The story of this place
Lake Burley Griffin is the centrepiece of Canberra's planned city design, created in 1963 by damming the Molonglo River. The lake provides extraordinary urban photography with its symmetrical geometry: Parliament House reflected in the central basin, the National Carillon on Aspen Island, and the Australian War Memorial at the base of Mount Ainslie. The lake has multiple photogenic bridges including the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and Kings Avenue Bridge. Sunrise from the east illuminates Parliament House across the water. Blue hour after sunset provides the most dramatic urban reflections with the city lights mirrored in the still water. The lakeside Commonwealth Park provides foreground wildflower compositions in spring.