What is the capital of Australia?

The capital of Australia is Canberra. Canberra became Australian capital as a compromise between the powerful states of New South Wales and Victoria. It gained official capital status in 1913, and the Australian Parliament moved to Canberra in 1927.

The Capital of Australia

Sydney may be the largest city in Australia, and Melbourne was at one time the largest. But neither is the capital of Australia. Both very much wanted to be – much of the tussle over whether Australia’s colonies should federate was about which city got to be the national capital.

So, what is the capital of Australia? Well, it’s a much smaller city – Canberra. When Australia federated, becoming an independent country in 1901, Canberra effectively didn’t exist.

Aerial view of Canberra, the capital of Australia — The capital of Australia – Canberra – from above. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Choosing a new capital of Australia

One of the compromises that got federation over the line was an agreement on the capital between New South Wales and Victoria. The deal was that a new Australian capital would be built within the land area of New South Wales, but that Melbourne would be the capital until this new city was ready. The story of this bunfight gets told in detail at the National Capital Exhibition.

Several sites were considered for the capital of Australia, including Bombala, Orange, Albury, Bathurst and Dalgety. Dalgety was originally chosen by Parliament, but New South Wales wasn’t keen and refused to cede the land. Eventually Canberra, site of the Duntroon Royal Military College and not an awful lot else, won out.

The capital of Australia in the bush

A 286km drive from Sydney and 663km drive from Melbourne, bush surrounds Canberra.

Canberra officially became the capital of Australia on 12 March 1913. The Parliament didn’t move there until 1927, however. Parliament House (now Old Parliament House, replaced by a snazzy new one) was finally ready.

Chicago architect Walter Burley Griffin won the competition to design the new national capital. His design was never implemented in full, however. The eventual design had elements from other entrants, and modern Canberra has entirely new bits tacked on. The defining features of seemingly endless circles and a giant artificial lake in the middle still stand, however.

Things to do in the capital of Australia

Canberra sits inside the Australian Capital Territory, carved out of New South Wales. An underrated tourist destination, Canberra crams in several excellent attractions. These include the Australian War Memorial, National Museum of Australia, Parliament House and National Library of Australia.

Other spots worth a visit include the National Carillon, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. You can also take a Segway tour or float across Canberra in a hot air balloon – a great way of seeing the city’s design. And, if you prefer getting high in the other sense of the word, the Australian Capital Territory is the only part of the country where cannabis has been partially decriminalised.