Ainslie is an inner city suburb of the nation's capital, Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory. Although a popular residential suburb, Ainslie is best known for its prominent landmark, Mount Ainslie. The suburb is name in honour of early settler James Ainslie. A veteran of Waterloo, Ainslie settled in Australia in 1825 taking up the "Duntroon" station for the following decade.

The Canberra region was inhabited by the Walgalu and Ngunawal Aboriginal people before the mid-nineteenth century, when European settlement began in the area. Lake George, north east of Canberra was first reached by white explorers in 1820. That same year, Charles Throsby, Joseph Wild and James Vaughan sighted the "Limestone Plains", the present day Canberra.

It appears that Throsby's further discovery of the Murrumbidgee River in 1821, rendered the region a most attractive pastoral district. Governor Macquarie immediately awarded ex-convict Peter Cooney, the first land grant in the area in 1821. Although the first permanent settlement within the Canberra limits is believed to be "Canberry Station", of Lieutenant Joshua Moore.

The unification of the colonial states culminating in Australian Federation in 1901 was the major factor promoting the development of the Canberra region. Although the choice of Canberra as the site of the national capital was delayed by initial inter state rivalry between New South Wales and Victoria, and further indecision on the part of the New South Wales Government. After much deliberation the site was announced in 1908, and the National Capital was transferred from New South Wales the following year.

The Federal Government announced an international competition for the design of the national capital, and the successful entry was declared in 1912 as that of Chicago architect Walter Burley Griffin. In Griffins original plans the hills surrounding the proposed city featured prominently in his design. Collectively Mount Ainslie, Mount Majura and Black Mountain are managed as a national park. They function aesthetically in the city landscape, as a residence for native plants and wildlife, and as a recreational reserve for the city dwellers.

The Mount Ainslie walking trail begins in the picnic area behind the Australian War Memorial. This 4.5 kilometre walk is a gentle ascent, of approximately three hours in duration. Due to Mount Ainslie's relative minute disturbance, vegetation and wildlife habitats are similar to those existing before European settlement. Birds, snakes, goannas, geckoes, legless lizards and rare insects are at home here. As are mammals, including kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas, sugar gliders, marsupial mice and flying foxes and bats. The Mount Ainslie summit offers a superb view of the low lying city and outskirts.

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