Civic may not be the official title for Canberra's CBD and yet it's widely used.

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This week's question comes from Fattimah Imtoual, who moved to Canberra in 2009.

While she used to say 'the city' when referring to the CBD, she soon made the switch to Civic.

"It was just one of those things that you pick up because that's what other people say," she said.

Fattimah didn't think too much of it until her sister joined her in the capital and asked about it.

"I didn't have an answer... I'm guessing it probably is a historical planning name or the name of a shopping centre."

The answer is surprising and involves a former Prime Minister, a pub and the city's earliest plans.

Walter Burley Griffin's 'Civic Centre'

This plan, from 1917, shows the name that was originally intended for Canberra's city centre. ( ABC News: Sonya Gee )

Jeff Brown, Surveyor-General of the ACT, said Civic Centre was the original name given to the city.

It appears in early plans for the territory, drawn up by Walter Burley Griffin in 1911.

But the name was never officially recognised. At the time the ACT was overseen by the federal government.

"When it came to officially gazetting the names, the Prime Minister of the day Stanley Bruce didn't like the name," Jeff said.

"He was quoted as saying 'I dislike the name Civic Centre and I think a much better name can be given to the place.'"

Then Prime Minister Stanley Bruce officially opened Canberra's Civic Centre on December 3, 1927. ( Supplied: National Archives of Australia )

Bruce's objections were said to have stemmed from the American origins of the name.

According to an article from The Canberra Times, the then Prime Minister refused to say Civic Centre when he opened the precinct in December 1927.

"We are establishing a Federal City and we must give names that are original and appropriate," Bruce said.

By 1928 senior public servants had found a new name and the area officially became the division of City.

And yet Civic stuck...

Despite Bruce's efforts, the name Civic continued to be used.

Jeff believes that there are other factors, aside from the Burley Griffin's original plans, that helped it gain prominence.

Hotel Civic may have helped Burley Griffin's original name for the city live on. ( Supplied: National Archives of Australia )

"In the 1920's there was a Civic hotel built near the area and that was quite a major hotel at the time... And then for a number of years there was what was called Civic Post Office," he said.

While the area is still officially named City, it's unlikely that Civic will disappear any time soon.

"Once it's in use, even if the Prime Minister doesn't like it and changes it, you can't change people's use of the name," Jeff said.

"Names can take generations to change... it's a bit like how people, particularly when a baby's born, still talk in pounds."

Too small to be the city?

Canberra's CBD is officially called the division of City. ( ABC News: Sonya Gee )

Some people believe that the size of the city, compared to capitals like Sydney and Melbourne, is why the name Civic persists.

I met Sally Hargrave in Garema Place, she is currently living in Melbourne but has lived in Canberra several times.

"I've always thought it was known as Civic and I always thought that that was because it's not big enough to be called a city," she said.

Butch Flepisi owns a cafe in Garema Place. ( ABC News: Sonya Gee )

Butch Flepisi, who owns a cafe Garema Place, agreed.

"It is the city but it doesn't really feel that way during the week," he said.

"Civic feels more like a city on a Friday... it's more energetic, there's more vibe, there's more life to it."

After hearing that the CBD is officially named City, our questioner Fattimah said she wouldn't mind using the name from time to time. But that could prove difficult.

"You get corrected, so if you're asking for directions or saying 'I'll meet you in the city', other people will say, 'I'll meet you in Civic.'"

Proof that Canberrans may keep Civic alive for generations to come.

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