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Post by Marv on Apr 8, 2008 20:59:23 GMT 10
Its historical, The ACT and canberra were set up in 1927 because Sydney and Melbourne were arguing which city should be the Capital in the Federation. Melbourne at the time was but sydney was putting up a stink for being the first city and in the first stse. So the governments solution was to do what the US did and set up a capital city withing its own territory. Yes Geographically ACT is within NSW but NSW has no say in the running of the place. Canberra is the only "city" of about 300-400,000 people but you also have the border town od Queenbeyan (where the Raiders fist played out of) but there are heaps of other small towns dotted through the ACT and there is a mountain range (Brindabellas) and nice lakes that are just inside its bounds. Other places like Tuggeranong and Tharwa were once seperate towns, but now have become part of Canberra. Its also about 2 hours drive to the Kosciuszko National Park and Snowfields and some of the best Trout (and unfortunately Carp) fishing around. Also head east for 2 hours and you hit the great beaches around Batemans bay and Durros and head west an hour and you hit the Wineries of the Riviera... oh and 3 hrs nrth to Sydney.  Interesting, i had heard once before the reason behind canberra was because Sydney and Melbourne couldnt agree, its always a good quiz question over here, Capital of Australia. You would be amazed how many people think Melbourne or Sydney. |
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Post by Druzik on Apr 8, 2008 21:03:20 GMT 10
Well they are the two largest by far and far. But in many nations the Capital is a small city. Look at the USA, Washingtopn DC is only about 500,000 people and also in its own "District" called the district of Columbia.
But do you know what Canberra supposedly means in Aboriginal?
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Post by Druzik on Apr 8, 2008 21:14:51 GMT 10
OH yeah also forgot to mention that at there is a bit of land at the southern end of Jervis bay which is also the ACT. So the law in Oz is that every stste and territory needs to have a port... plus it also the site of where australias first Nuclear powerplant was going to be built.
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Post by Ryan N on Apr 8, 2008 21:33:14 GMT 10
Also head east for 2 hours and you hit the great beaches around Batemans bay and Durras. Batemans Bay.... great beaches haha, yeah...right. And Durras, were talking all reef, no sandbars to be found. But head south and you come to my mighty little town, Dalmeny! |
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Post by Druzik on Apr 8, 2008 21:41:55 GMT 10
Well these are somew of my pickies from around Durras and Sth Durras from a couple of years ago.   They look pretty good to me, no reef, lots of sand and some great fishing! |
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Post by Ryan N on Apr 8, 2008 21:51:19 GMT 10
Well these are somew of my pickies from around Durras and Sth Durras from a couple of years ago. They look pretty good to me, no reef, lots of sand and some great fishing! Mmmmm yes I was talking about a surfing point of view. Speaking of which i went to Broulee today and walked more than i have ever in my life. Down the main beach, around the whole bloody island. I had a stitch haha. PS. best beaches are around Bermagui, great scenery, Tathra that way. Shit surf though. |
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Post by Druzik on Apr 8, 2008 21:59:52 GMT 10
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Post by Ryan N on Apr 8, 2008 22:20:25 GMT 10
Yeah plenty of wildlife down this way. We saw a few animals today. A couple of those kangaroo mice thingos and a few lizards. Plus dead fish on the beach, but that is a bad thing I suppose.
Yeah we always go fishing out in the boat at Montague Island or Potato Point, plenty of Kingfish. I personally hate fishing though, it's only fun when your catching things, and the wait is terrible.
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Post by Druzik on Apr 8, 2008 22:29:29 GMT 10
Love fishin, nothing like landing a 20 Kg Kingy or a 60 Kg Yellowfin Tuna! So for the European based friends I'll explain what the animals are. 1. The first Photos is a Bandicoot... one of the rarest animals you'll see in Oz. On the endangered list but around Durras its one of its few strong holding areas, so if you don't make too much noise they come out. 2. Possums... the cheekiest animals alive. These guys have no fear and will quite readily come up onto your table and eat your food off your plate while you are! Also they love to do the bag snatch when ever they can so protect your bread! Introduced to NZ and are a pest now... they have a saying a good possum is a dead one. 3. Kangaroos... need I say more, great to hunt, cook in the ground and eat. mmmmmm yummy! 4. Goanna... Australias largest lizard, can get upto 2m in some parts of Oz. Edible too but as Crocodile Dundee once said "You can live on it, but it tastes like sh*t". 5. Below - a wannab... sorry Wallaby (was thinking of the Union team). Very rare to spot them in the wild as they are really shy animals, usually have to spot them real early in the morning or hit them with a car.   |
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Post by Druzik on Apr 8, 2008 22:32:55 GMT 10
... no Dropbears though.  |
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Post by Marv on Apr 8, 2008 22:36:32 GMT 10
I personally hate fishing though, it's only fun when your catching things, and the wait is terrible. I agree ryan, i like to go fishing with mates who like fishing on a nice day but dont know anything about it and the wait is unbarable sometimes!! |
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Post by Marv on Apr 8, 2008 22:38:00 GMT 10
Well they are the two largest by far and far. But in many nations the Capital is a small city. Look at the USA, Washingtopn DC is only about 500,000 people I guess your right. That is not the case in the UK however But do you know what Canberra supposedly means in Aboriginal? No please tell |
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Post by Druzik on Apr 8, 2008 22:41:49 GMT 10
The word "Canberra" is derived from the name of the local Ngabri people dialect, one of the Ngunnawal family groups, from the word Kanbarra meaning "meeting place" in the old Ngunnawal language. The Ngunnawal name was apparently used as a reference to corroborees held during the seasonal migration of the Ngunawal people to feast on the Bogong moths that pass through the region each spring.
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Post by Marv on Apr 9, 2008 0:10:47 GMT 10
The word "Canberra" is derived from the name of the local Ngabri people dialect, one of the Ngunnawal family groups, from the word Kanbarra meaning "meeting place" in the old Ngunnawal language. The Ngunnawal name was apparently used as a reference to corroborees held during the seasonal migration of the Ngunawal people to feast on the Bogong moths that pass through the region each spring. Quality.......apart from "feasting on moths" Fascinating where place names come from, lots of Norse and Celtic names around where I live, again indicitive of the history of migration from the mainland (europe) to the Islands (UK) |
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Post by Marv on Apr 9, 2008 0:12:11 GMT 10
That said moths over here are tiny creatures, I would not be at all surprised if the "bogong moths" are the size of a small dog
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