Canberra, the capital city of Australia, exists because of an intense 19th-century rivalry between the nation's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. Both cities fiercely campaigned to be the national capital, leading to a deadlock that was only resolved in 1908 by choosing a completely new site located between the two. Unlike most cities that grow organically, Canberra was a 'planned city.' Following a worldwide design competition, American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin were selected to design the layout. Their plan featured geometric motifs such as circles, hexagons, and triangles, and was integrated with significant greenbelts and a massive artificial lake—now known as Lake Burley Griffin. The city's name is derived from the local Ngunnawal word 'Kamberra,' which means 'meeting place.' Today, Canberra is known as the 'Bush Capital' for its vast natural vegetation and proximity to the Australian Alps, standing as a symbol of national unity and urban planning innovation.