The Place To Be

CANBERRA TODAY


Canberra's population is now over 345,000, making it Australia's largest in land city. Due to the high number of public servants (a result of the federal governments location in Canberra), Canberra boasts the largest percentage of Gross State Product - the Government is the largest single employer in Canberra.


Unemployment is lowest in Canberra, and the average income higher. Tertiary education levels are also higher, however the population age is generally lower. Property prices are higher than average due to the restricted development within Canberra.


Canberra boats a variety of social and cultural institutions; including the following;
Australian National University
Australian Institute of Sport
Australian War Memorial
National Library
National Museum
National Gallery
National Archives
Australian Academy of Science
Royal Australian Mint
University of Canberra
Australian Defence Force Academy
Government specific buildings, such as Parliament House and the High Court.


In the 2006 census; 1.2% of Canberra's population were indigenous, and 21.7% were born overseas. Only 9.8% of the population is over 65 years.


Second highest mobility rate of any Australian capital - 61.9% moved to or from Canberra (between 1996 and 2001).
The residents in Canberra have a significantly higher education level - a higher majority have at least bachelor degrees.


The automobile is the dominant form of transport in Canberra. Similar to the 'Garden City' planning theory, the city is laid out so that clusters of development are joined by arterial roads that run through open land and forest. Canberra has significantly more green space than any other capital. The development of these clusters also means a lower population density.


ACTION - the government bus service - provides public transport throughout the city. Bus services are also available to NSW.
7.7% of journeys to work were via bus, with 7.4% walking or cycling to work.


CountryLink railway service connects Canberra and Sydney. The train service within the ACT was closed and never fixed due to flooding in the 1920s. No rail link between Canberra and Jervis Bay exists.


Melbourne is only accessible via a bus and then train connection.


A fast train service between Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney has been proposed, but is yet to be implemented. 


The Canberra International Airport allows for domestic flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Canberra is known as a "Fly In - Fly Out" city.


(Information Source: http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/LocationSearch?collection=Census&period=2006&areacode=805&producttype=QuickStats&breadcrumb=PL&action=401)