What is the National Carillon in Lake Burley-Griffin, Canberra?

On Aspen Island in Lake Burley-Griffin, the 50 metre-high National Carillon in Canberra is a 57 bell musical instrument. It’s best seen from Kings Park when lit up at night.

If the National Carillon in Lake Burley-Griffin appears in your top ten things to do in Canberra, then you’ve got something badly wrong. The Australian national capital is full of great museums and attractions. Take on the Australian Parliament building, a hot air balloon tour and the Australian War Memorial as a bare minimum before moving on to the substantial collection of museums, such as the National Museum of Australia.

Nevertheless, the National Carillon in Canberra looks quite cool. It’s a 50 metre-tall tower, with 57 bronze bells inside. And it’s those bells that officially make it a carillon rather than a monument or a plain old tower. It’s also one of the largest musical instruments on the planet.

The National Carillon on Lake Burley-Griffin, Canberra — The National Carillon (pictured left) is one of the major landmarks of Lake Burley-Griffin in Canberra. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Aspen Island in Lake Burley-Griffin

The National Carillon stands proud on Aspen Island, a man-made island in Lake Burley-Griffin. A pedestrian bridge near the Australian Merchant Navy Memorial links the National Carillon to Kings Park on the north-eastern side of the lake.

For British visitors, there’s a link to home. The National Carillon was a gift from the British Government to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Canberra becoming the national capital. The bells were made at the John Taylor and Co foundry in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The smallest bell weighs seven kilograms, and the largest six tonnes.

National Carillon from Kings Park

The height of the tower allows the sound of the bells to ring out across the lake, Kings Park and Commonwealth Park. But it’s arguably best visited at night, when the National Carillon is lit up.

As of February 2021, the National Carillon was undergoing refurbishment, limiting visitor access. However, the history and workings of this strange landmark in Lake Burley-Griffin can be explored at the National Capital Exhibition. You can also go past the Carillon on a Canberra Segway tour.