Canberra is the capital city
of Australia and with a population of over 332,000,
is Australia's largest inland city.
The city is located at the northern end of the Australian
Capital Territory, 300 kilometres (190 mi) southwest
of Sydney, and 650 kilometres (400 mi) north-east
of Melbourne.
The site of Canberra was selected for the location
of the nation's capital in 1908 as a compromise
between Sydney and Melbourne, the two largest cities.
It is unusual among Australian cities as an entirely
purpose-built, planned city. Following an international
contest for the city's design, a design by Chicago
architect Walter Burley Griffin was selected and
construction commenced in 1913.
The city's design was heavily influenced by the
garden city movement and incorporates significant
areas of natural vegetation that have earned Canberra
the title "bush capital". Although the
growth and development of Canberra were hindered
by the World Wars and the Great Depression, it emerged
as a thriving city after World War II.
As the seat of the government
of Australia, Canberra is the site of Parliament House,
the High Court of Australia and numerous government
departments and agencies. It is also the location of
several social and cultural institutions of national
significance. The federal government contributes the
largest percentage of Gross State Product and is the
largest employer in Canberra. Canberra is also a popular
destination for domestic and international tourists.
(Source :WikiPedia)
