What is the capital of Australia? | 10 things you don't know about this beautiful city

Interesting Facts About Australia's Capital

Many people believe that Australia's capital is Sydney, others think it's Melbourne — but did you know that the actual capital of Australia is Canberra?

A Bit of History…

The site where Canberra was built was chosen in 1908 as a compromise between rival cities Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities.

Canberra is unique among Australian cities, as it is a fully planned city located outside any state, similar to Washington, D.C., in the United States or Brasília in Brazil.

The Australian Capital Territory was declared on January 1, 1911, and an international competition was held to design the new capital city.

A total of 137 entries were submitted from 15 different countries, including Mexico, Sweden, South Africa, Paraguay, France, and India.

The competition was won by American architect Walter Burley Griffin, with drawings created by his wife, Marion Mahony Griffin.

With a population of 381,488, Canberra is Australia's largest inland city.

How much do you know about this city? Keep reading to discover 10 interesting facts and curiosities about Canberra:

1. How Did Canberra Get Its Name?

For 21,000 years, the Canberra region has been home to the Ngunnawal people.

It is believed that the name originates from their language, meaning "meeting place," derived from the Aboriginal word "Kamberra."

2. The City's Design Was Influenced by the Garden City Movement

Canberra incorporated large areas of natural vegetation, earning the title of "Bush Capital."

3. The City Has a High Proportion of Public Servants

For this reason, the Commonwealth Government contributes the largest share of the Gross State Product and is Canberra's biggest employer.

4. Canberra's Suburbs Are Named After Former Prime Ministers

From Deakin, Watson, Fisher, Cook, Hughes, Curtin, to Fadden, Canberra has a tradition of naming suburbs and streets after former prime ministers.

More recently, Whitlam, a suburb in the new Molonglo Valley, was named after the late Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

5. Canberra Has Three Sister Cities: Nara (Japan), Beijing (China), and Wellington (New Zealand)

These relationships promote culture, community, education, trade, and tourism between nations and are an important part of Canberra's rich history and cultural ties.

Abc News: Jordan Hayne

6. In 1996, Canberra Became the First City in the World to Establish a "Zero Waste" Vision

The strategy aimed to create a waste-free society by 2010, through combined efforts from industry, government, and the community.

By early 2010, it was clear that while waste to landfills had decreased, the original goal would be delayed or revised.

7. Canberra Is Home to Many National Monuments and Institutions

Including the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Library, the National Archives, the Australian Academy of Science, the National Film and Sound Archive, and the National Museum.

Many Commonwealth Government buildings are also open to the public, such as Parliament House, the High Court, and the Royal Australian Mint.

8. Canberra Is the Only City in the World Where You Can Skydive Over the Country's Parliament

It is also one of the few places in Australia where you can enjoy a hot air balloon ride.

9. Canberra Hosts a NASA Base — "Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex"

It is one of three stations worldwide, with the other two located in Madrid, Spain, and Goldstone, California.

This station provides continuous two-way radio contact with spacecraft exploring our solar system and beyond.

10. Famous Australian Tennis Player Nick Kyrgios Was Born and Raised in Canberra

If you're already in Australia, it's time to plan your trip to this fascinating destination, located just 3.5 hours from Sydney and a little over 600 kilometers from Melbourne.

If you're visiting Australia soon, make sure to add Canberra, the country's capital, to your itinerary.

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