Undiscovered Canberra Allan J.Mortlock Bernice Anderson This book was published by ANU Press between 1965–1991. This republication is part of the digitisation project being carried out by Scholarly Information Services/Library and ANU Press. This project aims to make past scholarly works published by The Australian National University available to a global audience under its open-access policy. Undiscovered Canberra A collection of different places to visit, things to do and walks to take in and near Canberra. Allan J. Mortlock and Bernice Anderson 1 EDIT • A l DEPARTMENT- ■mill wi Sfiiiiiiiil U i'niiiin P-b' BLiCATlON DATE m i-H Australian National University Press, Canberra, Australia and Norwalk Conn. 1978 First published in Australia 1978 Printed in Hong Kong for the Australian National University Press, Canberra ® Allan J. Mortlockand Bernice Anderson 1978 This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism, or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be made to the publisher. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Mortlock, Allan John. Undiscovered Canberra. (Canberra companions). ISBN 0 7081 1579 9. 1. Australian Capital Territory — Description and travel — Guide-books. I. Anderson, Bernice Irene, joint author. II. Title. (Series). 919.47 Library of Congress No. 78-51763 North America: Books Australia, Norwalk, Conn., USA Southeast Asia: Angus & Robertson (S.E.Asia) Pty Ltd, Singapore Japan: United Publishers Services Ltd, Tokyo Cover photograph Robert Cooper Designed by ANU Graphic Design/Adrian Young Typesetting by TypoGraphics Communications, Sydney Printed by Colorcraft, Hong Kong Introduction Visitors to Canberra, and indeed locals also, are often heard to remark that there is little to do in our national capital. It is in fact true that, once the more obvious attractions such as the War Memorial and Parliament House have been seen, one has to look harder for places of real interest. The embassies with their widely varying architectural styles provide interest certainly, but only at the slow-drive-past level. This is true of other public buildings such as the Lodge. A visit to the flora and fauna reserve at Tidbinbilla is more rewarding as one can get out of the car or bus and walk along the well laid out trails. In other words there is an opportunity to become involved. This is always more satisfying than being a passive spec­ tator. The purpose of the present book is to bring together descriptions of little known places in and near Canberra which are well worth a visit. These should be of special value to the second and third-time visitor to the city who is looking for something new to do as well as to the local suddenly faced with a boring weekend. Where possible the selection has been made to bring out the possibility of doing rather than simply viewing. Both young and old should enjoy solving the problem of the maze at Dunt- roon. For the same reason a short account of a horse-riding school has been included. Like other cities Canberra is subject to continual change. Even the bus routes seem to alter regularly. Again what was once open to the public can become suddenly iii closed. We apologise in advance for any difficulties that might arise due to such causes. Allan J. Mortlock Bernice Anderson Canberra September 1977 A cknowledgments The authors are indebted to a number of people for provid­ ing information and assistance which have been very use­ ful in the preparation of this bcfok. These include Professor D.A. Brown, Dr K.S.W. Campbell, Dr D.H. Coward, Dr Ann Moffatt, Dr Beryl Rawson, and Miss J. Waterhouse, all of the Australian National University. Also, Mr & Mrs D.W .P. Larcombe of Environa; Mr F. Grossbechler of Yarralumla Nursery; the Chief Riding Instructor at Forest Park, Mr M. Judd; Dr R. Schodde of CSIRO Division of Wildlife; members of staff of the Royal Military College, Duntroon; Mr W.F. Thompson of St Ninian’s; Mrs Ida Black of Denham’s Beach, NSW; Of­ ficers of the Landscape Branch, NCDC, Canberra. Thanks are due to Professor B. Mills of Sydney University for permission to use the photograph of the Mills Cross and to the Canberra Times for the photograph of Forest Park Riding School. The poem ‘Water’ by Gerald Bullett, is reproduced from his Collected Poems with the permission of Messrs J.M. Dent & Sons, and ‘Leisure’ from The Complete Poems ofW.H. Davies with the permission of Mrs H.M. Davies. Miss Allison Mortlock