Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Who was the first European explorer to visit the Canberra area?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
The first European explorer to visit the area that is now Canberra was Charles Throsby, who arrived in 1821 and named the region the Limestone Plains.1
It is important to note that while European exploration began in the 19th century, the region has a much deeper history; Aboriginal occupation of the Australian Capital Territory dates back approximately 21,000 years. At the time of European arrival, the Ngunnawal people were the primary indigenous inhabitants of the area.1