Australian Capital Territory Facts

Facts: Australian Capital Territory facts, Demographics, Geography, Government, History

Australian Capital Territory facts

Canberra is nearly 300km from Sydney and some 650km from Melbourne. A planned city, it is laid out around an artificial lake. The Territory became self-governing in 1989. National government remains its main industry, but private sector employment has expanded and includes production of sophisticated scientific and communications equipment, and computer software.

With Canberra being a relatively new and carefully planned city in Australia, some people think it’s a bit on the boring and conservative side.

Being the nation’s seat of government and politics probably doesn’t help that image. But to the contrary, Canberra is a graceful and industrious city surrounded by an awesome and mostly untouched natural environment. And its residents have a nearly utopian approach towards conserving the city’s quality of life.

Photography Wendy Bauman © more

ACT Flags & Emblems

In competitions held in 1988 and 1992 artists, and other interested citizens, provided a large range of designs for consideration as the proposed Australian Capital Territory flag. Although there was no general agreement within the community on a particular design, there were some features in common amongst the entries. more