Published Resources Details
Journal Article
- Title
- Presidential Address [1964] - History and development of Australia's national capital
- In
- Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia
- Imprint
- vol. 36, no. 3, Mar 1964, pp. 41-46
- ISBN/ISSN
- 0020-3319
- Description
Retiring President's address by R. H. Priddle, BE MIEAust, to the forty-Fourth Annual General Meeting of The Institution of Engineers, Australia, at Canberra on 16th April, 1964.
- Abstract
This address provides a detailed historical account of the planning, development, and evolution of Canberra, Australia's national capital. It begins with the Commonwealth of Australia's establishment in 1901, and the selection and nomination of the city site in the Molonglo basin, surveyed by Charles Scrivener, in 1908-1909, and the acceptance of his report in 1911. It highlights the contributions of Walter Burley Griffin, whose winning design in the 1911 international competition laid the foundation for the city's layout, emphasizing ornamental lakes and a geometric structure. The roles of the various committees and commissions that have shaped Canberra's growth are discussed, including the Federal Capital Advisory Committee (1921-1925); Federal Capital Commission (1925-1930); The Department of the Interior (1930-1938); National Capital Planning and Development Committee (1938-1957), Senate Select Committee (1954), and the National Capital Development Commission (1957-). It also outlines major infrastructure projects, such as the construction of Lake Burley Griffin, Scrivener Dam, and key public buildings. The document concludes with projections for Canberra's future development, including population growth, urban expansion, and the establishment of significant national institutions.