I read a thread on a local forum suggesting that it was a ridiculous idea it being possible to ever snow in Canberra. Simply not the case. I can remember it snowing several times and I don't think I have travelled the Brindabella Road without driving through at least ice sleet at some stage during winter. In Canberra itself it is a fairly rare event but it does snow occasionally.
Anyway... a collection of news clippings spanning 30 years with reports of snow in Canberra and crossing the Brindabella Ranges with the first claiming the heaviest falls for Canberra in 42 years. I make that 1887...
The Canberra Times - Monday 29 July 1929
National Library of Australia
As for that drive over the Brindabella Road the heaviest falls since the turn of the century...
The Canberra Times - Friday 16 August 1929
National Library of Australia
An earlier tale of travelling the road in the snow. At least I do it in the comfort of a 4wd...
Queanbeyan Age and Queanbeyan Observer - Friday 22 August 1919
National Library of Australia
And if not Canberra in 1941 at least Mount Ainslie...
Examiner - Wednesday 6 August 1941
National Library of Australia
Ten years later still seems to be snowing even if lightly...
The Canberra Times - Monday 7 July 1952
National Library of Australia
So if it does snow don't be all that surprised perhaps.
And best quote of the day... "Ald. 'Tom' says it was as tough a bit of work as he has done since he tried to auction a line of prayer books to a crowd of rabbiters."
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It was about 15 years ago (-ish) that it snowed in Canberra on Christmas Day. Can you give me a reference, though?
ReplyDeleteNo sorry Brindafella I can't but the main fall I can remember would have been in Isabella Plains circa 1985. I remember my (now adult) daughter and I being caught out in it when it happened.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely after 1985 for the most recent; I and the family were in Brisbane for Christmas and it was reported on the 'national' TV news. Everyone was astonished, except us from Canberra.
ReplyDeleteI remember a very heavy fall in late October 1987 which left us searching for our very small car... it was just a little bump in the snow. That was Burra, at 200m higher than Canberra, but the whole of Canberra was also covered in quite a decent layer.
ReplyDeleteBurra would look lovely under snow Jude.
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