What is the capital of the australia
What is the capital of the australia
What Is The Capital Of Australia?
Australia is both a sub-continent and a country. The Australian continent is made up of the mainland and the other smaller islands. Canberra is the capital of the Federation of Australia and has been in place since 1913. The 100th anniversary of Canberra as the capital was held on May 12, 2013, celebrating the developments of the city. Initially, the capital was Melbourne until 1927 when it was transferred to Canberra.
Australia is the smallest continent and the sixth largest country in the world located in the southeast between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Australia is bordered by Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Zealand,
What Type Of Government Does Australia Have?
Australia has a federal parliamentary monarchical government that was formed in 1901 after the six states in the continent united to form a federal Commonwealth government with the Queen of England as the head. Each state has the power to make its decisions that are not within the jurisdiction of the federal government. The Australian government is divided into three branches: the executive (enacts and upholds laws that have been made by the legislature), the legislature (makes laws) and the judiciary (enforces legislation and monitors the actions of the legislature and executive within the legal framework). The legislature has two divisions: the Senate and the House of Representatives whose activities are coordinated to make laws. There are two main parties in Australia; the Australian Labour Party and the Coalition which operate within the entire federation.
What Is The Capital Of Australia And Where Is It Located?
Canberra is Australia’s capital and the largest inland city. Canberra the only major city in the Australian Territory in South-western Wales state. The city is located between Australia’s largest cities Melbourne (northwest) and Sydney (southwest) and 150km from the Pacific Ocean.
History Of The Capital City Of Australia
Canberra was selected as the capital city of Australia as a compromise between the warring town of Melbourne and Sydney. Before the city was made the capital, it existed mainly as a European settlement in the 19th century; therefore, it remained a rural district during that period. Canberra was selected as the capital city after disputes in the Federation concerning the appropriateness of Sydney and Melbourne. The conflict ended with the selection of Canberra as the capital due to its proximity to Sydney and its location in New South Wales territory. While Canberra was being built, Melbourne served as the temporary capital where government offices were located. Canberra officially took over as the capital in 1913. From then, government offices were moved into the city. Canberra remained poorly developed until the reign of Robert Menzies, the prime minister, who initiated development projects in the city.
Present-Day Role Of The City As The Capital Of Australia
Being the first capital of the Federation of Australia, Canberra is an important symbol of independence and democracy. Canberra serves as the central administrative center of the federation where major government offices as located. The city has well-developed infrastructure regarding buildings which are used for conferences both local and international, transport systems as well as academic institutions like the University of Canberra
What is the capital of the australia
Canberra is filled with all types of fun, interesting things to do for couples, singles or families. The capital city of Australia has national museums, tourist attractions, historical sites and many natural wonders. You can stay in posh hotels, or you can camp in the bushland surrounding the city. Whatever you want to do, you’ll find it in abundance in Canberra.
History
Canberra is a planned metropolis that architect Walter Burley Griffin envisioned as a garden city for some 25,000 people. The design was completed in 1912, and construction began in 1913. Political and economic complications prevented the city from being completed until the 1960s. Canberra is currently home to about 300,000 people. However, due to the unique de-centralized design, the city never feels crowded.
Things to Do
Floriade is Australia’s «Celebration of Spring», and is a world-class floral exhibition. More than a million blooms go into the show, which stretches from mid September to Mid October.
As well as the stunning exibits, there are also horticultural workshops, music, local artistry and events that include the specacular Floriade NightFest.
If you like cultural attractions, you’re in luck. Canberra is teeming with art museums and historical attractions for the entire family. Here’s a list of a few of them.
The Australian War Memorial is a must-see museum. It has gallery exhibits, memorabilia, personal stories, combat displays, research facilities and a sculpture garden. It casts a personal light on the nature of war.
The National Museum details Australian history and culture via interactive displays, high-tech exhibits and many art galleries. The museum also features several restaurants, theaters and a resource center.
Parliament House is a constant crowd-pleaser with free guided tours that begin every thirty minutes. The building is an architectural wonder with outstanding landscaping that is complemented by white pillars. It’s an impressive site to visit. There’s an incredible collection of 4,000 works of art in these hallowed halls. When you’ve worked up an appetite, check out the terrific cafe.
The National Gallery is located on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. It concentrates on Australian artists, but there is also artwork from international talent. The National Gallery has children’s exhibits, a sculpture garden, cafes and a gift shop.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens is a horticultural heaven for plant and flower lovers. It is home to rock gardens, native plants, eucalyptus lawns and its own rainforest. You’ll be stunned by this beautiful garden.
