ACT
The Australian Capital Territory was created to house the nation’s capital Canberra.
You can explore the treasure trove of national attractions, sprawling parklands and fashionable restaurants and bars. Just a 45-minute drive from Canberra, you’ll find the wildlife, walking trails and Aboriginal rock art of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park in the northern Australian Alps. Drive the Poacher’s Trail to the wineries, farms and galleries of the surrounding scenic countryside. Hike past wildflowers and glacial lakes in the Snowy Mountains and spot dolphins from pristine beaches on the South Coast.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and its smallest self-governing internal territory. It is geographically situated within New South Wales, and regularly referred to as Australia’s ‘Bush Capital’. The total area of the territory is a fraction over 2,400 square kilometers; tiny by vast Australian standards.
The Australian Capital Territory stretches 88kms from north to south and only 30kms from west to east. The landscape around Canberra is made up of rugged plains, hills and mountains, as well as plenty of trees. This countryside leads into NSW from all directions, with most of the landscape being National Parks. 40% of ACT is made up of the Namadgi National Park, although the ACT is also home to the Koscuiusko National Park.
The Murrumbridge River runs from southeast to north west and offers some great swimming spots. These include the Black Mountain, Casuarina Sands, Cotter Dam, Gibraltar Falls, Kambah Pool Reserve, Point Hill Crossing, Pine Island and Uriarra Crossing. About 30kms (18 miles) north of Canberra is Bywong, a replica of an old mining town and settlement.
The need for a National Territory was raised by colonial delegates during the Federation conventions of the late 19th century. Section 125 of the Australian Constitution provided that following Federation in 1901, land would be ceded freely to the new Federal Government. The territory was transferred to the Commonwealth by the state of New South Wales in 1911, two years prior to the naming of Canberra as the National Capital in 1913.
The location was a compromise between the two rivals Melbourne and Sydney This explains why the capital is roughly between the two states; although slightly closer to Sydney.
An interesting fact, is that the international competition to design the national capital building was won by an American, Walter Griffen.
Canberra was the name given to the new capital and it is rumored to be a translation of ‘meeting place’ in aboriginal. Slow progress was made, and until 1927 decisions were still made in Melbourne until parliament was convened here.
The huge, four-legged flag mast that marks the location of Parliament House sits atop the building on Capital Hill. A large percentage of the building is open to the public between 9am and 5pm, and is well worth the visit.
The floral emblem of the ACT is the Royal Bluebell and the faunal emblem is the Gang-gang Cockatoo.
ACT – Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory was created to house the nation’s capital Canberra.
You can explore the treasure trove of national attractions, sprawling parklands and fashionable restaurants and bars. Just a 45-minute drive from Canberra, you’ll find the wildlife, walking trails and Aboriginal rock art of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park in the northern Australian Alps. Drive the Poacher’s Trail to the wineries, farms and galleries of the surrounding scenic countryside. Hike past wildflowers and glacial lakes in the Snowy Mountains and spot dolphins from pristine beaches on the South Coast.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and its smallest self-governing internal territory. It is geographically situated within New South Wales, and regularly referred to as Australia’s ‘Bush Capital’. The total area of the territory is a fraction over 2,400 square kilometers; tiny by vast Australian standards.
The Australian Capital Territory stretches 88kms from north to south and only 30kms from west to east. The landscape around Canberra is made up of rugged plains, hills and mountains, as well as plenty of trees. This countryside leads into NSW from all directions, with most of the landscape being National Parks. 40% of ACT is made up of the Namadgi National Park, although the ACT is also home to the Koscuiusko National Park.
The Murrumbridge River runs from southeast to north west and offers some great swimming spots. These include the Black Mountain, Casuarina Sands, Cotter Dam, Gibraltar Falls, Kambah Pool Reserve, Point Hill Crossing, Pine Island and Uriarra Crossing. About 30kms (18 miles) north of Canberra is Bywong, a replica of an old mining town and settlement.
The need for a National Territory was raised by colonial delegates during the Federation conventions of the late 19th century. Section 125 of the Australian Constitution provided that following Federation in 1901, land would be ceded freely to the new Federal Government. The territory was transferred to the Commonwealth by the state of New South Wales in 1911, two years prior to the naming of Canberra as the National Capital in 1913.
The location was a compromise between the two rivals Melbourne and Sydney This explains why the capital is roughly between the two states; although slightly closer to Sydney.
An interesting fact, is that the international competition to design the national capital building was won by an American, Walter Griffen.
Canberra was the name given to the new capital and it is rumored to be a translation of ‘meeting place’ in aboriginal. Slow progress was made, and until 1927 decisions were still made in Melbourne until parliament was convened here.
The huge, four-legged flag mast that marks the location of Parliament House sits atop the building on Capital Hill. A large percentage of the building is open to the public between 9am and 5pm, and is well worth the visit.
The floral emblem of the ACT is the Royal Bluebell and the faunal emblem is the Gang-gang Cockatoo.
Weather and Climate
There are four distinct seasons in the ACT:
A warm spring, a hot dry summer, a brilliant cool autumn and a cold winter – occasionally with snow.
Perhaps the best time to visit is in the autumn, when there is a magnificent display of golden foliage.
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 and Strong winds are frequent, mainly from the west and north-west.
The mean maximum temperature in Canberra is 19.7C, with the highest on record 42.2C.
The mean minimum is 6.9C, with the lowest on record, -100C.
On the mountain slopes the rainfall is higher but very uneven, due to variations of aspect. The mountain ridges have an even higher rainfall which may reach 1500mm annually. During much of the winter the ground temperature is near or below freezing point. Snow falls frequently and may persist for some months
