About Canberra, Australia
Canberra is the national capitol of Australia. Is was built as a planned community. It is both the seat of the national government and a tourist destination.
Other People Are Reading
-
Founding
-
Canberra was founded in 1908 to be the seat of the Australian national government. Its unique setting with capitol buildings, as well as businesses and stores, in the center of a large, designed, park-like region, is still unique. It was designed in 1912 by Walter Burley Griffin of Chicago.
Location
-
Canberra sits in the Australian Capitol Territory, taking up about 900 square kilometers, which in turn is located in New South Wales, one of seven Australian States. New South Wales is located in the south eastern edge of Australia.
-
Government
-
Canberra's Provisional Parliament House opened in 1927. Australia was formed as a commonwealth between six British colonies in 1901. The government currently functions as a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. Australia is still part of the British Commonwealth, under the rule of the current monarch.
History
-
Canberra was founded to be a neutral capitol city, as when Australia was big enough to need a national capitol, no one could agree whether it should be Sydney or Melbourne, the two biggest cities. Canberra was chosen to be developed into a capitol city as a compromise. The outbreak of World War II substantially halted Canberra's growth, but since that time it has continued to grow. A new Parliament house was completed in 1988.
Fun Facts
-
Canberra has several professional sports teams, including the Raiders Australian Rules Football team and the Canberra Knights, an ice hockey team.
Canberra hosts an annual Rally race as part of the Australian Rally Championship.
Canberra is located near some of Australia's famed wine country, and is close to several wineries.
Canberra Stadium hosted events for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
-
