A second territory, at Jervis Bay, was acquired from NSW in 1915. This transfer was in accordance with the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1908 which stated that the seat of government (ACT) should have access to the sea. The Jervis Bay territory was to be that access.

Jervis Bay is administered by the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories on behalf of the Australian Government. It has been used for defence activities, grazing, forestry, water catchment purposes, conservation and recreation. Its total area is 7360ha.

Topography
The ACT has three contrasting landforms. In the north, where urban development has taken place, it is a lowland of undulating hills including the floodplains of the Murrumbidgee and Molonglo Rivers, mostly below 600m. Beyond this are forested mountain slopes rising to 1200m divided by numerous tributaries of the Murrumbidgee. In the south and extreme west is an upland of steep ridges and mountain peaks rising above 1800m.

Climate
The lowland, including the city of Canberra, has an average annual rainfall of 630mm, unevenly distributed throughout the year. In most years there are light snowfalls in winter. Strong winds are frequent, mainly from the west and north-west. The mean maximum temperature in Canberra is 19.70C, with the highest on record 42.20C. The mean minimum is 6.90C, with the lowest on record, -100C.

Australian Capital Territory Government
Until 1989, the ACT was administered by the federal Government, with the federal Minister for Territories making all decisions relating to the ACT. However, in the late 1980s, the federal Government made the decision that the ACT should be granted self-government. The federal Parliament passed the Australian Capital Territory (Self Government) Act in 1988, along with other related legislation which established self-government in the ACT. The first ACT election was held on 4 March 1989 and the ACT Legislative Assembly held its inaugural sitting on 11 May 1989.

The ACT has a unicameral, or one house, form of parliament. The ACT Legislative Assembly consists of 17 members, referred to as MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly). All members vote to elect a Chief Minister, who then in turn selects a further three ministers to form a cabinet.

Transport
Canberra is served by the major domestic airlines and feeder services from nearby provincial cities. Long-distance buses and modern express trains run daily services to Sydney and Melbourne. Canberra’s internal transport system is based on a network of commuter buses. However, many residents prefer to travel by private cars, using the city’s well developed wide roads and freeways.

Tourism
In order of popularity, the most visited attractions are Parliament House, the War Memorial, the National Gallery, Telecom Tower, and the Science and Technology Museum. Parliament House alone receives more than 1.25 million visitors annually and the Old Parliament House, re-opened at the beginning of 1993 is also a very popular attraction.

When to Go
Autumn (March to May) in Canberra is the best time to go. The days are sunny , the trees are changing and everything looks lovely. Winter (June to August) is cold; really, really cold. There are mornings when it feels like breathing in will crack your lungs, but the sky is usually blue and the weather is sunny. Spring (September to November) is much wetter and windier, though the very popular Floriade festival brightens things up. Summer (December to February) can be just a bit too hot.

Canberra Sights

Parliament House
Parliament House is the thing most visitors to the city want to see. Opened in 1988, new Parliament House (as it's commonly known, to distinguish it from the old Parliament House) is a marble lined building at the apex of the Parliamentary Triangle. Built into the hill, the roof of the house is lined with grass to make it blend in. In true Australian tradition, the grass is imported lawn mix, which requires gargantuan quantities of water and weedkiller to keep it green and glowing. The interior of the house is rather impressive - each of its major sections is lined with Australian timbers, and it is littered with over 3000 art works bought or commissioned from Australian artists.

Old Parliament House, further down the hill towards the lake, was the seat of government from 1927 until 1988. Far more modest than its succesor, the old house resembles a slightly sprawling wedding cake. You can take a tour of the building or wander its pleasant grounds. The house is also home to the National Portrait Gallery.

National Gallery of Australia
Canberra's National Gallery, on the south shore of the lake, has probably the best collection of art in the country. The Australian collection ranges from traditional Aboriginal art through to 20th century works by Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan and Albert Tucker. Aboriginal works include bark paintings from Arnhem Land, pukumani burial poles from the Tiwi people and printed fabrics from central Australia. There's also plenty of foreign art from all eras, and most travelling exhibitions stop by Canberra on their way around the world. The collection is not confined to paintings: sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, furniture, ceramics, fashion, textiles and silverware are all on display. There are a couple of pleasant restaurants on the grounds, and free lectures are often given.

Australian War Memorial
The massive war memorial is more than the usual pointy concrete thing in the middle of town, it's actually a museum of Australia\'s war history. It was conceived in 1925 and finally opened in 1941. It houses an amazing collection of pictures, dioramas, relics and exhibitions, including a fine collection of old aircraft. For anyone with an interest in toy soldiers, the miniature battle scenes are absorbing.
The Hall of Memory is the focus of the memorial. It features a beautiful interior, some superb stained-glass windows and a dome made of six million Italian mosaic pieces. The Unknown Australian Soldier was brought here from a WWI battlefield in 1993. Leading to the hall is the reflecting pool, its surrounding walls inscribed with the names of Australia\'s war dead.

Australian National Botanic Gardens
On the lower slopes of Black Mountain, behind the Australian National University, the beautiful 50 hectare (123 acre) botanic gardens are devoted to Australian flora. There are educational walks, including one among plants used by Aborigines. A highlight is the rainforest area, achieved in this dry climate with a misting system, while the eucalypt lawn has 600 species of this ubiquitous Australian tree. Take a guided walk, or take a seat in the pleasant Kookaburra Cafe.

Disclaimer: We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from the above information. You should verify critical information like visas, health and safety, customs, and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.

Canberra suburbs

Can't find what you're looking for?
Try a web search or site search:

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web aussieaussieaussie.org