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
Brisbane
Australia > Queensland > Brisbane
Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia
Average elevation: 45 m
Perth
Australia > Western Australia > City of Perth
Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia
Average elevation: 26 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
Adelaide
Australia > South Australia > Adelaide
Adelaide, Adelaide City Council, South Australia, 5000, Australia
Average elevation: 148 m
Sydney
Australia > New South Wales > Sydney
Sydney, Council of the City of Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
Average elevation: 23 m
City of Perth
City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Average elevation: 18 m
Saibai Island
Saibai Island, Torres Strait Island Regional, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 1 m
Blacktown City Council
Blacktown City Council, New South Wales, Australia
Average elevation: 47 m
Sunshine Coast
Australia > Queensland > Sunshine Coast Regional
Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Regional, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 109 m
Gold Coast
Australia > Queensland > Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland, 4217, Australia
Average elevation: 42 m
Lake Macquarie City Council
Lake Macquarie City Council, New South Wales, Australia
Average elevation: 78 m
North Wangaratta
North Wangaratta, Rural City of Wangaratta, Victoria, 3678, Australia
Average elevation: 148 m
Castlevale Nature Refuge
Castlevale Nature Refuge, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 494 m
Greater Brisbane
Greater Brisbane, City of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia
Average elevation: 87 m
Phillip Island
Australia > Victoria > Ventnor
Phillip Island, Ventnor, Bass Coast Shire, Victoria, Australia
Average elevation: 5 m
Adelaide
Australia > South Australia > Adelaide City Council
Adelaide, Adelaide City Council, South Australia, Australia
Average elevation: 146 m
Orange
Orange, Orange City Council, New South Wales, 2800, Australia
Average elevation: 852 m
Yarra Ranges National Park
Australia > Victoria > Melbourne
Yarra Ranges National Park, Reefton, Melbourne, Shire of Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia
Average elevation: 465 m
Gateshead
Australia > New South Wales > Newcastle-Maitland
Gateshead, Newcastle-Maitland, Lake Macquarie City Council, New South Wales, 2290, Australia
Average elevation: 48 m
Hornsby
Australia > New South Wales > Sydney
Hornsby, Sydney, The Council of the Shire of Hornsby, New South Wales, 2077, Australia
Average elevation: 160 m
Snowy Mountains
Snowy Mountains, Snowy Valleys Council, New South Wales, Australia
Average elevation: 2,011 m
Townsville
Townsville, Townsville City, Queensland, 4810, Australia
Average elevation: 30 m
Adelaide Hills Council
Adelaide Hills Council, South Australia, Australia
Average elevation: 305 m
Port Stephens Council
Port Stephens Council, New South Wales, Australia
Average elevation: 25 m
Collie
Australia > Western Australia > Collie
Collie, Shire Of Collie, Western Australia, 6225, Australia
Average elevation: 210 m
Jindabyne
Australia > New South Wales > Jindabyne
Jindabyne, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales, 2627, Australia
Average elevation: 983 m
Mount Martha
Australia > Victoria > Melbourne
Mount Martha, Melbourne, Shire of Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, 3934, Australia
Average elevation: 40 m
Cooma
Australia > New South Wales > Cooma
Cooma, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, New South Wales, 2630, Australia
Average elevation: 860 m
Chatswood
Australia > New South Wales > Sydney
Chatswood, Lower North Shore, Sydney, Willoughby City Council, New South Wales, 2067, Australia
Average elevation: 81 m
Mornington District
Australia > Victoria > Melbourne
Mornington District, Melbourne, Shire of Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
Average elevation: 50 m
Albany
Albany, City Of Albany, Western Australia, 6330, Australia
Average elevation: 30 m
Atherton
Atherton, Tablelands Regional, Queensland, 4883, Australia
Average elevation: 811 m
Alice Springs
Australia > Northern Territory > Alice Springs
Alice Springs, Town of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870, Australia
Average elevation: 631 m
Byron Bay
Byron Bay, Byron Shire Council, New South Wales, 2481, Australia
Average elevation: 7 m
Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, New South Wales, 2444, Australia
Average elevation: 5 m