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About Canberra

Stay247.com will have an array of Canberra accommodation whether it is for business, pleasure or visiting friends and family, the ACT and Canberra have a lot to offer.

Canberra - the capital of Australia - is sometimes referred to as the bush capital because pockets of bushland reserve extend almost to the city centre and over half of the Australian Capital Territory, within which Canberra lays, is classified as national park or nature reserve.

With a population of more than 313,000 people, Canberra is the city that Federation created. Australia's national government sits here, as does the highest court of Australia. Many of the most important monuments in the country are located in Australia and they're visited by millions of people each year. Some of these attractions include the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the National Gallery of Australia and Canberra's newest attraction, the National Museum of Australia.

Canberra is a young capital - a planned city like many other capitals in the world. American architect Walter Burley Griffin designed the city after winning an international architectural competition in 1912. The spirit of his original design, which celebrates Canberra's natural environment, is still evident as the city grows.

Canberra is located 300 kilometres from Sydney and 655 kilometres from Melbourne and is accessible by road, train and air transport.

Tourist Information

There is no substitute for a visit to the Canberra Visitors Centre in Northbourne Avenue. It is open from 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. and has assistants who can answer queries and provide suitable maps and information. For details contact (02) 6205 0044.

Parliament House

Parliament House which was built on Capital Hill overlooking Lake Burley Griffin dominates Canberra and can be seen from nearly every part of the city. Designed so that visitors can actually walk on top of the building, the new Parliament House boasts an excellent art gallery and facilities which feature Australian timbers and gracious interiors. There are guided tours every 30 minutes. For details of opening times (usually 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.) contact the Sergeant at Arms on (02) 6277 4889.

Old Parliament House

The first parliament house in Canberra was completed in 1927 at a cost of triple the initial estimate. The architect was John Smith Murdoch, who was so determined his style should consistently prevail that he even designed most of the original furniture and waste paper baskets. Timber from almost every state was utilised. For sixty one years it was the hub of the nation's political life. It was replaced in 1988 by the superb new Parliament House which was built on Capital Hill overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. There are guided tours by informed insiders and a range of changing exhibitions. It is much more interesting that you would expect, with a hidden safe revealed by stepping on a particular floorboard, a secret hiding place for journalists above the opposition leader's office, doodles made in the drying cement by the original builders, and other eccentric facts revealed by the guides. For more information and opening times contact (02) 6273 5130.