Our History
The Y Canberra had the good fortune to be born in 1941, during an era of gradually changing social attitudes and when Canberra was a young city in the early stages of developing its own particular style and personality.
At the time, Canberra’s population was barely over 10,000 and our capital more closely resembled a semi-rural town than the vibrant city we know it as today. So quite literally, Canberra and the Y have grown side-by-side since then.
The Y’s initial programs in Canberra were designed to introduce much-needed recreation and physical activities into the lives of the predominantly young male workforce who had relocated here to construct the new city. As the city became more diverse the Y adopted its programs while maintaining its commitment to ‘building strong people, strong families and strong communities’.
Few, if any YMCAs worldwide, have been integrally involved in building the social and leadership fabric of a planned and purpose-built national capital city. YMCA Canberra has that unique honour.
LEN GOODMAN AO
The Y Canberra Region’s History
1941
The YMCA in Canberra was founded.
Youth activities were initiated at the Causeway.
YMCA and YWCA partnered to manage the physical efficiency testing of school children.
1943
YMCA Canberra was formally constituted with a Charter of Membership.
1945
Collaborating with YWCA, the YMCA Canberra organised the first Carols by Candlelight in Canberra.
1946
The YMCA Ladies Auxiliary was constituted.
Y Canberra is responsible for introducing and establishing table tennis, judo, basketball and volleyball in the ACT.
1947
The Y began running school holiday programs.
1948
The Y Canberra formed a bush walking club.
1951
The Y Canberra formed a ski club, which ran until 1997.
1953
The Y Canberra officially opened Camp Sturt, which operated until 2003 when the Camp was destroyed in the Canberra bushfires.
1955
The Y Canberra opened its first Ski Lodge in Guthega.
1967
The Y Canberra agreed to admit women as members.
1961
The Y Canberra Sailing Club was established. The Club sailed on Lake George until Lake Burley Griffin was filled in 1964.
1966
The Governor-General became the patron of the Y.
1967
The Y Canberra began running a gymnastics program.
1969
The Y Canberra began running Early Learning programs in Belconnen.
The Y Canberra built outdoor basketball courts for the community in Woden.
1971
The Y Canberra began running children’s programs at Jamison.
1977
Young People’s residence was opened in Belconnen.
The Queanbeyan YMCA Community Centre was opened.
The Y developed a self-improvement program for unemployed youth.
1980
The Y Canberra began operating After School Care programs.
1983
The Y Canberra health and fitness studio opened in the City.
1985
The Y Canberra began the first fitness classes for older adults, with Pryme Movers starting.
1986
The Y Canberra partnered with Radford College to form Recreational Programs for people with Intellectual Disabilities (RAID).
1991
The Y Canberra commenced a youth housing program.
1993
The Y Canberra supported the first Youth Parliament held at Old Parliament House.
2006
Bush Capital Lodge was officially opened as a YHA.
2010
The Y Canberra began operating Health and Recreation out of Chifley.
The Y Canberra Runners Club was established, operating as a Y program until 2020.
The first dedicated Y Early Learning Centre was opened in Belconnen.
2017
The Y Space Squad STEM program for youth was established and partnered with Boeing.
2018
The Y Canberra partnered with Ginninderry to operate the SPARK program, a training and employment initiative, targeting local areas in the community.
2019
The YMCA Canberra became the Y Canberra, aligning with Y National on the re-brand.
2020
The Y Canberra and the Y Queanbeyan merged to better serve the broader community and became a unified Y Canberra Region.
2021
The Y Canberra Region founded a Youth Representative Group, formally endorsed into the Y’s Constitution in 2022.