Location : Mid South East within State of New South Wales.

Capital City : Canberra.

Size : 2,359 Square Kilometres (911 Square Miles).

Highest Point : Mount Bimberi Peak (1,911 Metres or  6,270 Feet)

Average Annual Temperatures - Canberra :

January:- Maximum - 27.7 Degrees Celsius or  81.9 Degrees Fahrenheit.
July:- Maximum - 11.1 Degrees Celsius or 51.9 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Average Annual Rainfall - Canberra : 633 Millimetres or 25.3 Inches.

Following the Federation of Australia into a single Commonwealth on January 1st 1901, much argument developed between Sydney and Melbourne as to which city should be the home of the Federal Parliament.

Although Federal Parliament met in Melbourne, the ongoing debate caused the Federal government to choose a new location, that was somewhere approximately half way between the two competing cities.  Eventually they chose an area that is now known as Canberra, and the surrounding location (although small) was to be known as the Australian Capital Territory. It is one of three self governing Australian Territories. (The other two are the "Northern Territory" and "Norfolk Island") and the Australian Capital Territory Government is headed by a Chief Minister.  It does however not have its own Police Force and comes under the jurisdiction of the Australian Federal Police.  Self government has been granted to the Australian Capital Territory only relatively recently.

In 1923 work began on the new Parliament House, and the Federal government met there for the first time in 1927.  That building was used to house both the "House of Representatives" and the "Senate" until a new Parliament House was built and opened in time for Australia's Bi-Centennial celebrations in 1988.  The old Parliament House is now used as a museum about Australia's political history.

Canberra is also home to the National War Memorial, which is a place that really must be visited by anyone who calls into Canberra.  Further, Canberra is the seat of the "High Court Of Australia", (although they can meet in any other city).  The national headquarters of the Australian Federal police are located in Canberra.  It is also basically the headquarters of every Federal Government Department and the location for foreign Embassies.  Canberra hosts the home of the Governor General, and one of the two homes allocated for use by the Prime Minister. (The other is in Sydney)  Nearly all the employment within the Australian Capital Territory is based in one way or another on the Federal government, with the exception of those that provide services for government employees.

Other than Federal government employees or those who provide services for them, there is very little other industry within the Australian Capital Territory, although sheep farming still exists in the outer areas.

A visit to Canberra, is well worthwhile, even if only to see the unique design of the City.  Incidentally do not be fooled by the average temperatures shown above as it often gets below freezing point, and Canberra would possibly be the coldest Capital city in Australia.