Brief History

The first Parliament House was opened in Canberra the newly created National Capital of Australia in 1927. To help in servicing the needs of a rapidly growing population, our Club was established in 1928.

Right from the earliest days when Canberra was transforming from an open rural landscape to the Walter Burley Griffin planned cityscape, members of our Club have been active in the resourcing and growth of the Australian Public Service, Institutions, Infrastructure and the city’s Social and Cultural Development. Our Club has facilitated numerous key events and demonstrated the ideals of Rotary International through innovating and undertaking programs, Locally, Nationally and Internationally.

One of many notable examples of an effective program is the very popular Seniors’ Concert. Each year, we honour the more elderly citizens of Canberra by staging an afternoon of fine entertainment and food at Albert Hall for around 400 people. Most of our members help in organizing and delivering this program and in turn always receive much appreciation for their efforts from the seniors.

Our Club also sponsored the commencement of other Clubs in the surrounding district and in Canberra, including the Foundation of the Rotaract Club of Canberra for younger people between the ages of 18 and 30.

At the heart of advancing our Club to its’ 100 Year Anniversary are the following values, vision and purpose.