At 93, Emily Turner chose Canberra over 120 countries
Emily Turner travelled to 120 countries but has lived in Canberra since 1954 and calls it home.
Emily arrived in Canberra from Sydney in 1954 at 22 to work at the American Embassy, expecting to hate the quiet town. Emily found the city dull compared to Sydney's beaches and cinemas.
At a hostel for young workers from across Australia, everything changed. Emily met people her age and a young accountant from Sydney who became her husband.
They married in 1955 and raised three children in Canberra, living in Turner, Deakin and Yarralumla. Emily never left.
Her travels, to the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, Niagara Falls and dozens of other wonders, always ended with her return home. Now 93, she still drives herself to bridge nights with friends and watches the Canberra she settled into transform.
- 120
- Countries visited
- 1954
- Year she arrived
- 1955
- Married
- 93
- Current age
Why it mattersHome isn't always where you start; it's often where you belong. This story shows how community, family and time can turn a reluctant arrival into a lifelong love.
AustraliaA reminder that Australian cities like Canberra have drawn people from across the country and the world, and that ordinary lives hold extraordinary stories of connection and belonging.
