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There is some debate about whether Melbourne acted as national capital prior to 1927. It did not. There was too much rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne for this to be possible. Melbourne was the only city with a building large enough to hold the Federal Parliament, so that is why Parliament met there. Melbourne was never awarded the status of being Australia's national capital, even temporarily.

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No city acted as Australia's capital prior to the establishment of Canberra as Federal Capital. Melbourne was where the Parliament met, simply because it was the only city with a building large enough to house the Parliament. However, Melbourne was not regarded as the capital. It was merely the temporary seat of power in Australia - a fine line of difference.

From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building.

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The first national capital of Australia was and is Canberra. Contrary to popular opinion, Melbourne was never the capital of Australia, but merely the temporary seat of Parliament until the city of Canberra was built.

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Q: Which Australian city acted as a capital until 1927?
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What happened in 1927?

in 1927 the stockmarket crash happened from buck


Why and how did Canberra become the capital of Australia?

Although Australia's two largest and wealthiest cities were Sydney and Melbourne, rivalry between them since before the goldrush days essentially prohibited either city from becoming the national capital. It was therefore decided that the nation's capital should be situated between the two cities. However, the capital could not be on the coast, as it was felt that this would render the nation's capital vulnerable to attack from enemy ships. Climate and setting were also important: the climatto could not be warm and tropical, as there were concerns this could lead to "torpor" for the country's top decision makers, and the setting needed to be elevated with a grand outlook, so surrounding mountains were desirable. Section 125 of the Constitution of Australia provided that: "The seat of Government of the Commonwealth shall be determined by the Parliament, and shall be within territory which shall have been granted to or acquired by the Commonwealth, and shall be vested in and belong to the Commonwealth, and shall be in the State of New South Wales, and be distant not less than one hundred miles from Sydney. Such territory shall contain an area of not less than one hundred square miles, and such portion thereof as shall consist of Crown lands shall be granted to the Commonwealth without any payment therefore. The Parliament shall sit at Melbourne until it meets at the seat of Government." Numerous locations were checked over by federal parliamentarians. They included Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Bombala, Dalgety, Delegate, Goulburn, Lake George, Lyndhurst, Orange, Queanbeyan, Tumut, Wagga Wagga and Yass. Although the first preferred site was Dalgety, this was discounted as being too close to Melbourne and too far from Sydney. A location was chosen which was 248km from Sydney and 483km from Melbourne, within easy access of both cities. Farming land was taken up for this purpose. The first survey peg marking the beginning of the development of the city of Canberra was driven in on 20 February 1913. The foundation stone was laid on 12 March 1913. Lady Denman, wife of the Governor-General, then announced the name of the city as Canberra, believed to be a derivation of an Aboriginal word for 'meeting place'.


What is Australia's second oldest city?

Hobart is the second oldest capital city in Australia, with Sydney being the oldest, the latter having been settled in 1788. The city began as a penal colony at Risdon Cove on the Derwent River in 1803 to offset British concerns over the presence of French explorers. A year later it was moved to its current location at Sullivan's Cove. The name Hobart Town was adopted by the settlement in June 1804, after Lord Hobart the Colonial Secretary.


Who was the King of England 200 years ago?

There was no king of England 200 years ago. After the Acts of Union in 1706/1707 the Monarchs were King (or Queen) of Great Britain. From 1801 until 1927, they were monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.From 1760 to 1830 the King was George IIIFrom 1830 to 1837 the King was William IVAfte that the Queen was Victoria


Who was the leader of the Chinese communists by 1927?

(Mao Zedong) Mao Zedong was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party during the Cold War. He became its leader in 1935. He and his fellow communists gained control of China in 1949. Mao ruled with an iron grip until he died of natural causes in 1976.

Related questions

Which Australian city acted as Australia's national until the founding of Canberra in 1927?

No city acted as Australia's capital prior to the establishment of Canberra as Federal Capital. Melbourne was where the Parliament met, simply because it was the only city with a building large enough to house the Parliament. However, Melbourne was not regarded as the capital. It was merely the temporary seat of power in Australia - a fine line of difference.From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building.


What was Australia's capital city before Canberra'?

It is often thought that Melbourne was the temporary national capital from federation in 1901 until the opening of Canberra in 1927. In actuality, Melbourne was never officially the capital city of Australia, but it was the temporary seat of power in Australia - a fine line of difference. From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. Sydney was never the capital, or even acting capital of Australia.


In which city did the Australian Commonwealth Parliament meet before Canberra?

Prior to the construction of the Australian Parliament House, the Federal Parliament met in Melbourne, capital city of Victoria, for the simple reason that it was the only city with a building large enough to house the parliament.


How did the Australian Capital Territory get its name?

The Australian Capital Territory was originally given the official title of the "Territory for the Seat of Government". Because it was such a long and awkward name, a bill was introduced to change the name after the first Parliament House was completed in 1927. At the time, the Supreme Court was known as the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. However, many government departments, including that of the Attorney-General, preferred the more colloquial "Federal Capital Territory". It took several attempts to pass the bill to rename it to Australian Capital Territory, but it was finally agreed upon and passed in 1938.


What was the former capital of Australia?

It is often thought that Melbourne was the temporary national capital from federation in 1901 until the opening of Canberra in 1927. In actuality, Melbourne was never officially the capital city of Australia, but it was the temporary seat of power in Australia - a fine line of difference. From 1901 to 1927, the Australian Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. Sydney was never the capital, or even acting capital of Australia.


How Canberra originally spelled?

Canberra was on a short list of potential sites for the new Australian capital as early as 1899. It was founded in 1913 as the planned capital and opened in 1927. All references to Canberra in these articles are spelled as it is currently spelled "Canberra".


How was Canberra originally spelled?

Canberra was on a short list of potential sites for the new Australian capital as early as 1899. It was founded in 1913 as the planned capital and opened in 1927. All references to Canberra in these articles are spelled as it is currently spelled: "Canberra".


When was the Australian institute of sport built?

It was built in 1927.......................


When did James Carroll - Australian politician - die?

James Carroll - Australian politician - died in 1927.


When was Michael Fitchett - Australian sportsman - born?

Michael Fitchett - Australian sportsman - was born in 1927.


When was Bruce Webster - Australian politician - born?

Bruce Webster - Australian politician - was born in 1927.


When did Henry Murray - Australian politician - die?

Henry Murray - Australian politician - died in 1927.