Canberra Central, Administrative district in Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Canberra Central is one of the seven districts of the Australian Capital Territory, split by Lake Burley Griffin into an Inner North and an Inner South. Its town centre, Civic, sits in the suburb of City, and the district also takes in the commercial suburbs of the Parliamentary Triangle, including Parkes and Barton. Building heights are capped at RL617, about 50 metres above ground in Civic.

The district was established in 1966 through the Districts Ordinance, following the transfer of land from New South Wales to federal control in 1911. This administrative reorganization provided the framework for the capital's modern structure.

The Ngunawal are the traditional custodians of the district. Its suburbs carry names such as Acton, Ainslie, Braddon, Reid and Yarralumla, and the district is commonly spoken of as the Inner North and Inner South rather than by its administrative title. The name Canberra is widely traced to an Aboriginal word for a meeting place.

The area is organized in multiple sections, so plan your time based on which zones you want to explore. Starting from the central business streets and expanding outward to surrounding neighborhoods helps with navigation.

Building heights in Canberra Central are capped at RL617, roughly 50 metres above ground in Civic, a rule tied to the intended height of the flagpole on Parliament House. The limit was introduced in Civic in 1968, which is why the tallest buildings stand in outer town centres such as Belconnen and Phillip.