Volcanic arc/belt Silurian Elevation 842 m Mountain range Brindabella Range | Easiest route Drive Prominence 163 m | |
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Location Australian Capital Territory, Australia Similar Black Mountain, Mount Majura, Mount Taylor, Mount Stromlo, Mount Coree | ||
Mount Ainslie is a hill with an elevation of 843 metres (2,766 ft) that is located in the northeastern suburbs of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Mount Ainslie lies within part of the Canberra Nature Park.
Contents
- Map of Mount Ainslie Australian Capital Territory 2609 Australia
- Location and features
- Summit design competition
- References
Map of Mount Ainslie, Australian Capital Territory 2609, Australia
Location and features
Mount Ainslie borders on the inner suburbs of Campbell, Ainslie and Hackett and is named in honour of James Ainslie, a 19th-century settler who was the overseer on Duntroon, a large property in the area.
The Mount Ainslie tourist outlook, one of Canberra's most popular, provides excellent views of central Canberra and Red Hill to the south and Black Mountain to the west especially towards sunset. According to an article written in 1922, this outlook 'will afford an ever changing bird's eye and panoramic picture of the city's buildings and beauty spots, as well as of the lovely plains that run to join the Yass Plains on the north.' An air beacon located at the summit is part of the national capital's air navigation system guiding air traffic towards the nearby Canberra Airport.
A walking trail which leads from the back of the Australian War Memorial, called the Mount Ainslie Kokoda summit train, is well maintained with steps and is paved. The trail is used by around 200 people each day. It has a number of plaques commemorating the battles fought in World War II in the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, with the plaques set out as though it was on the Kokoda Trail. A quarry is located around 200 metres (660 ft) from the peak.
Mount Ainslie is the northernmost point of a land axis, planned by Walter Burley Griffin, that stretches through North and South Canberra. This axis takes in the Australian War Memorial and the old and new Parliament Houses.
Summit design competition
In 2016 the ACT Government and the National Capital Authority ran a design competition for, with the aim to produce a ten-year strategy for the Mount Ainslie summit. The competition winners were Sue Barnsley and Jane Irwin, who proposed new parking, signage, picnic areas, lawns and plantings.