Canberra

Canberra is the country's capital and largest city. Following the union of the Australian colonies in 1861, Canberra was established as the nation's administrative capital. It is the country's biggest inland metropolis and the eighth-largest city in terms of population. It is a completely planned city, which is unusual among Australian cities. The city is situated at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory, near the northern point of the Australian Alps, which are the country's tallest mountain range. It is the capital of the Australian Capital Territory. Canberra has a population of 431,380 people as of June 2020, according to estimates.

The land selected as the site of the capital had been occupied by Indigenous Australians for up to 21,000 years, with the Ngunnawal people being the most significant population in the area. European settlement in the area began in the first part of the nineteenth century, as indicated by the presence of structures such as St John's Anglican Church and Blundells Cottage today. The Federation of the Australian colonies was officially completed on January 1, 1901. Following a protracted debate over whether Sydney or Melbourne should serve as the nation's capital, a compromise was reached: the new capital would be established in New South Wales, as long as it was at least 100 miles (160 kilometres) away from the existing city. Canberra was officially established as the nation's capital in 1913 and given the name Canberra. Construction on a plan designed by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin was approved after a worldwide design competition, and work began in 1913 on the project. The Griffins' design was characterised by geometric themes and was centred on axes that ran parallel to key topographical features such as Black Mountain, Mount Ainslie, Capital Hill, and City Hill, among others. Because of its hilly setting, Canberra is the only city on the Australian peninsula where snow-capped mountains may be seen in winter, despite the fact that snow in the city itself is unusual.

Canberra, the nation's capital and the site of the Australian government's headquarters, is home to a number of notable federal institutions, national monuments, and museums. This contains the Parliamentary Buildings, Government Buildings, the High Court, and the offices of various government institutions, among other buildings. In addition to the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National University (ANU), the Royal Australian Mint (RAM), and the National Institute of Sport, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia and the National Library of Australia are all located in the city of Canberra. Numerous key institutions of the Australian Defence Force are located at Duntroon, including the Royal Military College Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy, among others. It serves as the headquarters for all foreign embassies in Australia, as well as the regional headquarters for a large number of international organisations, not-for-profit organisations, lobbying organisations, and professional associations.

Canberra has been named as one of the world's greatest places to live and visit by many publications. However, even while the Commonwealth Government continues to be the single biggest employer in Canberra, it is no longer the majority employer in the city. In addition to health care, professional services, education and training, retail, housing and food, and construction, the city has established a number of other key sectors, including the following: The unemployment rate is lower and the average income is greater in comparison to national norms; tertiary education levels are higher, and the population is younger in comparison to national averages. According to the 2016 Census, 32 percent of Canberra's residents were claimed to have been born in a foreign country.

Canberra's architecture was inspired by the garden city movement, and it has considerable sections of natural greenery throughout the city. Its design may be appreciated from the top of the Telstra Tower and the peak of Mount Ainslie, which are the city's highest points. Some of the city's most famous features are the National Arboretum, which was established during the 2003 bushfires, and Lake Burley Griffin, which was named after one of the city's architects. Floriade, the biggest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, the Enlighten Festival, Skyfire, the National Multicultural Festival, and Summernats are just a few of the events that make up the city's yearly schedule of cultural activities. Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval are the two most important sports grounds in the city. Domestic and international aircraft arrive and leave at Canberra Airport, while interstate rail and coach services depart from Canberra Railway Station and the Jolimont Centre, respectively. The city is serviced by a number of bus routes. The City Interchange serves as the primary centre for the city's bus and light rail transportation networks.