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Carved out of a chunk of New South Wales countryside, the Australian Capital Territory is most famous as the centre of political activity in Australia. Its capital Canberra, meaning ‘meeting place’ in the Aboriginal language, was designated as Australia’s capital city to resolve the battle between Sydney and Melbourne for that title. Built specifically for this purpose, the city was completely designed from the ground up with the intention of creating a utopian metropolis.
Canberra is the only inland capital city in Australia, and its location means there are four distinct seasons which are each celebrated in turn. Winters are cold by Australian standards, with temperatures dropping into the low minuses. The rainy springtime is brightened with the Floriade Festival, when the city comes to life with colourful flowers. Summer is not as harsh as other parts of the country, though it is still hot by world standards. Autumn is just beautiful, with the deciduous trees of the planned city shedding their leaves in the streets.
The city was fully planned before construction began, and the result is really what gives the city its ordered character. The design used the natural terrain to its advantage, incorporating streets of concentric circles for a radiating effect. Parliament House sits in the middle of rings, the rest of the city circling out into the surrounds. The architecture has a distinctly modernist vibe, with lots of square-looking buildings and houses lining the rounded streets. Breaking up the suburbs are wide spaces of gardens and bushland, which were all part of the original plan. Some people love the structure, while others complain that it is too contrived.
For a national capital, Canberra has a relatively small population of around 320 000. Although Canberra is most known as a town of bureaucrats and politicians, other people do live there! Like other Australian capital cities there is a multicultural population, with over 130 different nationalities represented. There’s a high student population, and almost one in ten people you come across are university scholars. High living standards attract singles, couples and families to the national capital, and because of this it can be hard to find a permanent residence.
It might not be known as much of a party town, but Canberra is more than just a city full of government buildings. It has its fair share of pubs and clubs, as well as cafes, restaurants and other establishments of the entertainment variety. The high student population may well be responsible for this. There are also many places of cultural significance like the stunning National Gallery as well as museums, theatres and cinemas that some say are really the only reason to visit.
Canberrans have a reputation as Australia’s worst drivers, so many utilise the public transport service! Many people find it too hard to navigate the unending circles as well, and buses carry passengers the relatively small distances between attractions. The good thing about Canberra’s roads is that they are actually quite spacious and are practically deserted on the weekend, making parking a breeze.
Often overlooked, Australia’s national capital may always struggle to shake its reputation as a boring city full of politicians. In reality, it probably doesn’t deserve this criticism. A place of national significance created to be aesthetically and architecturally brilliant, Canberra more than serves its purpose as the nation’s capital city.
