Canberra: Australia's Inland Capital

No, Canberra is not on the coast. It is a planned inland capital, located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), approximately 150 km (93 miles) from the nearest coastline (Bateman's Bay, NSW).

Why Inland?

• Compromise: 1908 selection resolved Sydney-Melbourne rivalry; required site within NSW but ≥100 miles from Sydney.
• Defense: Inland location less vulnerable to naval attack (early 20th-century thinking).
• Climate: Four distinct seasons; cooler than coastal capitals.

Geography

• Elevation: 578 m (1,896 ft) – Australia's highest capital.
• Setting: Between Brindabella Ranges (west) and lake-filled valleys.
• Lake Burley Griffin: Artificial centerpiece (1963), 11 km long.

Coastal Access

Canberrans reach the South Coast (Bateman's Bay, Merimbula) in ~2 hours by car via the Kings Highway—popular for weekend trips.

Australia's other capitals (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin) are all coastal; Canberra is the sole exception.