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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.
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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.
Is Canberra the capital of Australia?
Yes. Canberra has always been the capital of Australia. Although the city was only used as a capital from 1927, there was no other capital of Australia before then. There is a misconception that Melbourne was once the capital of Australia because it housed the Federal parliament for 27 years. The only reason for this was that Melbourne was the only Australian city with a building large enough to hold the Parliament. Melbourne was never the capital of Australia.
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.
Where did the first commonwealth sit after federation?
After the federation of Australia in 1901, the first Commonwealth Parliament convened in Melbourne. The Parliament met in the Royal Exhibition Building until the new capital, Canberra, was established. The seat of government later moved to Canberra, where the Parliament House was officially opened in 1988.
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.
What was Australia's capital city before Canberra'?
It is often thought that Melbourne was the temporary national capital from federation in 1901 until the opening of Canberra in 1927. In actuality, Melbourne was never officially the capital city of Australia, but it 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. Sydney was never the capital, or even acting capital of Australia.
Did sydney used to be the capital?
No. Australia has only ever had one capital city, and that was and is Canberra. Sydney, although the largest city, has only ever been capital of New South Wales. The site of Canberra was identified in 1908, seven years after Federation, but until the city was actually built, the Federal Parliament had to meet in Melbourne. For this reason, some people incorrectly believe that Australia's first capital city was Melbourne. It was not.
What was the former capital of Australia?
It is often thought that Melbourne was the temporary national capital from federation in 1901 until the opening of Canberra in 1927. In actuality, Melbourne was never officially the capital city of Australia, but it 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. Sydney was never the capital, or even acting capital of Australia.
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.
Which Australian city acted as Australia's national until the founding of Canberra in 1927?
No city acted as Australia's capital prior to the establishment of Canberra as Federal Capital. Melbourne was where the Parliament met, simply because it was the only city with a building large enough to house the Parliament. However, Melbourne was not regarded as the capital. It was merely 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.
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.
In which city did the Australian Commonwealth Parliament meet before Canberra?
Prior to the construction of the Australian Parliament House, the Federal Parliament met in Melbourne, capital city of Victoria, for the simple reason that it was the only city with a building large enough to house the parliament.