Canberra has a lively nightlife due to the many young people who call it home. There are more cafes and restaurants per person than anywhere in Australia. If you like hitting the nightclubs or sampling local food, you’ll love Canberra. If this has convinced you to visit, then you’ll be happy to know that Canberra is an easy drive from Sydney, or you can snap up cheap flights from Melbourne or Perth.
Children’s Attractions
If you’re traveling with children, try these Canberra sites that cater to kids of all ages.
The National Zoo has the requisite unusual animals from the Land Down Under plus their own collection of monkeys, cheetahs, “tigons” and bears.
At the Australian Institute of Sport, kids can challenge themselves with wheelchair basketball, virtual rowing and other activities.
Cockington Green has a miniature train that travels on a bridge over a village of miniature buildings.
Your family can enjoy biking, boating or rollerblading around Lake Burley Griffin.
Where to Stay in Canberra
Canberra has all sorts of accommodations in town. You can try a quaint bed and breakfast, a luxurious hotel, an apartment, a youth hostel or a campsite. It all depends on your style. One thing’s for sure, you won’t run out of things to do in Canberra.
Canberra
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Canberra is the federal capital of Australia. It occupies part of the Australian Capital Territory in southeastern Australia and is about 150 miles (240 km) southwest of Sydney. It lies astride the Molonglo River.
The name Canberra is a derivation of an Aboriginal term meaning “meeting place.” The city evolved from a small squatters’ settlement of stockmen which was there as early as 1824, called Canberry or Canbury. By 1836, the name had evolved to Canberra.
American architect Walter Burley Griffin won a worldwide competition launched in 1911 to find a design for Canberra, Australia’s new federal capital. Construction began in 1913 and was completed by 1927.
Canberra, federal capital of the Commonwealth of Australia. It occupies part of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), in southeastern Australia, and is about 150 miles (240 km) southwest of Sydney. Canberra lies astride the Molonglo River, which is a tributary of the Murrumbidgee River.
A small squatters’ settlement of stockmen, called Canberry or Canbury (a derivation of an Aboriginal term meaning “meeting place”), was made there as early as 1824. By 1836 the name had evolved to Canberra. Following the inauguration of the commonwealth in 1901, the site was chosen for the new capital in 1909, and the delineation of the ACT followed. A worldwide competition was launched in 1911 to find a design for a new federal capital, and the winning plan was submitted by the American architect Walter Burley Griffin. Construction began in 1913 but was interrupted by World War I. On May 9, 1927, ceremonies marked the official transfer of the federal Parliament from Melbourne to the new capital.
Canberra lies on a plain at the foot of 6,200-foot (1,900-metre) spurs of the Australian Alps, enjoying warm summers and cool winters and receiving considerably less rainfall than the surrounding highlands. The city has been expanding, and its population has grown steadily. Only the centre and inner suburbs have continued to conform to the original plans, which included Lake Burley Griffin, an ornamental water axis formed in 1963 by a dam across the Molonglo River. Residential development has been mainly in satellite towns, including Weston Creek (1962), Belconnen (1966), and Tuggeranong (1975). Planning for that growth was controlled by the National Capital Development Commission and was administered by the Department of Territories until 1989, when the National Capital Planning Authority was established.
There are light industries and a growing tourist trade. Notable features of the city are Mount Stromlo Observatory (established 1924), the National Library of Australia (1968), the High Court of Australia (1981), the Australian National Gallery (1982), the Church of St. John the Baptist (1845), the Australian National War Memorial (1941), and Parliament House (1988). Old Parliament House, where the national legislature met between 1927 and 1988, is now the Museum of Australian Democracy. Canberra is home to the Australian National University (1936) and colleges of technical and further education. The city is also the headquarters of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and the Australian Defence Force Academy.
In early 2003, wildfires caused extensive damage to Canberra and its suburbs, where some 500 homes were destroyed and several people died. The fire also severely damaged Mount Stromlo Observatory, which subsequently was only partially restored. Pop. (2006) 323,327; (2011) 355,596.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.
Why Canberra? | What is the Capital of Australia?
What is the Capital of Australia?
After Sydney, you might next think of Melbourne, which is considered one of the most livable cities in the world. Melbourne is sometimes referred to as the “cultural capital” of Australia, but alas, it is not home the nation’s government. So what is the capital of Australia then?
Have you heard of Canberra?
Introducing Canberra
Located 170 miles southwest of Sydney, and 410 miles northeast of Melbourne, Canberra is the capital of Australia and the country’s largest inland city.
As the main seat of the government of Australia, Canberra is home to many government departments and agencies, including the Parliament House and the High Court. It is also the location of may other social and cultural institutions, like the Australian War Memorial, the Royal Australian Mint, and the National Library. Furthermore, the Royal Military College and the Australian Defense Force Academy are both located in the capital.
