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Quite simply, Canberra is the capital of Australia. Following Federation of the states, agreement could not be reached on whether Sydney (which was the older and larger city) or Melbourne (which was the richer city) should be the capital of Australia. There was a stalemate as neither would agree to the other being the capital. Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, had been rivals since before the goldrush days. It was therefore decided that the nation's capital should be situated between the two cities. Section 125 of the Constitution of Australia provided that:
"The seat of Government of the Commonwealth shall be determined by the Parliament, and shall be within territory which shall have been granted to or acquired by the Commonwealth, and shall be vested in and belong to the Commonwealth, and shall be in the State of New South Wales, and be distant not less than one hundred miles from Sydney.
Such territory shall contain an area of not less than one hundred square miles, and such portion thereof as shall consist of Crown lands shall be granted to the Commonwealth without any payment therefore. The Parliament shall sit at Melbourne until it meets at the seat of Government." A location was chosen which was 248km from Sydney and 483km from Melbourne. The federal parliament sat in Melbourne until then, as Melbourne was the only city with a building large enough to house parliament. It could not move until the Parliament building was built in Canberra. This is now called "Old Parliament House" as a new parliament was opened in 1988. Parliament moved to Canberra in 1927.
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Where was federal government located before canberra was built?
Melbourne, see Parliament of Australia on Wiki :)
In what city in Australia did the Commonwealth Parliament first sit?
In Australia, the first Federal Parliament sat in Melbourne on 9 May 1901. Melbourne was never the nation's capital, but it was the only city with a building large enough to house the Federal Parliament.
When did parliament move from the temporary building in canberra to the current parliament house?
The original Parliament House was not as temporary as intended. It served the Australian Federal Parliament for sixty years. Construction on the new Parliament House began in 1981, and it was actually finally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988.
What is the exact location of parliament house in Canberra?
Parliament house, Canberra. I'm pretty sure if you address your letter like that it'll wind up there
Why is Canberra called the political capital of Australia?
Canberra is Australia's official capital city. It is the seat of Federal Parliament, and therefore the political capital of Australia. It is not a state capital.
Which Parliament sits in Canberra?
Australia's Federal Parliament sits in Canberra.
Where is Australia's Federal Parliament located?
The Australian Federal Parliament is located in Capital Hill, Canberra, ACT
Where in Australia is the Federal Parliament?
The Federal Parliament is in Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory.
What city in Australia houses the federal parliament?
Australia's capital city, Canberra, houses the Federal Parliament.
Where does the australian federal government meet?
Parliament House is in Canberra which, ironically, is an Aboriginal word for "meeting place".
In what city is the Federal Parliament situated?
In Australia, the federal parliament building is called Parliament House. It is the building from where the members of the Australian House of Representatives and the Australian Senate operate, and is located in Canberra.The name of the federal parliament building in other countries may differ according to the country.
Why isn't the Federal Parliament held in Sydney?
Federal Parliament is not held in Sydney because it is not the capital city of Australia, despite being the largest in population. The capital city of Australia is Canberra, which is where Federal Parliament is held.
When did the federal Parliament leave Melbourne?
On 9 May 1927, Australia's Federal Parliament moved to Canberra, where it met for the first time in what is now called Old Parliament House.Melbourne was never designed to be the place where the Federal parliament would meet permanently, so once the city of Canberra was built, and the Parliament building completed, Federal Parliament made the move. There is a common misconception that, because Melbourne was the temporary seat of government between Federation (1901) and 1927, that it was also the capital. This was not the case, as it was never officially designated the title of Capital - not even temporarily. Melbourne was the only city with a building large enough to house Parliament.
When was the first old parliament house opened in canberra?
It was opened on the 9th of May 1927. Prior to that the federal parliament sat at Victorias parliament house.
Where was federal government located before canberra was built?
Melbourne, see Parliament of Australia on Wiki :)
How often do the Australian Federal government meet?
The Australian Parliament is in Canberra.
Are there houses in Canberra?
Of course. Canberra is Australia's capital city, with a population of about 380 000. It is Australia's largest inland city, and the seat of Federal Parliament.
