Belconnen is a suburb located in the northern region of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Belconnen is situated on the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal people and is a part of the larger Ngunnawal Country. The Ngunnawal people are the traditional custodians of the Canberra region and have a profound cultural and spiritual connection to the land.
The name "Belconnen" comes from the surname of an early settler, James Belconnen, who arrived in the area in the 1830s. The suburb was established in the 1960s and has since become a major commercial and residential centre, with over 96,000 people as of 2021.
Despite the modern development of the suburb, the Ngunnawal people have continued to maintain their cultural and spiritual connection to the land. The Ngunnawal people have a long and rich history in the area, with evidence of their occupation dating back over 20,000 years. Today, the Ngunnawal people continue to live in the Canberra region. They are actively involved in the management and preservation of their traditional lands.
Belconnen is home to several landmarks and sites of significance to the Ngunnawal people, including the Ginninderra Falls, a culturally significant and traditional gathering place. The area also has several reserves and parks, including Lake Ginninderra and Ginninderra Creek, essential waterways for the Ngunnawal people and the local community.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of Indigenous culture and heritage in the Canberra region, with initiatives aimed at promoting reconciliation and acknowledging the ongoing contributions of the Ngunnawal people. As a result, Belconnen has become a vibrant and diverse community that celebrates and honours its Indigenous heritage.
Belconnen is approximately seven kilometres northwest of Canberra's central business district and surrounds an artificially created, ornamental lake, Lake Ginninderra. The focal point of the community, Belconnen Town Centre, overlooks Lake Ginninderra. The surrounding area encompasses the suburbs of Belconnen, Bruce, Cook, Hawker, Holt, Kaleen, Macquarie, Melba, Page, and Scullin. The nearby Historic Town of Hall and its pastoral district extends north into New South Wales and includes Murrumbateman and Gundaroo, home to several iconic restaurants, cafes and wineries.
Belconnen is one of the five satellite cities that make up the ACT. The other four locations include Canberra North and South, Tuggeranong, Woden Valley, and Gungahlin.
Belconnen is a self-contained residential and commercial area and provides all the retail, domestic and social services required for permanent residency or the concerted short-stay visitor. It is where you will find the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the University of Canberra (UC).
Belconnen is well-serviced for accommodation, dining, recreation, health, beauty, transport, entertainment, shopping and medical services. Belconnen is surrounded by the territory central district of Canberra and is a short drive or bus journey to the town centre of Gungahlin.
Are you visiting or planning a trip to Belconnen? Whether it is for business, politics, education, family, or friends, a visit to Canberra's Northern Suburbs and the Australian Capital Territory has plenty of options hotels, serviced apartments, bed and breakfast, and motel accommodation.
Belconnen is home to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and the University of Canberra (UC).