In honour of Canberra Day

Today (12 March) is the anniversary of the day in 1913 (107 years ago), Canberra became Canberra, Australia’s capital city. The official ceremony included the laying of the city’s foundation stones by the Governor-General Lord Denman; the Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher; and the Minister for Home Affairs, King O’Malley. However it was Lady Denman’s naming of the capital which seems to be the best remembered moment of the day:

As Lady Denman rose, the strains of the well-known hymn “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” were heard from the band, and the voices of those present rose in unison. At the conclusion of the hymn there was a trumpet fanfare, and Mrs Amy O’Malley stepped forward to present Lady Denman with a gold card case, suitably inscribed, containing the name chosen for the city. Accompanied by Lord Denman, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs, Lady Denman moved to a dais placed on the newly laid foundation stones. The chosen name had been a carefully guarded secret and when Her Excellency, precisely at noon, stood ready to announce it, an expectant gathering waited anxiously. The Prime Minister asked Lady Denman to name the capital city and in a clear voice she declaimed: ‘I name the capital of Australia, Canberra’.
— Lyall Gillespie, Canberra 1820-1913

Acknowledgement: The portrait above is of Lady Denman in 1912. The image comes from the State Library of NSW. and it is out of copyright. The photographer is unknown. Please see the acknowledgement page for details.

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