Canberra is recognised as one of the world’s most successful examples of planned city development. In sixty years it has grown from a collection of surveyors’ tents to Australia’s largest inland city. Because it has developed so rapidly most of Canberra’s 200,000 citizens were born elsewhere. This book attempts to capture some aspects of life in Canberra — the buildings, the seasons, people at work and play, the countryside — so that residents of the national capital can give an impression of its moods and lifestyle to relatives and friends far away. Designed by ANU Graphic Design/ Stephen Cole Canberra is recognised as one of the world’s most successful examples of planned city development. In sixty years it has grown from a collection of surveyors’ tents to Australia’s largest inland city. Because it has developed so rapidly most of Canberra’s 200,000 citizens were born elsewhere. This book attempts to capture some aspects of life in Canberra — the buildings, the seasons, people at work and play, the countryside — so that residents of the national capital can give an impression of its moods and lifestyle to relatives and friends far away. Designed by ANU Graphic Design/ Stephen Cole 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. First published in Australia 1978 Printed in Singapore for the Australian National University Press, Canberra by Toppan Printing Co., Singapore ® The Australian National University 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 Canberra ISBN 0 7081 1296 X 1. Canberra — Description. I. Gibson, George, ed. 919.4’7[1] United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East, and Africa: Eurospan Ltd, 3 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8LU, England North America: Books Australia, Norwalk, Conn., USA Southeast Asia: Angus & Robertson (S.E. Asia) Pty Ltd, Singapore Japan: United Publishers Services Ltd, Tokyo Designed by ANU Graphic Design, Stephen Cole CANBERRA George Gibson, Editor Canberra without its lake would be like above, graces the southern shore, its white London without the Thames — not thirsty, marble columns lending the building an but with its individuality sadly diluted. Lake aspect of serenity in keeping with its Burley Griffin — named after the Chicago function. Facing the library, the Captain Cook architect who in 1911 won an international Memorial water jet gushes skyward from the competition for the design of Australia’s centre of the lake, and further to the east the capital — provides the setting for some of the carillon towers over little Aspen Island, top city’s most unusual, but characteristic, fea­ right. Other islands, right, are Springbank, a tures. Looking rather like a modern-day favoured picnic spot, and Spinnaker. Parthenon, the National Library of Australia, One of the largest free-standing bell-towers in the world, the carillon was a gift from the British government to the Australian people to mark the 50th anniversary of Canberra on 12 March 1963. Its 53 bells range in weight from less than 7 kg to more than 6 tonnes, and were cast by John Taylor and Sons, of Loughborough, England, specialists in this craft for centuries. Right: Getting ready for a regatta at Canberra Yacht Club, in Lotus Bay. As recently as 1963 most of the area covered by Lake Burley Griffin was a shallow valley watered only by the Molonglo River. Scrivener Dam changed the picture unbeliev­ ably: Australia’s largest inland city found itself surrounding 35 km of lakeshore. Trees, lawns, gardens and picnic areas were estab­ lished and the lake now fills an important ornamental and recreational role. Regular cruises from the terminal at Acton, left, make it a pleasant way to tour the sights as well. This huge neo-Byzantine edifice at the foot of between the arcaded galleries bearing the Mt Ainslie houses one of the world’s most Roll of Honour stands the domed Hall of extensive and skilfully presented military Memory, with its impressive statue, stained- museums. Completed in 1971, the Australian glass windows and mosaic-covered walls; a War Memorial draws nearly three-quarters of shrine of remembrance for the 102,000 men a million visitors a year, many returning and women who died serving Australia in the again ar?d again — for the sheer immensity of two world wars and in earlier and later the exhibition can command not hours, but conflicts. days of interest. At the head of the courtyard In its half-century as the official residence of distinguished visitors are entertained. Before Australia’s Governors-General, this discreetly the government bought it in 1911, elegant house has accommodated many a Yarralumla, as the