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When it came to choose a capital city for Australia, neither Sydney nor Melbourne were considered. As Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne had been rivals since before the goldrush days. The goldrushes only exacerbated the situation, with the state of Victoria suddenly wealthier than New South Wales, and Melbourne shaping up to be the cultural centre of Australia.

After Federation in 1901, 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.

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."

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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, within easy access of both cities. Farming land was taken up for this purpose.

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."

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Q: Why was Canberra chosen to be put in between Sydney and Melbourne?
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What is the capital of austreliya?

The capital of Australia is Canberra. It is located in the Australian Capital Territory and serves as the political and administrative center of the country.


Why was Canberra not built on the coast?

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. It was logical to build the city inland (in an area that had already been partially established), so that it would be directly along the route between Australia's two largest cities. To build Canberra on the coast would have meant businessmen, politicians, diplomats and others wishing to travel between Sydney and Melbourne would, in effect, have to go hundreds of kilometres out of their way in order to travel via the Capital.


Why are all the capital cities except Canberra located in coastal areas?

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. It was logical to build the city inland (in an area that had already been partially established), so that it would be directly along the route between Australia's two largest cities. To build Canberra on the coast would have meant businessmen, politicians, diplomats and others wishing to travel between Sydney and Melbourne would, in effect, have to go hundreds of kilometres out of their way in order to travel via the Capital.


Why is the national capital in the ACT?

Canberra became the capital of Australia in 1927 and is located in the the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). A project to find a national capital was commenced in the 1890s prior to Federation. The on-going rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne prohibited either city from consideration as the national capital. It was decided that, following Federation in 1901, the nation's capital should be situated between the two cities. A location was chosen which was 248km from Sydney and 483km from Melbourne.


Why is Canberra named the Australian capital territory?

Canberra is not named the Australian Capital Territory. Canberra is Australia's federal capital, and it lies within the territory of the ACT, or Australian Capital Territory. The NSW government ceded land for the new Australian Capital Territory to the Commonwealth Government, and the Australian Capital Territory was founded on 1 January 1911. Australia's capital could not be either of the two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, as the two cities 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, within easy access of both cities.


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.


What was the capital of Australia until Canberra was established?

Melbourne housed the Federal government and public service from federation and was therefore the temporary seat of power in Australia, but never the capital. However the two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, had been rivals since the goldrush days. Sydney, as the founding settlement, always held a place of prominence, but once Melbourne was established as the main settlement in the new colony of Victoria, and fed by the wealth of the goldrushes, constant rivalry was a problem. 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, and outside naval gunfire range from the coast. From this sparsely-settled area grew the capital city of Australia, Canberra. From the opening of the temporary Parliament House in 1927, the government and its agencies were progressively moved to Canberra, though this was not finally completed until the 1960s.


When was Canberra chosen to be the Capital?

Shortly after Australia's Federation on 1 January 1901, it was decided that the nation's capital should not be either Sydney or Melbourne, but should be situated between the two cities.Once it was decided that Australia's capital would be neither Melbourne nor Sydney, land for the Australian Capital Territory (originally Federal Territory of Australia) was purchased from New South Wales for the purpose. The Federal Capital Territory was founded, on 1 January 1911, in the Yass-Canberra district. The first survey peg marking the beginning of the development of the city of Canberra was driven in on 20 February 1913. On 9 May 1927, Parliament moved to the new national capital at Canberra, where it met in what is now called Old Parliament House.


Was Australia's capital city formerly 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, 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.


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.


What is the capital city of Sydney Australia?

No, Canberra is the capital. It was chosen as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne, both of which wanted to be the new capital.Sydney is the capital of the state of New South Wales, and the country's largest city by population.


Where did the Australians decide to place their new national capital?

The new national capital of Canberra was located in the region known as Limestone Plains. 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, within easy access of both cities. Farming land was taken up for this purpose.