Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the capital territory
of Australia, set in bushland, the territory is an enclave
situated entirely within New South Wales. The territory was
designated by the Federal Parliament in 1908 for the national
capital, Canberra.
Canberra
Canberra is the urban centre of the ACT and is a thriving
modern city with a population of more than 347,000 people. It
is unique in being one of the worlds few planned cities -
a city in a park - having every detail of it's construction planned
from the beginning. It is built halfway between Sydney and
Melbourne, and is the the nerve centre of Australian national
government.
Canberra is a well-planned lakeside city of parklands,
impressive restaurants, beautiful bushland and leafy suburbs. Many
of the public buildings display some of Australia's most innovative
architecture including those housing our major, and most
impressive, national attractions. Canberra is only an hour and a
half drive from the beautiful Snowy Mountains, where you can hike,
horseride, mountainbike, ski, snowboard and enjoy the clean, crisp
mountain air and surrounding towns.
Canberra is just a three hour drive or a 45-minute flight
south-west of Sydney.
Weather and Climate
The capital has four distinctive seasons, each with their
own beauty and charm turn the city into a kaleidoscope of colour
throughout the year.
SPRING The city bursts into spring bloom as
bright blossoms erupt and the regional vineyards awaken with the
first bud bursts. Expect moderately fresh mornings, bright
sunny days and crisp clear nights. Minimum Temperature
is 5 degrees C and Maximum Temp = 19 degrees C.
SUMMER offers great opportunity to enjoy the
great outdoors, especially on Lake Burley Griffin where plenty of
water sports and activities await. The days are warm to hot,
with plenty of sunshine and little humidity and are followed by
mild balmy nights. Minimum Temp = 12 degrees C and Maximum Temp
= 27 degrees C.
AUTUMN is a special time as the city's parks
and gardens evolve. Leaves in shades of crimson to gold emerge are
balanced by the soft greys and greens of the native eucalyptus and
coniferous trees. This season is blessed with cool nights and
warm days. Minimum Temp = 7 degrees C and Maximum Temp = 20
degrees C.
WINTER days can be crisp and cool with clear
blue skies. Enjoy open fires and fabulous food, wine treks,
art galleries or snow trips, treats for mind, body and soul.
Minimum Temp = 1 degree C and Maximum Temp = 12 degrees C.
History
Located on the ancient lands of the Indigenous Ngunnawal people,
Canberra's name is thought to mean 'meeting place', derived from
the Aboriginal wordn Kamberra. European settlers first came in the
1830s, and the area was chosen for the federal capital in 1908.
Canberra's special contrast of nature and urban living was planned
in 1912 by Canberra's master designer, Walter Burley Griffin, a
Chicago architect who won an international design competition. The
provisional Parliament House was opened in 1927 in what was then a
treeless paddock.
The floral emblem of the ACT is the Royal Bluebell and the
faunal emblem is the Gang-gang Cockatoo.