Travel Talk

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 21

Travel Talk

CANBERRA. The following is the concluding section of the interview with Miss M. W. Rein who returned recently from a trip to Australia: — "Canberra, the Federal Capital of Australia, is essentially a garden city, although it is too scattered it had really 'been built for a hundred years hence, and had been very carefully planned. For instance the Ainslie Hotel, where .ill the passengers by the Pioneer Tourist Company stayed, is six miles from the Federal Centre. All the Government buildings being in white stood out In the centre was Parliament House which was extremely interesting. All around was a flower garden, while the streets ran in circles. * In front of Parliament House were four beds of tulips and flowering trees, which when in bloom must be a wonderful sight. In front of these beds there was a grass lawn, while in front again there will one day be a mirror pond. On each side were rose-beds called National Rose-beds, in which every variety of rose it was possible to buy grows. At the side of one rose-bed there were well-laid out bowling greens and tennis courts.

“The first Federal Parliament was opened on May 9, 1901, .by the Duke of York, now King George. The present Federal Parliament at Canberra was opened by the present Duke of York on May 9, 1927. Parliament was in session so we were taken all over

the building. The Senate sat on one side, while the House of Representatives sat on the other. Both rooms were very similar except the Senate was in red and the other in green. We listened, for a short time, to a debate in the House of Representatives. The entrace hall was very fine, and it was here that the Duke of Gloucester gave his balk ' Fine Statues. “In it were very fine statues of the late King Edward and Queen Alexandra, a full-size and lifelike one of King George and numerous other ones of prominent statesmen, past and present, of Australia. There was a wonderful inlaid table with inkstand and pen, which Queen Victoria used when signing the agreement to Australia becoming a Commonwealth. There were two realistic paintings, both done by an Australian artist, one of the scene outside and the other inside of the opening of the Parliamentary Building by the present Duke of York. In the lobby outside the entrance hall hung an artistic plaque called “The Spartan Mother,” presented by Doultons and the work of George Tinworth. There were many interesting documents and paintings besides; but they were too numerous to mention.

“Many people thought the Parliamentary Building was only a temporary one. However, that was rather erroneous. The idea first of all was to have a building on a hill in white marble costing two and a-half million pounds, and taking seven years to build. As this would have cost too much it was considered better to build in the meantime the present edifice at a much smaller cost; but it would stand for at least fifty years and maybe a hundred. We passed the Prime Minister’s Lodge, which cost £27,000 to build, but it was by no means an imposing structure. Most of the land was owned by the Government and was leasehold, so that if people built the houses would in time become the property of the Government. There were three shopping areas all separated by about two miles from each other. Manuka was the smallest; but there was to be found the Capitol Theatre, a splendid building. Kingston and the Civic area were the main shopping centres; but at Kingston goods were 20 per cent, cheaper than at the other. Wonderful Baths. “Near Kingston were situated the Baths, which had wonderfully clear chlorinated water and had no roof to them. “The Civic area consisted of two blocks of buildings owned by the Government. Above were flats, where the people lived, while below were the shops and offices. There were about. 6000 inhabitants in Canberra and some very picturesque homes. Near Parliament House was the Post Office, rather a small building, the east and west block Government Offices, the Canberra Hotel and Albert Hall where all dances and concerts were held. Although Canberra seemed very spread out, everything had been very carefully planned, while the site of each building, though not yet erected, had been fixed. There were several large schools, a Church of England, Girls’ Grammar, Boys’ High School, etc. The lines of communication with Sydney and Melbourne were by rail, plane and motor. \

“We left Canberra about 9 o’clock in the morning for Sydney. On our way we passed a very large estate owned by the Salvation Army and left to them by the late Mr Hill. They derive all the income from the estate. There was a very fine residence on it, but it is never used except on special occasions, such as when General Evangeline Booth was in Australia. They opened up the house and she spent .. week there before continuing her journey to Sydney. Another large estate we passed was that of Mr Macather Onslow, where the Duke of Gloucester stayed while in Australia. We arrived in Sydney about 5 o’clock and saw the large city at its busiest. We were driven right through the city with its narrow streets and sky-scraper buildings, and hence to King’s Cross, where we took up our abode while in Sydney.