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After Australia became one nation in 1901, the need for a capital was finally recognised with the Australian Capital Territory in 1911. Choosing between bitter rivals Sydney and Melbourne proved too difficult, therefore a completely new capital, Canberra, was chosen in 1913.
Canberra is thought to mean 'meeting place', taken from the Aboriginal language whose Ngunnawal people have been in this area for thousands of years. Designed by Walter Burley Griffin in 1912, Canberra's development really didn't get going until after WWII and the original plan for 25,000 people now accommodates over 300,000. Despite the dull image portrayed by Australians, Canberra is well groomed and has some fantastic architecture with foreign embassies importing their own style. Not so further afield is the wilderness of the bushland, the Snowy Mountains to the north and beaches to the south. >> More
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