Canberra

Australia's capital Canberra is still a young city. In 1911 the government of the Australian confederation of states acquired possession of the area. A competition of city planning was tendered then, won by the American architect Walter Burley Griffin. Although you can still notice that Canberra is not a grown city, its wide green elegance is leaving a pleasant impression.

Canberra does not belong to New South Wales but to ACT (Australian Capital Territory), which like the Northern Territories is not a federal state but just a territory. The ACT has its own elected Legislative Assembly and government; self-government began in 1989.

Parliament House, which opened in 1988 with its modern architecture is worth seeing. There you can admire one of the world's biggest tapestry in the Great Hall. The 1927 built provisional seat of government Old Parliament House represents an architectural contrast. After all, this provisional building was the seat of parliament for 61 years and now houses the Museum of Australian Democracy.

Telstra Tower stands on Black Mountain and is a prominent feature of Canberra’s skyline. As of 2026, it is closed to visitors for redevelopment, with reopening expected in December 2027.