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AUSTRALIAN
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Canberra is located in the Australian Capital Territory on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, and was conceived in the early 1900s in order to create a capital city in a federal State separate from any of the uniting States. Spectacular green countryside is ringed by mountains nearly 600m (2000ft) above sea level. Lake Burley-Griffin, a man-made lake, is the main feature of this constantly expanding modern capital. Hills, trees and greenery remain prominent among the architecture of a city that is attractive, tidy, spacious and efficient as befits the national capital city.
The national capital area is centred around Lake Burley Griffin, named after the American architect Walter Burley Griffin, who won the international design competition for the city in 1912. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is a small area within New South Wales, established for the purposes of governing Canberra, the federal capital of Australia. For the greater part of this century the ACT was administered by a department of the Federal Governent itself. The territory became self-governing some ten years ago, despite popular sentiment to remain without its own government (a sure sign that, when it comes to politicians, familiarity breeds contempt)! Canberra now has a population of ~350 000, and is the main reason for tourits to visit the ACT. However, the ACT is substantially larger than Canberra itself, and it is worth mentioning that the remainder of the territory is largely wilderness, dominated by Namadgi National Park. Just west of the territory lies the northern tip of Kosiousko National Park, which extends southward all the way to the NSW/Victoria border. Also to the East it is only 2 hrs drive to Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast, past the Budawangs National Park with magnificent canyons and conglomerate plateaus. If you are in Australia for a short time and are either based in Sydney or passing between Sydney and Melbourne, you should consider taking a day to visit Canberra and see the sites such as the Federal Parliament, High Court, National Gallery, National War Memorial, etc. If you are staying longer in the country, and want to see some wilderness, then Canberra's proximity to the NSW South Coast, NSW ski fields, and the Kosiuosko, Budawangs and Namadgi National Parks should make it worth considering as a base of operations. Outside of CanberraThe Snowy Mountains of New South Wales are easily accessible from Canberra. There is skiing here in winter, the se ason usually running from mid-June until the end of September.Be sure to get out to the vineyards in the environs of Canberra. Most of the local wineries have tasting facilities and you can buy a little something to take home. The town of Bungendore is popular with Canberra residents for a weekend break from the usual. A 40km (25 miles) drive in the direction of the coast, the town has a number of interesting craft and antique stores and restaurants on its central square. It is also the home of the Bungendore Wood Works which sells excellent carvings. Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is only 40km (25 miles) southwest of Canberra. If you want to see indigenous Australian flora and fauna this is the place to go. Another place you can see Australian animals is the National Aquarium and Australian Wildlife Sanctuary at Scrivener Dam. The Namadgi National Park is good for bushwalking.
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Capital: Canberra Average Temperatures: Average Annual Rainfall - Canberra: 633 mm
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Located between Sydney and Melbourne in the Australian Capital
Territory, in the midst of mountain ranges and rivers, Canberra is the
nation's spacious and immaculately landscaped capital city. Possessed of
interesting architecture and museums, it is the closest of cities to
some of Australia's greatest national parks.
Canberra is a growing city of more than
300,000 people, famous for its parks, gardens and nature reserves as well
as its museums, galleries, and casino. As home of the national Parliament
and seat of Government, Canberra has an international flavour with almost
80 diplomatic missions, many built in their own national style. Although a relatively new city founded on 12 March 1913, Canberra has a
number of historic buildings, dating from the early 19th century,
reflecting the district's pastoral origins, as well as Aboriginal sites of
significance.
