from the sea?. It seems a very sensible place to put a capital city, and a much easier place to defend than other cities in Australia.
Regards, PG
2007-03-15 06:01:07 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Australia ➔ Canberra
Sorry! that should be Australia, but i posted it before i could edit!
2007-03-15 06:02:01 · update #1
The site for Canberra was chosen because it was between Sydney and Melbourne and the land was available. There were various sites that were looked at and defence would have had nothing to do with it.
There have been threats to Australia over the years from France, Russia, the USA, Germany and Japan but we have only been attacked by Japan since Federation and that was various bombing raids across northern Australia and a mini-submarine attack in Sydney.
2007-03-15 08:47:47 · answer #1 · answered by tentofield 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Elizabeth and tentofield have good answers. A number of sites were shortlisted in the general area.
One of the politicians influential in the choice was King O'Malley who was American-born. (His name was King). He said that the general area was chosen because it had a "real" winter. This was supposed to fill the people of the city with hope! Since it is just autumn in Canberra at the moment, there is at least one Canberran who is not regarding the next few months with much hope. Too chilly for too long.
There was a defence aspect too. The super-weapon of the time was the battleship. Being inland the capital could not be shelled from the sea. Also the nearest seaside places to Canberra are at the bottom of a very steep escarpment and any invading force would have had to struggle up it.
2007-03-16 05:12:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne as to who would be the capital city. It was decided that a city would be built approx half way between the two as it couldnt be decided. We were taught this at school and wikipedia even states that the location was decided as a compramise between Sydney and Melbourne. Checkout the wikipedia article on Canberra.
2007-03-16 07:39:31 · answer #3 · answered by Nick 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Canberra was situated where it is, approx half way between Sydney and Melbourne, because both these cities argued that they should become the nations capital. The Australian Capital Territory was created around it.
Supposedly, the placement of the new city was to please everyone.
At the time I don't think anyone was worried about repelling an invasion force.
2007-03-15 20:05:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know it they had defence in mind when it was founded. They followed the American pattern of having the capital not part of an existing state. Maybe this was the only real estate the neighbours were prepared to part with.
2007-03-15 13:09:57 · answer #5 · answered by St N 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Looking back at history, Australia did not have such an enemy
who would attack or invade Australia from the sea.
Greek history, might be?
2007-03-15 13:16:01 · answer #6 · answered by chanljkk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not much danger of attack. I think it was put there to draw population toward the west.
2007-03-15 13:09:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it was made the capital of Australia to keep all those wanker politicians away from the real people but as time went bye they found ways to escape(better roads/airport) & anoy us again
2007-03-15 19:44:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
But who on earth would want to attack Australia? Only convicts wanted to live there initially because at least they were not in jail...
2007-03-15 13:09:10 · answer #9 · answered by Mimi 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