CAPITAL CITY: Canberra

DID YOU KNOW?: Following a long dispute over whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the national capital, the new capital was built half way between the two squabbling cities in 1908.

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The result of an international design competition conducted in 1913, Canberra has grown to become one of Australia's most distinctive cities. Often described as the "Washington of the South Pacific" this capital is well worth a visit. This lovely city is well laid out with parks, museums, art galleries and beautiful architecture.

Canberra is the capital city of Australia, located in the Australian Capital Territory (which is surrounded by the state of New South Wales), southwest of Australia's largest city Sydney. It has a population of about 325,000 people.

Lake Burley Griffin divides central Canberra, with the the city centre, known as "Civic", on the north side and the parliamentary and embassy area on the south side. National institutions are likewise divided, examples being the National Museum of Australia and the Australian War Memorial on the north side and the National Library and National Gallery of Australia on the south side.

For decades Canberra was dubbed as a boring and empty city with nothing more to offer than a chance to see couple of politicians and a few so-so restraunts. However today Canberra is a bustling and energetic city with as much to offer as Sydney or Melbourne just on a smaller scale.