Canberra Day is a
public holiday in Australia held annually on the second Monday in March in the
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory until 1938, is an internal States and territories of Australia, territory of Australia. Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is situated within the territory, an ...
(ACT) and the
Jervis Bay Territory
The Jervis Bay Territory (; "JBT") is an internal states and territories of Australia, territory of Australia. It was established in 1915 by the transfer of jurisdiction from the state of New South Wales to the federal Commonwealth of Australia ...
(JBT) to celebrate the official naming of
Canberra
Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...
. Canberra was named at a ceremony on 12 March 1913 by
Lady Denman, the wife of the then
Governor-General
Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...
Lord Denman.
On 3 March 2007, the ACT Minister
Andrew Barr (now
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory) introduced a bill to change the day of Canberra Day to the second Monday in March so it falls closer more often to the actual birthday of Canberra.
Previously it had been held on the third Monday in March. In 2012 Canberra Day fell on 12 March. In 2013 it fell on 11 March, for the
Centenary
A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century.
Notable events
Notable centennial events at a national or world-level include:
* Centennial Exhibition, 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...
of Canberra.
Annual events associated with Canberra Day include th
Hands Up for Canberra Giving Day(a community fundraising event held on 11 March in 2020), th
Canberra Festival which runs from 11 to 20 March 2011, the Chief Minister's Canberra Day Awards Ceremony, and the Canberra Festival Balloon Spectacular.
See also
*
History of Canberra
*
Public holidays in Australia
Public holidays in Australia refer to the holidays recognised in law in Australia. Although they are declared on a States and territories of Australia, state and territory basis, they comprise a mixture of nationally celebrated days and holidays ...
References
Public holidays in Australia
March observances
Monday observances
Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)
Autumn in Australia
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