Woden, Australian Capital Territory

Woden Valley Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Woden Valley from Red Hill looking across the suburb of Garran in the foreground to the Brindabella Ranges. The Canberra Hospital is to the left and the Woden Town Centre is to the right in the middle distance.
Location of Woden Valley, shaded.
Coordinates	35°20′43″S 149°05′42″E / 35.3452°S 149.095°E / -35.3452; 149.095Coordinates: 35°20′43″S 149°05′42″E / 35.3452°S 149.095°E / -35.3452; 149.095
Population	32,958 (2011 census)
• Density	1,152.4/km2 (2,985/sq mi)
Gazetted	12 May 1966
Area	28.6 km2 (11.0 sq mi)
Location	7 km (4 mi) S of Canberra City
Territory electorate(s)	Murrumbidgee
Federal Division(s)	Canberra
Localities around Woden Valley: Molonglo Valley Canberra Central Canberra Central Weston Creek Woden Valley Jerrabomberra Tuggeranong Tuggeranong Jerrabomberra

The District of Woden Valley is one of the original eighteen districts of the Australian Capital Territory used in land administration. The district is subdivided into divisions (suburbs), sections and blocks. The district of Woden Valley lies entirely within the bounds of the city of Canberra, the capital city of Australia.

The name of Woden Valley is taken from the name of a nearby homestead owned by Dr James Murray who named the homestead in October 1837 after the Old English god of wisdom, Woden. He named it this as he was to spend his life in the pursuit of wisdom.

In 1964 it was the first satellite city to be built, separate from the Canberra Central district. It has its own shopping centre, employment opportunities and accommodation with twelve suburbs arranged around the Woden Town Centre. At the 2011 census, the population of the district was 32,958.

The traditional custodians of the district are the indigenous people of the Ngunnawal tribe.

Following the transfer of land from the Government of New South Wales to the Commonwealth Government in 1911, the district was established in 1966 by the Commonwealth via the gazettal of the Districts Ordinance 1966 No. 5 (Cth) which, after the enactment of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 (Cth), became the Districts Act 1966 No. 5 (ACT). This Act was subsequently repealed by the ACT Government and the district is now administered subject to the Districts Act 2002 (ACT).