Why was Canberra built as the capital?

As a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne

Who designed Canberra's city plan?

Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin

Australian Capitals Trivia Quiz – Names, Facts and Surprises

This Australian capitals trivia quiz covers Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin. Ten questions bring names, facts and surprises about Australia's capital cities.

Start Australian Capitals Trivia Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Canberra
Why was Canberra built as the capital?
Canberra
Who designed Canberra's city plan?
Melbourne
Which city was Australia's temporary capital from 1901 to 1927?
Perth
Which is one of the most isolated major cities in the world?
Darwin
Which capital was rebuilt after Cyclone Tracy in 1974?
Hobart
Which capital is the second-oldest in Australia?
Adelaide
Adelaide is nicknamed what?
Brisbane
Which capital hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games and will host the 2032 Olympics?
Sydney
Which Sydney building opened in 1973 and is a UNESCO site?
Canberra
What is the large artificial lake in the middle of Canberra?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Why was Canberra built as the capital?
Answer: As a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne
Both cities wanted to be capital, so a new city was built between them.
Q2: Who designed Canberra's city plan?
Answer: Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin
The American architects won an international design competition in 1912.
Q3: Which city was Australia's temporary capital from 1901 to 1927?
Answer: Melbourne
Parliament met in Melbourne until Canberra's Parliament House opened in 1927.
Q4: Which is one of the most isolated major cities in the world?
Answer: Perth
Perth is closer to Bali than to Sydney.
Q5: Which capital was rebuilt after Cyclone Tracy in 1974?
Answer: Darwin
Cyclone Tracy struck on Christmas Day and destroyed most of the city.
Q6: Which capital is the second-oldest in Australia?
Answer: Hobart
Hobart was founded in 1804 and sits below Mount Wellington.
Q7: Adelaide is nicknamed what?
Answer: The City of Churches
Adelaide was planned by Colonel William Light, with parklands surrounding the center.
Q8: Which capital hosted the 1982 Commonwealth Games and will host the 2032 Olympics?
Answer: Brisbane
Brisbane lies on a winding river and is Queensland's capital.
Q9: Which Sydney building opened in 1973 and is a UNESCO site?
Answer: Sydney Opera House
Danish architect Jørn Utzon designed its famous sail-like roofs.
Q10: What is the large artificial lake in the middle of Canberra?
Answer: Lake Burley Griffin
The lake was filled in 1964 and named after the city's designer.

Australian Capitals Trivia Quiz – Capitals of a Continent

Australia's capitals are mostly coastal cities founded as colonial settlements. Sydney came first in 1788, followed by Hobart, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide. Darwin grew in the far north, and Canberra was built from scratch as the national capital.

Canberra exists because Sydney and Melbourne could not agree which should be capital. The constitution required the new city to be in New South Wales but at least 100 miles from Sydney. Its planned design features circles, axes and a central lake.

Each capital has its own character: Sydney's harbor, Melbourne's laneways and sport, Brisbane's subtropical lifestyle, Perth's beaches and isolation, Adelaide's festivals, Hobart's historic waterfront and Darwin's tropical markets.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz helps travelers and students learn Australia's capital cities.

Why Canberra was built
Who designed Canberra
Which city was the temporary capital
Which city was rebuilt after a cyclone
Which city is most isolated

Did You Know?

Melbourne often ranks among the world's most livable cities.
Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932.
Perth has a large urban park, Kings Park.
Hobart hosts the finish of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Darwin has a tropical wet and dry climate.