Garema Place, Canberra

Garema Place is a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly outdoor area in Civic, known for its bustling atmosphere, numerous shops, restaurants, and cafes offering outdoor dining. As a central hub within the city's CBD, it serves as a popular location for community events, including protests, festivals, and public gatherings. The area's significance as a social and cultural gathering place is reflected in its role as the venue for major events such as Canberra's Multicultural Festival in February and the Celebrate Canberra Festival in March.

The history of Garema Place is deeply rooted in Canberra's early development. Originally gazetted as a city street in October 1952, the site was once home to the Civic Centre railway station, which opened in 1921 as Canberra's second goods rail terminal. However, the station was short-lived, closing in 1922 after a flood washed away the rail bridge over the Molonglo River. The rail corridor that once ran through what is now City Walk was preserved until the 1950s when plans for a central city railway were abandoned, and the area began its transformation into a pedestrian plaza by the mid-1960s.

Today, Garema Place is not only a commercial and social hub but also a site of artistic expression, featuring various sculptures and artworks by local artists. Among these, "The Cushion and the Wedge," a silver statue resembling a pillow, is a notable piece often referred to as the 'Goon Bag' due to its likeness to a popular Australian icon. Another significant addition is the "Big Swoop," a sculpture commemorating the Australian magpie, a bird known for its melodious calls and notorious swooping behavior during the breeding season. Installed in March 2022, the statue faced vandalism but was rebuilt and returned to its original spot by December 2022, now more resilient and ready to withstand the elements and the test of time.