Discover the preserved 1850s cottage that reveals early settler life beside Lake Burley Griffin.
Blundells Cottage stands as one of the oldest surviving buildings in Canberra, offering visitors a tangible connection to the region’s pastoral beginnings before the national capital was planned. Built in the late 1850s for the Blundell family, the simple stone and brick structure illustrates the modest living conditions of early European settlers on the Limestone Plains.
The cottage retains original features including a central kitchen with open fireplace, bedrooms furnished with period pieces, and a small dairy. Interpretive displays focus on the daily routines of the Blundell family, their neighbours, and the Ngunnawal people whose land they occupied. Rotating exhibits often highlight tools, clothing, and household items recovered from the site, giving a clear picture of 19th-century rural self-sufficiency.
The cottage sits on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin in the suburb of Parkes. Walkers and cyclists reach it easily via the lakeside path from Commonwealth Place or the National Gallery precinct. Several ACTION bus routes stop nearby on Anzac Parade, and limited parking is available for those arriving by car. The flat terrain makes the site accessible for most visitors.
Canberra’s cooler months from April to October bring fewer crowds and comfortable temperatures for outdoor exploration of the cottage garden. Spring wildflowers around the lake add colour from September onward. The cottage grounds remain pleasant year-round, though summer afternoons can be hot; early morning visits avoid both heat and school groups.
Combining a visit with these institutions creates a full day of cultural exploration without needing transport between sites.
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Most visitors spend 45 to 60 minutes inside the cottage and another 20 minutes exploring the garden and outdoor displays.
Yes. The cottage offers hands-on elements and simple stories that engage primary-school-aged children, though younger visitors may need supervision on the stone steps.
Photography without flash is permitted throughout the interior and grounds for personal use.
Public toilets are located a short walk away at Commonwealth Park, not inside the cottage itself.
The main rooms are on one level with a ramped entrance, though some garden paths are gravel and may require assistance.
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