THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIANS PROJECTED FEDERAL CAPITAL

Progress, Volume VIII, Issue 8, 1 April 1913, Page 410411

THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIANS PROJECTED FEDERAL CAPITAL

After a good deal of vaccilation on the part of those in power, the Commonwealth entered upon a definite stage last month with the laying of the foundation stone to its new —Yass-Canberra. The accepted design, a perspective of which we reproduce, has emerged from the mass of designs sent in which have cost the Government several thousands of pounds.

THE BIGGEST TOWN-PLANNING ENTERPRISE OF MODERN TIMES

these subsidiary hut all important questions will be tackled in the rigdit spirit, and a “model” town built which will be a lasting monument of Australia’s greatness. The materials for building should cause no worry, as suitable samples of shale for brickmaking have been obtained on the spot and a big brickmaking plant is being erected to make the 99,000,000

Bay, distant about 123 miles. This port lias good anchorage, and will no doubt be connected up by rail and become a flourishing port in time. In this new City Parliament House will stand in the centre, near the large winding lake made by damming the Molonglo River, and other important buildings will be placed in the most central and advantageous positions, making the city at first

A central power house is in course of erection, and will generate electricity for transmission to all parts of the territory. A large dam is being built on the Cotter River, for the conservation of water for domestic and civic purposes. The main reservoir at Red Hill, ten miles from the city, will he connected with the Cotter by a cast-iron pipe. The total cost of the dam and reservoir will be about .£90,000.

Australia’s new Capital city will be watched with great interest the world over, as no project of similar magnitude has been undertaken so far in any other part of the world, though, of course, there are many smaller examples of town-planning schemes in England and elsewhere. The new Federal Capital should be an example of what modern town-planning means to the people. It should bring home in practical form the advantages of the utilisation of the latest scientific methods of dealing with sanitation, housing, etc. Just how Australia will handle these questions will be of interest to all outsiders. It is hoped that the bungle made over the acceptance of the winning design will not be repeated, but that now the site and name are fixed, and the foundation stone laid,

bricks required to build the city. Stone is also abundant, but none has so far been used for building purposes, though there is plenty available for road making. A pipe-making plant is already installed which turns out cement pipes from din. to 24in., and a large amount of timber is already there maturing ready for use. It is pleasing to note that the Government is not forgetting afforestation, as it is making arrangements for the afforestation of that part of the district contiguous to the city itself. By planting out now the trees will be well established by the time the city is complete, eight years being the estimate for the erection of the city. Canberra is 204 miles from Sydney, and 429 miles from Melbourne, and its nearest port is Jervis

mainly an official one. In it tlie Commonwealth Parliament will meet, and the Governor-General will have his residence; There will be Law Courts, a post office, buildings for various Government departments, military barracks, and other buildings incidental to the seat of Government. Later on, there is little doubt that the city will become a fashionable and business centre, surrounded by the residences of wealthy people. The climate is a particularly healthy one, and fishing and sport in the district are excellent. A start has been made with the construction of the railway connecting TassCanberra with Queanbeyan, on the. main line, and the Commonwealth authorities. are erecting brick kilns, with a capacity of 15,00.0,000. bricks a year.

It is estimated that if this dam, at the junction of the Cotter and Murrumbidgee rivers, it built at a height of 70ft., it will- make a reservoir of 800.000. gallons, and if carried up to a height of 200 ft., the quantity it would hold would be 4800 million gallons. As the estimated consumption is only 2,500,000 gallons a day for a population of 25.000, at 100 gallons each, there ought to be no difficulty here. Colonel Miller, 1.5.0., Secretary to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, has been appointed Administrator of the Territory. He has powers approximate to those possessed by the Administrator of the Northern Territory, and is practically in full control, subject to the Minister for Home Affairs.,