made the line drawings. Mr K. Smith assisted with some of the photographic enlargements. W arning note No responsibility whatsoever is accepted for any incon­ venience, injuries due to accident, and/or other untoward events which may arise out of the use of the information given in this book. Readers should always take care to obtain the appropriate permission when venturing upon other than public lands. Very special care should be exercised in mining areas where unprotected shafts represent particular hazards. vi Contents Location Guide 2 Inner Canberra 1 The Maze at Duntroon 5 2 The Old Canberra Inn 8 3 Yarralumla Nursery 11 4 Staircase at the Indonesian Embassy 18 5 Forestry Relics at Yarralumla 23 6 Two Unique Churches 26 7 Old Books, Pots and Coins 35 8 Capital Hill Oddities 39 On the Outskirts 9 Environa 42 10 Forest Park 48 11 The Ginninderra Schoolhouse Museum and Restaurant 50 Further Out 12 Mines and Mining 54 13 Ginninderra Falls 62 14 Red Rock Gorge 66 15 The Mills Cross 69 16 London Bridge 72 17 Lyre-bird Haunts and Mountain Views 75 18 Rocks and Fossils 78 Appendix 87 vii Leisure What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare? No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep and cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. W .H. Davies 1 Location guide To help readers find the various points of interest de­ scribed in this book, appropriate directions are included at the head of each chapter. In addition, the locations are also specified here, using easily available maps of the area. Thus, for inner Canberra, use is made of the UBD Tourist Map (8th Edition, 1977), which is on sale widely, includ­ ing at service stations. On the outskirts, the popular combination 1:100,000 Natmap of the ACT (2nd Edi­ tion, 1976), has been utilised. This is available from the Government Bookshop, London Circuit, Canberra City, and certain other bookshops. Further out references to this particular map are still possible in most cases. Beyond this range the appropriate 1:100,000 National Mapping Sheets have been employed. These are also available from the Government Bookshop. Inner Canberra (UBD Tourist Map) The Maze at Duntroon EE24 The Old Canberra Inn X12 Yarralumla Nursery R23 Staircase at the Indonesian Embassy V25 Forestry Relics at Yarralumla R25 Two Unique Churches X13 (St Ninian’s) FF23 (Duntroon Chapel) Old Books, Pots and Coins R31 (Weekend Gallery) 2 JJ11 (A.D. Hope Building) Capital Hill Oddities X26 Rocks and Fossils X25 (State Circle) T27 (Deakin Outcrop) HH11 (Geology Building) On the Outskirts (Natmap of the ACT) Environa 8727-978802 Forest Park 8727-882901 The Ginninderra Schoolhouse Museum and Restaurant 8727-900031 Further Out (Natmap of the ACT) Mines and Mining 8727-117059 (Bywong) 8727-Ö52826 (Jumping Creek) 8627-764881 (Iron Mine) Ginninderra Falls 8627-774033 Red Rocks Gorge 8727-845796 The Mills Cross 8727-202829 London Bridge 8726-053678 Lyre-bird Haunts and Mountain Views 8627-695925 Further Out (National Mapping Sheets as indicated) Rocks and Fossils 8627-677213 (Cavan limestone) 8627- 662222 (Quartzite outcrops) 8628- 657264 (Shearsby’s Wallpaper) 3 Inner Canberra a The Maze at Duntroon Bus route 31 from Civic Centre: depart from East Row (Stand E), alight at main entrance to Royal Military College in Morshead Drive past Russell Offices. A labyrinth or maze is a building with many confusing passages and paths from which it is difficult to escape. According to legend Daedalus built one for King Minos of Crete. Minos wanted it as a prison for the Minotaur, a monster with the head of a bull and body of a man. Seven Greek youths and maidens were sacrificed to the Minotaur each year. Theseus of Athens finally entered the labyrinth and killed the Minotaur, escaping by following the thread given him by Minos’ daughter Ariadne. The archaeological excavations by Sir Arthur Evans of the great palace of Knossos in Crete, corresponding to a time around 1500 BC, have in fact revealed a structure with a plan in part so complex and confusing that it is 5 \m j ..- ~ i The hedge maze in the grounds of the Royal Military College at Duntroon 6 probably the source of the word labyrinth because of the double-axe wall decoration used there. This decoration is referred to as labrys and is the emblem of the Cretan mother goddess. The original hedge maze at the Royal Military College at Duntroon was planted around 1871 when George Campbell held the property.