The Australian capital experienced a month of significant historical commemoration and extreme winter weather in June 2025. The period was marked by the official opening of a major new research facility and a severe cold snap that set new temperature records for the region.
A Legacy Honoured: Opening the Charles Bean Research Centre
A key event of the month was the opening of the Charles Bean Research Centre. The facility is named in honour of Australia's first official war correspondent and the foundational figure behind the Australian War Memorial. The opening ceremony held special significance as it included Charles Bean's granddaughter, Anne Carroll OAM, who participated in the official proceedings.
The centre is dedicated to research and stands as a tribute to Bean's immense contribution to documenting Australian military history and shaping the national institution that remembers it.
Capital in the Deep Freeze: Record-Breaking Winter Chill
While Canberra is renowned for its crisp winters, June 2025 delivered conditions that were exceptionally harsh. Residents endured a prolonged cold spell, with the morning of June 16 greeting the city with a thick, white-out fog and temperatures dipping below zero.
The chill culminated in a new weather record. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Canberra Airport weather station registered a minimum temperature of minus 7.6 degrees Celsius on June 21. This reading was officially confirmed as the lowest June minimum temperature ever recorded at that site, highlighting an unusually severe start to the winter season.
A Month of Notable Events in Focus
Beyond the cold and the memorial opening, June 2025 was a busy month for the national capital. Other significant moments included the Defending Australia Summit at Parliament House, which featured a question-and-answer session with the former Treasurer, the Honourable Joe Hockey.
The visual record of these events was captured by photographers from The Canberra Times, including Garry Ramage, Keegan Carroll, and Karleen Minney. Their work documented the contrasting scenes of formal ceremonies, political discourse, and a city grappling with an intense winter freeze.
This combination of profound historical acknowledgment and dramatic natural elements defined Canberra's character during June 2025, showcasing both its institutional depth and its vulnerability to the forces of nature.