To get to the bottom of that question, we need to look back at the history of Australia.
Brief History of Australia
In 1606, Dutch explorers were the first Europeans to reach Australia. Prior to European arrival, the continent had long been home to Indigenous Australians, who came to the region some 60,000 years ago. These Indigenous peoples lived mainly as hunter gatherers, but their population would decline after European contact, primarily due to disease but also because new settlements disrupted patterns of land use and movement.
Around that same time, in 1851, gold was discovered in Australia. This would lead to a wave of many new migrants, hoping to get rich. Cities like Sydney and Melbourne would quickly feel the effects of this growing population and increased economic activity. Sydney would go from a colonial outpost to a major cultural and economic center. The gold rush would transform Melbourne into one of the world’s largest and wealthiest cities.
On January 1st, 1901, the six colonies federated, joining to form the Commonwealth of Australia as a dominion of the British Empire. A Commonwealth Parliament was formed. This new government would need a place to call home, however, so a report was commissioned outlining possible locations for a new capital.
Why is Canberra the Capital of Australia?
We know that Canberra was ultimately chosen as capital of Australia, but this selection was made for reasons you might not necessarily think.
A few places were suggested as a possible site for the capital, but ultimately it was Commonwealth surveyor Charles Scrivener who was tasked with coming to a decision. He was asked to find a “beautiful city, occupying a commanding position.” Scrivener would choose Canberra as the location he best felt met those qualities.
On January 1st, 1911, the Australian Capital Territory was declared. An international competition was held to design the new capital city. More than 130 entries were received, but in the end, it was an American architect named Walter Griffin and his wife Marion who had the winning bid. The Parliament House opened in Canberra in 1927.
Canberra Today
With a rich history and lots of charm and cultural appeal, Canberra certainly has a lot to offer. Next time you visit Australia, be sure to add Canberra to your list!
What Is the Capital of Western Australia?
Evening skyline of Perth, Australia.
Western Australia (WA) is the largest state in Australia. The state covers an area of about 976,790 square miles, and occupies a large part of the western part of the country. It is the second largest subdivision of a country, second to Russia’s Sakha Republic. It is occupied by about 2.6 million people, who represent about 11% of Australia’s population. Perth is the capital of Western Australia.
Overview of Perth
Perth is the fourth largest city in Australia, and the capital of Western Australian. It is located about 12 miles from the mouth of the Swan River. The city is the epicenter of a metropolitan area that accounts for about three-fourths of Western Australia’s population. The city was founded in 1829 by Captain James Stirling as an administrative center of the colony before it gained city status in 1856. Perth is home to the supreme court, state parliament, and government house. In August 2016 the city was listed as one of the most livable cities in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Climate
Perth is the fourth wettest city in Australia, as it receives moderate rainfall during the rainy season, but remains dry for much of the year. The city experiences hot, dry summers between December and late March, but relatively cool and wet winters. Perth averages 8.8 hours of sunshine per day, and an average of 138.7 clear days each year. During summer the city experiences a minuscule amount of rainfall in the form of thunderstorms, and occasional tropical cyclones from the northwest result in heavy but short-lived rainfall.
Demographics
Perth is the fourth most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan population of about 2.1 million. The population is composed of the following ethnic groups: English (28.6%), Australian (25.6%), Irish (6.2%), and Italians (6.1%). Other ethnic groups include Chinese and Japanese, who also inhabit the city. The 20 th century witnessed an influx of European immigrants, who flocked to the city and established residence. A majority of the population are Christians, 28% are Anglican Protestants, while 23% are Roman Catholics. Islam and Buddhism each have about 20,000 followers within the metropolitan area.
Economy
Perth’s population and role as the capital and administrative center of Western Australian make it the state’s economic hub. Although significant economic activities such as agriculture and mining are located elsewhere within the state, it has created development opportunities for other investments and has diversified the market. The service industry is the dominant sector of the economy, followed by the manufacturing sector. After World War II, the city grew rapidly, and aided by a large number of people owning motor vehicles, the workforce was decentralized by improved transport, which resulted in growth in the suburbs. The suburban zones of Welshpool, Fremantle, and Kwinana are home to several industries, including plaster, cement, steel, aluminum, and farm machinery.
Governance
Perth is governed by the City of Perth Council, which is comprised of 8 elected councilors and a mayor. The mayor is elected every four years, and the last election was held in 2015, while the local government elections are held biennially. Half the councilors are elected to serve for four-year terms. The last four councilors were elected in 2013, and their terms end in October 2017.