Canberra is the capital city of Australia, a country often mistakenly associated with Sydney.
Australia’s federal capital was established between Sydney and Melbourne, the two largest cities that had competed to host the national government. The location was chosen as a compromise, and the Australian Capital Territory surrounds the city in southeastern New South Wales.
Canberra was planned as a purpose-built capital. American architect Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, Marion Mahony Griffin, produced the winning design for an international competition in 1912. The plan emphasized geometric avenues, open spaces, and views toward surrounding hills.
The Parliament of Australia moved into the first Parliament House in Canberra in 1927. The current Parliament House opened on Capital Hill in 1988. Sydney remains Australia’s largest city and a major global landmark, but it has never been the national capital.