Before Canberra, which city was the capital of Australia?

shayla0529, Canberra didn't exist in 1908. It is a city created to become the capital, which it did in 1927.

In 1908 rivals Sydney and Melbourne were said to actually compromise on Canberra becoming the capital....

Bonzodog, You are correct that the city of Canberra didn't exist. However, the parish of Canberra had existed since the 19th century, and it was this location that was chosen for the new capital as a compromise between the two major cities, Melbourne and Sydney, as shayla0529 indicated.

G'Day