From Belconnen to Woden, from Tuggeranong to the Molonglo River, Canberra is rich with heritage that remains widely undiscovered by the public.
This summer break, why not explore the spectacular sights, reserves, homesteads, and history of our region with Canberra Track’s Heritage Trails?
Through the artform of film, dive along eight different tracks and discover the unique and unknown in the Canberra region (and most importantly, entertain the kids for a day).
Richard Snashall is the man behind the camera, aspiring for Canberrans to see the region through a new and more positive lens.
A filmmaker for 23 years, Mr Snashall created the videos for ACT Heritage, each one with a different theme and location.
“I’ve tried to make these films kind of fun and spontaneous, and there’s just so many really quirky little places,” smiled Mr Snashall.
“I want people to feel sort of nourished or a bit excited about what there is and what they can do on weekends. They can take their kids out and walk some of these tracks … so it’s all self-drive routes.
“You can just download the free app from the usual places and on many of the signs there, you can scan and hear stories come to life – bringing Canberra to life through the Canberra Tracks app.”
Shining a spotlight on the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples of the Canberra region, the first track off the block takes visitors on a journey to learn about the 20,000-plus years of Aboriginal history that lives on this country.
Working with Wally Bell, a well-known Indigenous Elder in Canberra, the track resonates with his wisdom, Aboriginal stories, and Indigenous sites, as well as tales of the early settlers.
“It’s looking at the Belconnen area and its development, and there’s also Tuggeranong [and] Gungahlin, and quite a few of these areas actually have within them their own Indigenous sites or early settler sites, old schools, and all sorts of things that were all part of the early development of this region, pre-Canberra, when it was basically early settlers moving down and farming and taking the land,” explained Mr Snashall.
One recommendation from the creator himself is to check out the De Salis family cemetery in Tharwa, located where the Murrumbidgee and Gudgenby Rivers meet, just a short drive from Tuggeranong.
“It’s almost like something in Europe if you’ve ever been to Ireland or in Britain and things like that,” Mr Snashall said.
“It just reminds me of an ancient burial mound, a Celtic burial mound in Ireland or something like that, and it’s in a beautiful spot.
“The De Salis family were one of the early pioneering families.”
What drives Mr Snashall to document the region’s heritage for locals and visitors to enjoy is his ambition to rid the Capital of its ‘boring’ reputation.
“We’re working hard to say to local people and visitors, look, Canberra’s often just sort of seen as modern city, modern suburbia, Parliament House …” Mr Snashall said. “But it’s not just a concrete place, a plain in the middle of southern New South Wales where they’ve whacked up a bit of concrete. It is actually a place that has developed and is interesting.”
He recommends heading to Regatta Point, where the videos are played on the big screen at Visit Canberra and check out the many surrounding spots to explore.
“Canberra actually has a heritage and as time has gone on, I think as Canberra develops more of a soul in a way, you kind of start to appreciate where that soul has come from.
“1960s Belconnen and Woden development and things like that, that all contributes to Canberra being more of a city with a soul.”
Find the Heritage Trails on the Canberra Tracks app or website.
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