Acton: National Museum and Architectural History

They focus on different cultural themes and provide an objective starting point for understanding Acton as a travel destination.

Culture and architecture in Acton

The National Museum of Australia is located on Lawson Crescent in Acton, ACT. It brings Australia’s rich and diverse stories to life through compelling objects, ideas and events. These three approaches make clear that its focus is not limited to a single topic: objects, ideas and events all feature equally in the description of the museum. If you want to plan your trip around cultural themes, the museum offers a clear connection to Australia’s stories.

A different perspective is offered by the main wing of the current National Film and Sound Archive of Australia building in Acton, Canberra. It was designed by the young architect Walter Haywood Morris. The building was one of the first major public buildings to open in Australia’s early capital. Here, the focus is on architectural history: the main wing’s historical significance and Morris’s design provide a concrete contrast to the thematic diversity of the National Museum of Australia.

For your selection, this means the museum offers an approach through objects, ideas and events, while the NFSA building is about architecture and the history of the early capital. These different focuses can help you find your bearings without combining them into a single theme.

More topics in the broader destination of Australian Capital Territory

Beyond Acton, the broader destination of Australian Capital Territory offers other distinct cultural and natural themes. The Australian War Memorial features more than 7,000 objects from the Memorial’s collection in its permanent exhibitions. Paved paths for pedestrians and bicycles lead to the entrance. The collection and access to the entrance are two different points of reference: one concerns the exhibitions, the other the paths to the Memorial.

Namadgi National Park protects 106,095 hectares of alpine, subalpine and montane bushland and has several hundred kilometres of walking tracks. The three landscape terms describe different aspects of the protected area; the track distances give an idea of its size as a walking destination. More generally, animals and birds can be observed in their natural habitat in almost every park or reserve in Australian Capital Territory.

An easy walk leads to ancient Ngunnawal rock art at Yankee Hat. The walk and the rock art offer a distinct connection to the landscapes and culture of the Ngunnawal. Access may change, so check the latest information before visiting.

The Canberra Centenary Trail is 138 kilometres long and is a self-guided route shared by walkers, runners and cyclists. It includes sites and landscapes that are significant to the Ngunnawal. The trail thus combines different ways of getting around with places and landscapes of cultural significance.

Lake Burley Griffin also offers a range of activities: you can walk, cycle or ride an e-scooter on paths around the lake. On the water, boating, picnics and pedal-boat outings are available. The paths around the lake and the activities on the water offer different ways to explore the area. Provider information may change, so check the latest details about boating activities in advance.

Another cultural attraction in the broader destination of Australian Capital Territory is the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia at the National Arboretum Canberra. Together with the exhibitions at the Australian War Memorial, Ngunnawal rock art and the sites along the Canberra Centenary Trail, it offers a distinct regional cultural perspective. Keep these themes separate from the specific Acton connections when planning your trip: in Acton, the points of reference are the National Museum of Australia and the architectural history of the NFSA building.

Discover more destinations: Weetangera, Canberra, Pialligo, Campbell, Curtin, Nicholls, Macquarie, Barton.

For the broader travel overview: Australian Capital Territory.