Discover Canberra Through Art, History & Culture

Canberra is known for its national institutions, but the real appeal is in how many different stories sit behind them. Art, political history, social change, design, architecture and everyday life all have a place here, often within a short distance of each other.

You might come for one gallery and end up staying for a historic house, a working mint or an exhibition you had not planned to see. That is what makes Canberra such a rewarding cultural escape: there is always another story, collection or place worth making time for.

Canberra Museums

National Museum of Australia
Explore the people, events and ideas that have shaped Australia through an extensive collection spanning First Nations histories, Australian society, culture and the environment. The museum also regularly welcomes major temporary exhibitions, giving you a reason to see what is showing each time you visit. Find out More >

Museum of Australian Democracy
Set inside Old Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy explores Australia’s democratic history and the people, ideas and debates that have shaped it. The building itself is part of the experience, with the former chambers and political spaces adding another layer to the stories within. Find Out More >

Australian War Memorial
Part museum, part memorial and part archive, the Australian War Memorial tells the stories of Australians who have served in war and on operations. Its galleries, objects and personal accounts make this a place worth allowing plenty of time to explore. Find Out More >

Royal Australian Mint
Discover how Australia’s coins are designed and made at a working mint. The visitor experience explores the history of Australian currency while offering a glimpse behind the scenes of modern coin production. Find Out More >

Canberra Museum and Gallery
Right in the city centre, Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) turns the focus closer to home. Its exhibitions and collections explore Canberra’s social history and visual arts, including the important Nolan Collection. Find Out More >

Canberra Galleries

National Gallery of Australia
Home to Australia’s national art collection, the National Gallery brings together Australian, First Nations, Asian, European and international art. Alongside its permanent collection, the gallery has a long history of hosting major exhibitions from Australia and around the world. Find Out More >

National Portrait Gallery
Australian history is told through people at the National Portrait Gallery. Its collection brings together portraits of people who have influenced Australia’s identity, culture, politics, science, sport and society. Find Out More >

Canberra Glassworks
Housed in Kingston’s historic Power House, Canberra Glassworks offers something quite different. Explore contemporary glass art and see the creative process in action, with artists working across a range of glassmaking techniques. Find Out More >

Historic Places

Lanyon Homestead
Travel beyond the city centre to Lanyon Homestead, set against the landscape of the Murrumbidgee River. The historic homestead, outbuildings and surrounding property provide a window into more than a century of pastoral life in the Canberra region. Find Out More >

Blundells Cottage
Sitting near the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, Blundells Cottage is one of the few surviving reminders of the people who lived and worked on the Limestone Plains before Canberra became Australia’s capital. Its modest scale tells a very different story from the national buildings that now surround it. Find Out More >

Calthorpes’ House
Step inside a remarkably preserved 1920s family home in Red Hill. Original furnishings and household objects offer an intimate look at everyday life in early Canberra and the city that was beginning to take shape around it. Find Out More >

Mount Stromlo Director’s Residence
Originally completed in 1928 as the home of Mount Stromlo Observatory’s director, the residence connects Canberra’s architectural heritage with its long history of astronomical research. Its story also bears the marks of the 2003 bushfires that devastated much of the observatory. Find Out More >

There is Always More to Discover: This is not a checklist to finish in a weekend. Canberra’s museums, galleries and historic places reward taking your time, spending an afternoon with a collection, exploring a historic home room by room, or discovering an exhibition you did not originally plan to see.