Why was Melbourne used as Australia’s temporary national capital?

Melbourne served as the temporary national capital of Australia following the inauguration of the commonwealth in 1901 because the permanent seat of government had not yet been established.12

The Australian constitution, adopted in 1900, mandated that the federal capital be located within a new federal territory in New South Wales, at least 100 miles (160 km) from Sydney. While the search for and construction of this new capital—eventually determined to be Canberra—took place, Melbourne functioned as the interim seat of the federal government. This arrangement continued until 1927, when the federal Parliament officially transferred to the new capital.132