ÐÓ°É´«Ã½

The Ngunnawal, Ngambri and the Ngarigu peoples are the traditional owners of the area on, and surrounding, the Acton campus and the Canberra region. Our Acton campus is in the heart of - Australia's capital city - in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

From here it's an easy walk, bike ride or drive to some of Australia's most significant political and cultural institutions including Australian Parliament House.

Amongst our modern lecture halls, libraries, laboratories, student residences and administration buildings, you'll find all the conveniences of a small suburb including cafes, bars, supermarkets, child care centres, a newsagency, post office and even a medical centre.

The Acton Campus is well renowned for its landscape setting, with many remnant and planted trees and an obvious commitment to maintenance of open space. ANU maintains over 10,000 trees, including over 500 considered to be of exceptional significance because of their age, history or species and over 300 remnant trees predating European occupation of the area. The areas of Sullivan's Creek and University Avenue are key features of the Acton Campus providing major avenues across the campus that contribute to its 'park like' nature and are also nationally and internationally recognised features of the Acton campus.

There are eight buildings or complexes of buildings currently listed on the  and following the  (2012) over 60 more buildings/complexes have been identified as meeting the threshold for listing on the Commonwealth Heritage List.

Aboriginal Heritage

The original custodians and caretakers of the land in the ACT are the Ngunawal/Ngunnawal; the Ngambri; and the Ngarigu people. Consultation undertaken with the four Representative Aboriginal Organisations (RAO) of the ACT region has documented the cultural significance of this place. Sullivan's Creek was used as a pathway to the larger Molonglo River and was an important source of food. The land was cared for by Aboriginal people, using 'cool burning' to support the growth of new vegetation, which would attract kangaroos for hunting for tens of thousands of years. Black Mountain is a significant ceremonial and meeting place.

Historical evidence indicates that the Molonglo River Flats, Black Mountain and its spur, now known as the Acton Peninsula, were areas that are believed to have been favoured as meeting places by the Aboriginal people of the region (Gillespie 1979; Bluett 1954; Sydney Morning Herald 21st May 1927).

The timbered areas would have provided ample stocks of possum, kangaroo and wallabies whilst the Molonglo River was rich in Murray Cod. Proximity to water and protection from the prevailing winds have made the area at the base of Black Mountain suitable shelter for generations. Material culture remaining in the region include stone artefacts, spears and possum and kangaroo skin cloaks. The invasion of European settlers decimated the Aboriginal population and aggressively displaced them from their traditional lands, with great ecological consequence. Aboriginal culture and spirituality live on in elders past, present and emerging and in Country - a pride of the world's longest living culture.

More information about the Indigenous significance of this campus can be found on the .