Flights to Canberra
The
capital city of Australia, Canberra (2007 population 340,800) is Australia's
largest inland city. Settled in between
both Melbourne and Sydney, Canberra was made the capital in 1908 as a
compromise to the two rival cities.
Canberra is unique in that is was a purpose-driven and pre-planned
city. After an international
competition, the winners Walter Griffin and Marion Griffin of Chicago commenced
the construction of the city in 1913.
Also known as the "bush capital" for its large areas of
natural vegetation, Canberra emerged as a thriving city after World War
II. Although Canberra is now fully
Westernized, it once belonged to the indigenous Ngunnawal and Walgalu
tribes. With various other tribes in and
around the area, there is archaeological evidence of human habitation for at
least 21,000 years. Canberra means
"meeting place" in the old Ngunnawal language. European explorers came to the site in the
1820's, and many settlers came later in the 19th century to work the land.
With an interesting history, it is easy to see why Canberra holds so many
monuments and great institutions. Visit
the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, the National
Portrait Gallery, the National Library of Australia, the National Archives of
Australia, and the National Museum of Australia all within city limits. The National Museum of Australia, with its
daring architecture, tells the story of Australia from ancient to modern times. Get to know the nam
shaped the face of Australia. Profiling
more than 50,000 years of indigenous heritage, the building holds
largest collection of Aboriginal bark paintings and stone tools.