The history of Canberra begins long before European settlement, rooted deeply in the ancient culture of the region’s First Nations peoples. The area was traditionally inhabited by the Ngunnawal, Ngunawal, and Ngambri peoples, who maintain enduring spiritual and cultural ties to the land. Other groups with connections to the region include the Ngarigo to the south and the Ngambri-Guumaal, while neighboring nations such as the Wandandian, Walgulu, Gandangara, and Wiradjuri bordered the region, forming an intricate network of trade, ceremony, and kinship.

When British settlers first arrived in the early 19th century, they encountered two primary Ngunnawal clans living in what is now Canberra. The Canberry (or Nganbra) clan resided around Sullivan’s Creek, holding ceremonial grounds at the base of Galambary (known today as Black Mountain). The Pialligo clan lived near the area surrounding the modern Canberra Airport. These communities practiced careful land management—using controlled fire to rejuvenate vegetation, farming native yams, and hunting local wildlife as part of a balanced ecological system that sustained them for millennia.

Archaeological evidence supports this long history of habitation, with discoveries that include rock shelters, paintings and engravings, burial sites, stone tools, and ancient campgrounds. Some of these artefacts date back more than 21,000 years, making Canberra one of the longest continuously inhabited areas in Australia. Remarkably, the submerged limestone caves beneath Lake Burley Griffin once contained Aboriginal rock art, offering a glimpse into the spiritual and artistic life of the region’s earliest inhabitants.

The Murrumbidgee River—a major waterway running through the Canberra region—holds profound cultural significance. Ngunnawal men continue to conduct traditional ceremonies along its banks, traveling upstream to receive their Totems and fulfill their responsibilities for land management. The word “Murrumbidgee” itself carries deep meaning, derived from “Murrum” (Pathway) and “Bidgee” (Boss), signifying the river as a guiding and authoritative force in their culture.

The surrounding landscape is rich with sacred sites tied to Dreaming stories and ceremonial practices. Galambary (Black Mountain) has long been a site for men’s ceremonies and initiation rituals, representing the symbolic journey from boyhood to manhood. In contrast, Mount Ainslie is considered a place for women’s business, with both mountains often described as resembling a woman’s breasts—a natural form echoed in the traditional meanings and oral histories of the land.

Today, these sacred connections endure. The Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples continue to practice their cultural traditions, teach younger generations, and care for Country. Their ongoing presence and custodianship remind Australians that Canberra’s story begins not with the founding of a capital, but with tens of thousands of years of deep spiritual, cultural, and ecological knowledge that still shapes the land and its people.