CANBERRA Two main groups are contesting who and what are the traditional owners of the area, now known as Canberra, The Ngambri and The Ngunnawal.
The word "Canberra" is derived from the word Kambera or Canberry, which is claimed to mean "meeting place" in Ngunnawal language.
Prior to settlement by the Europeans, Canberra was a meeting place for neighbouring tribes. Click on the map below to locate the tribes which surround Canberra.