house and property were famous guest and witnessed many a cer­ then called, belonged to the Campbell family emonial occasion. Here new governments are of Duntroon. The original name, from an commissioned, and new Acts of Parliament Aboriginal word meaning ‘Where the cry receive royal assent. Here the credentials of comes back from the mountain’, was then ambassadors are accepted, and members of taken for the South Canberra suburb which the Royal Family, Heads of State and other grew up around Government House. As the national capital and seat of govern­ governments to accommodate the ment, Canberra must also perform the role of ambassadors or (in the case of Com­ diplomatic centre, and provide hospitality to monwealth representatives) high commis­ those nations which have established formal sioners, and their chancelleries, have relations with Australia. Of these there are contributed richly to the city’s architectural now more than sixty, and foreign diplomats diversity. One of the latest to be completed is and their families make up a significant part shown here: the Embassy of Poland, in of a widely cosmopolitan community. Turrana Street, Yarralumla ... Equally, the buildings erected by these . .. and nearby one of the most distinctive: the more recently constructed are to be found in Embassy of Thailand, on the corner of the section of Yarralumla bounded by State Adelaide Avenue and Empire Circuit. In­ Circle, Adelaide Avenue and Empire Circuit, deed, conveniently for the sightseer, most of near the lake’s southern shore. Two import­ the diplomatic missions and residences are ant exceptions are the USSR, in Canberra located in Yarralumla and Red Hill, with a Avenue, Griffith, and the Chinese People’s few also in their linking suburbs, Deakin and Republic on the Federal Highway — one of Forrest. There are more than twenty on Red the few embassies situated north of the lake. Hill’s Mugga Way alone, while many of the Canberra reflects a diversity of influences. Above: Norma Redpath’s fountain dominates the forecourt of the Treasury. But the day of reckoning seems far from this serene corner of The Australian National University cam­ pus, right. The ANU has earned an inter­ national reputation for research in several fields, among them astronomy: opposite, top right, Mt Stromlo Observatory. Left: The headquarters of the Australian Academy of Science; and below, the Old Canberra Inn, restored and plying its trade again a century later. Canberrans refer to their city centre — the streets lined with shops and offices which radiate from City Hill — simply as Civic. Below: Melbourne Building (1928). Right: Garema Place. Even the children go willingly to shop if it’s in Civic! For there, in Petrie Plaza, stands Canberra’s magnificent old carousel, top. As well as a multitude of street-front stores, boutiques and restaurants, Civic boasts three large, under-one-roof shopping complexes: the Monaro Mall, the Boulevard above and Canberra Arcade. Right: Shops at Ainslie, an inner suburb. Civic was the first, and is still the capital’s malls in Australia. The pattern of NewTowns principal business centre, despite the rapid — a third is being developed at Tuggeranong, growth of the self-contained New Towns with south of Woden — relieves inner Canberra of their own large shopping complexes. Colour­ big-city growth pressures and enables the ful Woden Plaza above in the ACT’s first New preservation of large areas of countryside Town, and Belconnen Mall in the second, are within the urban perimeter. among the most modern and extensive retail Foto: Heidi Large offices are being established in the New Towns and some nine thousand people are employed in Woden Town Centre. The Canberra plan thus decentralises not only community services but work opportunities too: the New Towns are becoming independ­ ent of their parent city. But most government departments are still housed within or close to the Parliamentary Triangle, as in the Administrative Building above seen across the lawns in front of Parliament House, and the Trade Offices right. Being built among hills, but not on them, Canberra is a city of splendid panoramic views. Top: from Capital Hill the eye travels straight up Kings Avenue to the tall column of the Australian-American Memorial. Above right: Looking back the other way, from Mt Pleasant towards Kings Avenue Bridge. Left: Part of North Canberra from Mt Ainslie. The prevalent image of Canberra is one of which was founded by Robert Campbell of newness: after all. the city was only founded Duntroon in 1841 with a gift of £1,000 and in 1913. So it comes as a surprise to discover 40 ha of land.