242 Australian Life 



directed at provincialism, but provincialism is 

 dying hard. 



A striking example of the conflict between 

 national and state interests is afforded in the ques- 

 tion of fixing the site of the proposed Australian 

 capital a question still unsettled at the time 

 these words were written. The proposal to build 

 a new capital city in one of the most favoured 

 parts of Australia was welcomed by all, both as 

 a means of compromise between the rival claims 

 of Sydney and Melbourne, and because it would 

 create a national centre apart from the influence 

 of any State section. It was, therefore, provided 

 that a site should be chosen in the State of New 

 South Wales, at least a hundred miles from 

 Sydney, and with a minimum area of one hund- 

 red square miles, for the creation of a Com- 

 monwealth capital. When the question of 

 determining the site came before the House of 

 Representatives, the members representing the 

 State of New South Wales made an endeavour to 

 have a place called Lyndhurst, one hundred 

 miles north of Sydney, chosen for the capital. 

 The attempt failed, and selection was narrowed 

 down to two places both equidistant from Mel- 

 bourne and Sydney. One of these is Tumut, on 

 an elevated plateau inland; the other Bombala, 

 near the coast and communicating with the sea- 

 port of Eden, on Twofold Bay. In the House 

 of Representatives, where the vote of the New 

 South Wales and Victorian delegates preponder- 



