A Purpose Pop Quiz

Your favourite Wednesday night trivia fix, where Canberra's past meets our present, and every question brings us closer to the stories, places, and people that make this city great.

Each week, we serve up:
🟢 5 Easy
🟡 5 Medium
🔴 5 Tough

You get 1 point for each correct question and 2 points for bonus questions.

All questions are rooted in Canberra’s culture, history, and heart. Whether you're a Belco brainiac, a Tuggeranong trivia titan, or just here for the vibes, this is your chance to flex your local knowledge and maybe learn something new.

Add your score to the comments because bragging rights are real!

• Q1 Which of Mr Squiggle’s friends lived in a rocket-shaped house and often told him to “Hurry up!”?

  Blackboard

  Find out when Mr Squiggle and Friends launches at the National Museum of Australia from 4 July!

• Q2 Which iconic Australian series by Sidney Nolan, featured in CMAG’s Nolan Collection, is the artist best known for?

  Ned Kelly Bushrangers

  These works feature a masked figure standing against a stylised bush backdrop.

• Q3 What was Mount Stromlo Observatory originally used for when it was established in 1911?

  Fire spotting and timekeeping.
  Mount Stromlo was originally established as a government observatory for surveying, fire spotting, and providing accurate timekeeping using its telescopes and time ball service.

• Q4 What year did the Canberra Museum & Gallery first open its doors to the public?

  1998.

  The Canberra Museum & Gallery officially opened on 13 February 1998 in Civic Square, Canberra, and has since become a key cultural hub in the city

• Q5 Which Australian comedian went viral in a POV about Canberra saying "it's the place where you spot politicians in public and don't give a sh*t"?

  Jimmy Rees

  Watch it again !

  https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmyrees/video/7093825297128164610

• Q6 How much did it cost to build the Belconnen Owl?

  $400,000
  The Belconnen owl located at the main entrance to Belconnen town centre, cost $400,000 and was built by Melbourne sculptor Bruce Armstrong.

• Q7 According to the UC Digital News Report: Australia 2025, what percentage of Australian adults have received any form of news literacy education? A) 16% B) 24% C) 37% D) 53%

  B) 24%

  Only 24% of Australians reported having received some form of news literacy education—highlighting a major gap in the population’s ability to identify misinformation or critically assess news sources

• Q8 Who unveiled the University of Canberra’s foundation stone in 1968?

  John Gorton
  The foundation stone was unveiled by Prime Minister John Gorton on 28 October 1968 to mark the establishment of the Canberra College of Advanced Education, now known as the University of Canberra.

• Q9 Which Canberra Raiders player made his NRL debut in Round 16 of the 2025 season, scoring a try just 18 minutes into the game?

  Jed Stuart

  His debut was not only memorable for the try but also marked a special moment in Raiders history as he played under his father, head coach Ricky Stuart.

• Q10 Which Canberra-born coffee brand, founded by World Barista Champion Sasa Sestic, is internationally recognised for ethical sourcing and innovative roasting techniques?

  Ona Coffee

  Founded in Fyshwick, Ona Coffee has become one of Australia’s most respected coffee roasters, known for training world-class baristas and leading the movement toward ethically sourced, direct-trade coffee. Its founder, Sasa Sestic, won the World Barista Championship in 2015, putting Canberra’s coffee scene on the global map.

• Q11 Which iconic sci-fi film owes part of its Oscar-winning sound design to behind-the-scenes work done in Canberra — proving once and for all that you don’t need leather trench coats to bend reality, just a studio in Fyshwick?

  The Matrix (1999)

  The groundbreaking sound editing and design for The Matrix were partly created at Deluxe Studios in Canberra

• Q12 Before winning ARIAs and taking on global stages, which Canberra bar was one of the first venues where Genesis Owusu performed live? A) Smith’s Alternative B) Transit Bar C) Hippo Co. D) Mooseheads

  Hippo Co.
  Tucked away on Garema Place, Hippo Co. hosted some of Genesis Owusu’s earliest gigs.

• Q13 How many roundabouts are there in Canberra per capita roughly? A) 1~500 people B) 1~1,000 people C) 1~1,500 people D) 1~2,000 people

  B) 1~1,000 people per roundabout (roughly)
  Canberra’s approximately 456 roundabouts and 474,000 residents work out to about 1 roundabout for every 1,040 people, confirming it has the highest roundabout-per-capita rate in Australia

• Q14 Which all-female punk-pop band, known for their explosive live shows and unapologetic lyrics, was formed during high school in Canberra and is now making waves on the national music scene?

  Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers check them out https://www.teenjesusandthejeanteasers.net/

• Q15 In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, what position did the University of Canberra achieve? A) 273rd B) 403rd C) 551st D) 614th

  B) 403rd
  In the latest QS World University Rankings for 2025, the University of Canberra climbed to 403rd globally—placing it well within the top 27 percent of universities worldwide

• Bonus Question - Who was the first person elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly who is a direct family member of a former MLA?

  Yvette Berry

  Yvette Berry made ACT political history by becoming the first-ever second-generation MLA, following in the footsteps of her father Wayne Berry.