# S3 | meta/muse-spark-1.1 | run 2

## Prompt

What is the capital of Australia?

## Response

The capital of Australia is Canberra. It is located inland in southeastern Australia within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and was purpose-built to serve as the national capital as a compromise between rival cities Sydney and Melbourne [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra).

## Why Canberra is the Capital

Canberra was selected as the capital in 1908 following Federation, when it was decided the capital should be in New South Wales but at least 100 miles from Sydney [National Capital Authority](https://www.nca.gov.au/about/history-capital). American architect Walter Burley Griffin won an international competition to design the planned city, with construction beginning in 1913 [Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/place/Canberra).

The Australian Parliament moved from Melbourne to Canberra in 1927, establishing it as the seat of government [Parliament of Australia](https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/About_the_House_Magazine/Parliament_Moves_to_Canberra).

## Key Facts About Canberra

- **Location and Status:** Enclave within New South Wales, approximately 280 km southwest of Sydney and 660 km northeast of Melbourne, serving as the seat of the Australian Government [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra).
- **Territory:** Forms the core of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), created in 1911 [Australian Government](https://info.australia.gov.au/about-australia/facts-and-planning/canberra).
- **Population:** Approximately 470,000 people, making it Australia's largest inland city and 8th-largest overall [Australian Bureau of Statistics](https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data).

A common misconception is that Sydney or Melbourne is the capital due to their size and economic importance, but Canberra has been the official capital for over a century.

Would you like an overview of Canberra's main government institutions and landmarks to visit?
