Canberra topographic map
Interactive map
Click on the map to display elevation.
About this map
Name: Canberra topographic map, elevation, terrain.
Average elevation: 638 m
Minimum elevation: 395 m
Maximum elevation: 1,238 m
The area chosen for the capital had been inhabited by Indigenous Australians for up to 21,000 years, with the principal group being the Ngunnawal people. European settlement commenced in the first half of the 19th century, as evidenced by surviving landmarks such as St John's Anglican Church and Blundells Cottage. On 1 January 1901, federation of the colonies of Australia was achieved. Following a long dispute over whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the national capital, a compromise was reached: the new capital would be built in New South Wales, so long as it was at least 100 miles (160 km) from Sydney. The capital city was founded and formally named as Canberra in 1913. A blueprint by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin was selected after an international design contest, and construction commenced in 1913. Unusual among Australian cities, it is an entirely planned city. The Griffins' plan featured geometric motifs and was centred on axes aligned with significant topographical landmarks such as Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, Capital Hill and City Hill. Canberra's mountainous location makes it the only mainland Australian city where snow-capped mountains can be seen in winter; although snow in the city itself is uncommon.
Other topographic maps
Click on a map to view its topography, its elevation and its terrain.
Sydney
Sydney, Council of the City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Average elevation: 53 m
Perth
Australia > Western Australia > City of Perth
Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia
Average elevation: 26 m
Brisbane
Australia > Queensland > Brisbane
Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia
Average elevation: 45 m
Adelaide
Australia > South Australia > Adelaide
Adelaide, Adelaide City Council, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Average elevation: 148 m
Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Rockhampton Regional, Queensland, 4700, Australia
Average elevation: 48 m
Adelaide
Australia > South Australia > Adelaide City Council
Adelaide, Adelaide City Council, South Australia, Australia
Average elevation: 146 m
Gold Coast
Australia > Queensland > Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland, 4217, Australia
Average elevation: 42 m
Townsville
Townsville, Townsville City, Queensland, 4810, Australia
Average elevation: 30 m
Newcastle
Australia > New South Wales > Newcastle
Newcastle, Newcastle-Maitland, Newcastle City Council, New South Wales, 2300, Australia
Average elevation: 5 m
Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay, Fraser Coast Regional, Queensland, 4655, Australia
Average elevation: 6 m
Rottnest Island
Australia > Western Australia > Geordie Bay
Rottnest Island, Geordie Bay, City Of Cockburn, Western Australia, 6161, Australia
Average elevation: 2 m
Port Stephens Council
Port Stephens Council, New South Wales, Australia
Average elevation: 25 m
Sunshine Coast
Australia > Queensland > Sunshine Coast Regional
Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Regional, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 109 m
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, New South Wales, 2444, Australia
Average elevation: 5 m
Scenic Rim Regional
Scenic Rim Regional, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 261 m
Saibai Island
Saibai Island, Torres Strait Island Regional, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 1 m
Collie
Australia > Western Australia > Collie
Collie, Shire Of Collie, Western Australia, 6225, Australia
Average elevation: 210 m
Atherton
Atherton, Tablelands Regional, Queensland, 4883, Australia
Average elevation: 811 m
Albury
Albury, Albury City Council, New South Wales, 2640, Australia
Average elevation: 246 m
Launceston
Australia > Tasmania > Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia
Average elevation: 218 m
Cairns
Cairns, Cairns Regional, Queensland, 4870, Australia
Average elevation: 176 m
Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Toowoomba Regional, Queensland, 4350, Australia
Average elevation: 458 m
Wollongong
Australia > New South Wales > Wollongong
Wollongong, Wollongong City Council, New South Wales, 2500, Australia
Average elevation: 115 m
Macleay Island
Macleay Island, Greater Brisbane, Redland City, Queensland, 4184, Australia
Average elevation: 3 m
Reserve Creek
Reserve Creek, Tweed Shire Council, New South Wales, 2484, Australia
Average elevation: 46 m
St Peters
Australia > New South Wales > Sydney
St Peters, Inner West, Sydney, Inner West Council, New South Wales, 2044, Australia
Average elevation: 9 m
Wilson
Wilson, City Of Canning, Western Australia, Australia
Average elevation: 8 m
Miles Island
Miles Island, Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales, Australia
Average elevation: 4 m
Whitby Reserve
Australia > Victoria > Melbourne
Whitby Reserve, Reservoir, Melbourne, City of Darebin, Victoria, Australia
Average elevation: 90 m
Greater Brisbane
Greater Brisbane, City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 87 m
Buderim
Australia > Queensland > Sunshine Coast Regional
Buderim, Sunshine Coast Regional, Queensland, 4556, Australia
Average elevation: 32 m
Lane Cove
Australia > New South Wales > Sydney
Lane Cove, Lower North Shore, Sydney, Lane Cove Municipal Council, New South Wales, 2066, Australia
Average elevation: 52 m
Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council, New South Wales, Australia
Average elevation: 18 m
Germantown
Germantown, Cassowary Coast Regional, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 56 m
Wilsons Promontory National Park
Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria, Australia
Average elevation: 32 m