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What is the capital of Australia?
A. Sydney
B. Canberra
C. Melbourne
D. Perth
Correct Answer Is Option = Canberra
Notes / Explanation
The capital of Australia is Canberra, a fact that often surprises people because the better-known and much larger cities of the country are commonly but mistakenly assumed to be the capital. Canberra is a planned city, which means that it was deliberately designed and built to serve as the seat of government, rather than growing up naturally over a long period like most other cities. The decision to create Canberra arose from a long-standing rivalry between the two largest cities of the country, each of which wished to be the capital. To settle this dispute fairly, it was decided that a new capital city would be built on a separate site located between the two rival cities, so that neither would be favoured over the other. A special territory was set aside for the new capital, and the city was carefully planned with wide avenues, open spaces, parks and an artificial lake at its centre, giving it a spacious and orderly appearance very different from the crowded, organically grown cities elsewhere. As the capital, Canberra is the home of the national parliament, where the elected representatives of the country gather to make laws and decide national policy, and it also houses the residences and offices of the most important figures of the state, the headquarters of government departments, the high court, and the foreign embassies and high commissions of other nations. The city is therefore the political nerve centre of the country, even though it is far smaller in population than several other Australian cities. Canberra is also home to important national institutions such as major libraries, galleries, museums and memorials that preserve and display the heritage of the nation, as well as leading universities and research institutions. Because it was purpose-built as a capital, the city has a calm and well-ordered character, with a strong emphasis on government, administration, education and culture rather than industry or commerce. Its creation is a good example of how a country may build an entirely new city to serve as its capital in order to resolve regional rivalries. For PPSC and other competitive examinations, the key points to remember are that Canberra is the capital of Australia, that it is a specially planned city, that it was built to settle the rivalry between the two largest cities, and that it is the seat of the national parliament and government even though it is not the largest city in the country.
