
MondayMonMar 06, 2023Mar 06Labour Day (WA)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Labour Day (VIC)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Eight Hours Day (TAS)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Canberra Day (ACT)
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07Good Friday
SundaySunApr 09, 2023Apr 09Easter Sunday
MondayMonApr 10, 2023Apr 10Easter Monday
TuesdayTueApr 25, 2023Apr 25Anzac Day
MondayMonMay 01, 2023May 01May Day (NT)
MondayMonJun 05, 2023Jun 05Western Australia Day (WA)
MondayMonJun 12, 2023Jun 12King's Birthday (Most region)
MondayMonAug 07, 2023Aug 07Picnic Day (NT)
MondayMonSep 25, 2023Sep 25King's Birthday (WA)
MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02King's Birthday (QLD)
MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02Labour Day (Most Region)
MondayMonDec 25, 2023Dec 25Christmas Day
TuesdayTueDec 26, 2023Dec 26Boxing Day
SundaySunDec 31, 2023Dec 31New Year's Eve

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
ThursdayThuJan 12, 2023Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
ThursdayThuJan 19, 2023Jan 19National Popcorn Day
WednesdayWedFeb 01, 2023Feb 01National Signing Day
ThursdayThuFeb 02, 2023Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 03, 2023Feb 03National Wear Red Day
ThursdayThuFeb 09, 2023Feb 09National Pizza Day
MondayMonFeb 13, 2023Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 14, 2023Feb 14Valentine's Day
WednesdayWedFeb 15, 2023Feb 15National Bagel Day
SaturdaySatFeb 18, 2023Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 22, 2023Feb 22National Margarita Day
FridayFriMar 03, 2023Mar 03National Employee Appreciation Day
TuesdayTueMar 07, 2023Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 12, 2023Mar 12Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13National Napping Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Walkout Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Pi Day
MondayMonMar 20, 2023Mar 20National Proposal Day
ThursdayThuMar 23, 2023Mar 23National Puppy Day
ThursdayThuMar 30, 2023Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 05, 2023Apr 05National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 06, 2023Apr 06National Burrito Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07National Beer Day
TuesdayTueApr 11, 2023Apr 11National Pet Day
WednesdayWedApr 12, 2023Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 04, 2023May 04National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 14, 2023May 14Mother's Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Towel Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 02, 2023Jun 02National Donut Day
ThursdayThuJun 08, 2023Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 18, 2023Jun 18Father's Day
WednesdayWedJun 21, 2023Jun 21National Selfie Day
ThursdayThuJun 22, 2023Jun 22National Kissing Day
TuesdayTueJul 11, 2023Jul 11Amazon Prime Day
ThursdayThuJul 13, 2023Jul 13National French Fry Day
FridayFriJul 14, 2023Jul 14National Nude Day
SundaySunJul 16, 2023Jul 16National Ice Cream Day
WednesdayWedJul 19, 2023Jul 19National Hot Dog Day
MondayMonJul 24, 2023Jul 24National Tequila Day
SaturdaySatJul 29, 2023Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
TuesdayTueAug 01, 2023Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 06, 2023Aug 06National Sister Day
MondayMonSep 18, 2023Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
TuesdayTueOct 03, 2023Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Vodka Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Taco Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 21, 2023Oct 21Sweetest Day
SundaySunOct 29, 2023Oct 29National Cat Day
TuesdayTueOct 31, 2023Oct 31Halloween
FridayFriNov 03, 2023Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 24, 2023Nov 24Black Friday
MondayMonNov 27, 2023Nov 27Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 02, 2023Dec 02Candle Day
SaturdaySatDec 09, 2023Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 15, 2023Dec 15National Ugly Sweater day