ACT
The Australian Capital Territory was formed when the individual states in Australia joined together to form the Commonwealth of Australia. Its purpose was to provide a place where Australia’s capital city could be built without upsetting the petty rivalries that existed, at the time between New South Wales and Victoria. The ACT as it is known is located in central New South Wales about four hours drive from Sydney, along the Hume Highway. The City of Canberra has been built in the ACT to provide Australia's capital city. In retrospect you could be forgiven for thinking that the whole exercise was more than a little bit silly. Fancy going to the expense of building a whole new city, just because you couldn’t decide wether to make Sydney or Melbourne the capital. Tossing a coin would have been a much cheaper exercise and Australians are good at that.
The city of Canberra is one of the few cities in the world that had the benefit of being fully planned out before it was built. Most of the world’s cities have grown topsy turvey over a long period of time which has made the provision of new services difficult as requirements change over decades. Canberra has been spared these difficulties and is an ideal place to live. (Except for the fact that it is bitterly cold in the winter). Mind you it was politicians who created the whole shemozzle in the first place so if they put it in a cold place, they have no one but themselves to blame.
There is lots of accommodation in the ACT to cater for the politicians and their ever growing entourage. When Parliament is sitting and all the Journalists and advisors come to town it is wise to have booked well in advance as the city books out quite quickly during these times. There is plenty for tourists to do, especially if they are interested in Australian history. The Art gallery, Museum, Law Courts, War Musem and many others are worth visiting and the Parliament House itself is most impressive. If you come when Parliament is sitting you can sit in the visitor’s gallery and watch the proceedings.
Come and visit the ACT and Canberra, you will be so glad you did.
