Canberra - Australian Capital Territory

Envision Washington DC  cleared of all but its monuments which now look as if a sci-fi loving architect designed them and you have a picture of Canberra.  It is a capital of contradictions.   The center of politics and holding the nation's artistic treasures yet it is a rural city with the occasional kangaroo found hopping down the street.  What it lacks in tall buildings, business buzz and the modernity of other Australian cities it makes up for in a wonderful selection of museums housing national treasures.

In the early 1900's it was decided to end the rivalry between Sydney, the oldest city, and Melbourne, the largest city, by locating the capital in neutral territory.  Naming the previous sheep station area took about a decade.  On March 12, 1913 the Ngambri word for meeting place was officially bestowed on this new capital.

By the way - the Sydney VS Melbourne rivalry still thrives!