Where we dwell: Canberra, communities and connections to place

Dwelling is the essence of connection. In dwelling – we stay, connect, linger. Dwelling evokes the notion of relationship and being within. This paper will explore the nature of the different relationships that Canberra people have revealed about their connections to key places – some within the nation’s psyche and others being local places. Examples will include – ‘the lake’, Parliament House Vista, the central parklands, Weston Park (with its controversial SIEV X memorial), and Anzac Parade. Canberra people feel a deep connection with many of these places, enriched with their sense that they are the guardians of the ‘national capital’. The paper will contrast these connections with those of Australians who visit the national capital. An interesting aspect that will be revealed is how Canberrans have become the principal defenders of some of the nation’s iconic places. This paper will draw on a number of projects undertaken by the author over the last ten years.