The central city area consists of major roads radiating from various large and small circles: State Circle, surrounding Capital Hill and the new Parliament House; Manuka Circle; London Circle, where many of the larger shops and businesses are concentrated; and many smaller circles and roundabouts that carry the connecting roadways through ever-spreading webs to more or less self-sufficient satellite suburbs.
In keeping with its national importance, Canberra is the location for some of the nation's most important repositories, institutions, and symbolism, including the High Court, the National Gallery, the National Botanic Gardens, the Australian War Memorial, the National Library of Australia, New Parliament House, and the National Film and Sound Archive. Of these, the New Parliament House is a highly original creation (the result of another international competition), roofed over by the very soil that was removed to make way for it and thus blending with the hillside in a way peculiarly apt for environment-conscious Canberra. The neo-classical National Library houses major collections relevant to the history, culture, and creativity of Australia. The massive, domed Australian War Memorial, facing down Anzac Avenue to Parliament House, holds the Roll of Honour and the Eternal Flame. The Memorial is one of the world's great museums of war and its strategies, effects, and follies.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Canberra Information info
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