The district which is now known as the ACT was first discovered by Europeans in 1820. Settlement began there four years later, when a stock station was established by Joshua Moore, in what was to become the suburb of Acton.

Bushranging in the district soon flared up as the fortunes of gold were carried by the Cobb & Co coaches through the vicinity. Notorious bushrangers include Ben Hall and his gang in 1865, and Thomas Clarke. Bushranging finally died out with the capture of Clarke in 1867.

The ACT is also where William James Farrer, one of Australia's most famous scientists, built his laboratory. He ended up being based near Tharwa. But prior to this he arrived in Duntroon in 1869, as a Cambridge Arts graduate. He was to instigate a revolution in the world of wheat growing. Most significantly, he fixed an early-maturing, drought resistant variety of wheat near the turn of the century, naming it 'Federation', resulting in one of the most popular strains in the country.

At this time the area was still a part of New South Wales. Its role in Australia was only to be heightened at the beginning of the twentieth century. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the whole issue of federalism was been hotly debated in every colony. What may have started out as soft whisperings, was soon being bellowed across the land. In the end it was decided to bring together all of the colonies under a federal umbrella.

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