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Why was parliament held in Melbourne prior to Canberra being built?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
At Federation, on 1 January 1901, Canberra did not exist as a city or even a town, and it was only surveyed in 1913.
The first Australian Parliament following Federation of the states met on 9 May 1901 in the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne. This was because it was the only building in any Australian city that was large enough to house the entire Australian parliament.
From 1901 to 1927, Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which also sat in the Exhibition Building.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe question should really read Why did the first Parliament meet in Melbourne?
Melbourne was never the capital of Australia. 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.
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. A location was chosen which was 248km from Sydney and 483km from Melbourne. Thus, Canberra became Australia's first, and only, capital city.
From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. This had to occur whilst the city of Canberra and Parliament House was being built.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoMelbourne was the only city which had a building large enough to house the entire parliament. Until 1927, Parliament met in the Royal Exhibition Building. This was the case until the provisional Parliament House in Canberra was built.
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Where was federal government located before canberra was built?
Melbourne, see Parliament of Australia on Wiki :)
Why was Melbourne Australia's first capital?
Melbourne was never the capital city of Australia. Considerable rivalry existed between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. For this reason, it was decided that the national capital could not be either city. However, Melbourne was the temporary seat of power in Australia - a fine line of difference. From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. This had to occur whilst the city of Canberra and Parliament House was being built.
When was the Australian Parliament House in Canberra built?
This depends on which Parliament House is meant. The first Australian Parliament following Federation of the states met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. Construction of the first Parliament House in Canberra, which was only ever intended to be temporary, began in August 1923 and the building was officially opened on 9 May 1927. Intended to be temporary, this building actually housed the Parliament until 1988. Construction of the New Parliament House began in 1981, and the House was finally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988, the anniversary of the opening of both the first Federal Parliament in Melbourne (9 May 1901), and of the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra (9 May 1927).
When was the current parliament house in Canberra opened and why was it built?
The new Parliament House was built because Australia's original Parliament House was only ever intended to be a temporary residence for parliament. However, for a variety of reasons, it served as the Federal Parliament building for over 60 years, while it was originally intended to serve for a maximum of 50 years. There was always the intention to build a new Parliament House. Old Parliament House had exceeded its capacity by the 1970s. Construction of the New Parliament House in Canberra began in 1981, and the House was finally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988, the anniversary of the opening of both the first Federal Parliament in Melbourne (9 May 1901), and of the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra (9 May 1927).
Why did Federal Parliament move to Canberra?
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.
Which city was the capital until Canberra was made?
Melbourne held the country's parliament until Canberra was built, but it was never the capital of Australia.
Where was federal government located before canberra was built?
Melbourne, see Parliament of Australia on Wiki :)
What is the capital of Australia in 2009?
Canberra, as it has always been.Australia has only ever had one capital. However, Melbourne was the temporary seat of power in Australia - a fine line of difference. From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. This had to occur whilst the city of Canberra and Parliament House was being built. Canberra as it has been since 1913.
Why was the parliament house built in Canberra?
the Parliament house was built in canberra because in each state theres supposed to be one
Why was Melbourne Australia's first capital?
Melbourne was never the capital city of Australia. Considerable rivalry existed between Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's two largest cities. For this reason, it was decided that the national capital could not be either city. However, Melbourne was the temporary seat of power in Australia - a fine line of difference. From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. This had to occur whilst the city of Canberra and Parliament House was being built.
When new parliament house was built?
Construction of the New Parliament House in Canberra began in 1981, and the House was finally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988, the anniversary of the opening of both the first Federal Parliament in Melbourne (9 May 1901), and of the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra (9 May 1927).
Which Australian city acted as a capital until 1927?
There is some debate about whether Melbourne acted as national capital prior to 1927. It did not. There was too much rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne for this to be possible. Melbourne was the only city with a building large enough to hold the Federal Parliament, so that is why Parliament met there. Melbourne was never awarded the status of being Australia's national capital, even temporarily.
Where was the new Parliament house built?
New Parliament House was built on Capital Hill in Canberra, Australia.
Why did Parliament Start in Melbourne?
The Australian parliament started in Melbourne because, quite simply, Melbourne was the only city with a building large enough to house Parliament. Melbourne was never the capital of Australia. 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. 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. A location was chosen which was 248km from Sydney and 483km from Melbourne. Thus, Canberra became Australia's first, and only, capital city. From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. This had to occur whilst the city of Canberra and Parliament House was being built.
Why did Australia's capital change?
Australia's capital never changed. There was no capital when the colonies federated to form the states of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. It was several years before the site for Canberra was selected, and the foundations were not dug until 1913.Melbourne was the temporary seat of power in Australia - a fine line of difference. From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. This had to occur whilst the city of Canberra and Parliament House was being built.
What 2 citys wanted Federal parliament?
Both Melbourne and Sydney wanted to hold Fereral Parliment. However, as choosing one but not the other would cause anger or dissapointment, it was agreed that Canberra would be the Capital of Australia and hold Federal Parliment. So Canberra, the Parliament central of Australia was built, half way between Sydney and Melbourne. No hard feelings.
When and how did Parliament start in Melbourne?
Melbourne was never the capital of Australia. 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.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. A location was chosen which was 248km from Sydney and 483km from Melbourne. Thus, Canberra became Australia's first, and only, capital city.From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. This had to occur whilst the city of Canberra and Parliament House was being built.
