Exploration and settlement of the Canberra area by Europeans began around the 1820s, and in 1908 it was selected as the location for Australia’s capital. Its selection was a compromise between the two large cities of Sydney and Melbourne, without wanting to favour one major city over the other.
An international contest was held to design the city, and the chosen architect was Walter Burley Griffin from Chicago. Canberra was officially founded on 12 March 1913 and became the capital when parliament moved there in 1927. The city has large areas of natural bushland, and is often referred to as the “bush capital”.
Facts About Canberra
Canberra has a population of over 346.000 people making it the eighth largest Australian city, and the largest inland city in Australia. It is situated in the south-east of Australia, and is the only Australian capital that is not situated on the coast. It has hot summers and cold winters and although snowfalls are quite rare, it is common to see snow-capped mountains to the south during winter.
Although the city is less than a hundred years old it has many museums, historic buildings, art galleries and parks and is a major tourist destination for interstate and overseas visitors. It is not just the seat of the Australian federal government, but is also home to many of Australia’s major cultural organisations and cultural landmarks.
Canberra Accommodation and Dining
Canberra has many types of accommodation including hotels, motels, apartments, bed and breakfast, resorts, retreats, backpackers, caravans and cabins. There are many top quality hotels but there is also a range of budget accommodation too. Some accommodation is targeted at business travellers well others are aimed at the family market.
Dining in Canberra can be a great experience because there is an enormous range of cuisines to choose from. There are literally hundreds of restaurants, as well as bistros, bars, coffee shops, bars and clubs. There are many top-notch restaurants close to the parliamentary triangle area, where you can often spot politicians dining, and almost every suburb includes a restaurant or two.
Things to Do in Canberra
Canberra has many seasonal attractions and if you are there in spring (September-October) make sure you visit Floriade, which is the largest floral display in the southern hemisphere. Parliament House sits on a hill looking over the Old Parliament House, and directly facing Parliament House on the opposite side of Lake Burley Griffin is the Australian War Memorial, as a reminder to politicians of the consequences that can arise from the decisions they make.
In the area known as the Parliamentary Triangle there is also the National Gallery of Australia, the High Court, and the National Library of Australia. For children of all ages there is Australia 's National Science and Technology Centre, Questacon, which has plenty of hands-on activities, and there is also the Royal Australian Mint where you can see coins being minted.
You can also use Canberra as a base to explore the regions cool climate vineyards, the Snowy Mountains and the ski fields in winter. Much of the Australian Capital Territory is national parks, and there is some great bushwalking. It is a very easy city to get around in, and there is something for everyone to do in and around Canberra.
Australia's other capital cities are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin.
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