What is the capital city of Australia?

• A. Sydney
• B. Canberra
• C. Melbourne
• D. Perth

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is knowing which city serves as the seat of government for Australia. Canberra is the capital because it was specifically chosen as a neutral, purpose-built location during federation, a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne—the two largest cities. In 1908, a site in the Australian Capital Territory was selected to house Parliament and the national government, placing political leadership at a centralized, designated spot rather than in one of the big commercial hubs. This arrangement keeps the political heart of the country coordinated with national institutions like Parliament House.

Sydney and Melbourne are the country’s largest and most influential cities, important for commerce, culture, and population, but they’re not the capital. Perth is the capital of Western Australia, not the nation. So, Canberra stands as the federal capital, the center of government rather than the primary population or economic hub.