CANBERRA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5127, 18 May 1927, Page 3

CANBERRA.

AUSTRALIA’S NEW CAPITAL.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY.

On Monday of last week the Duke Of York opened the new Parliament Building at Canberra, Sir Henry Lunn describes the new city and building in the American Review of Reviews : “It is an eight-hours’ railway journey from Sydney to Queanbeyan and then a motor run of twelve miles to Canberra, the- made-to-order capital of the Australian Commonwealth. “Canberra is being founded as a way out of the rivalry of Melbourne and Sydney. It was. agreed that the territory should be taken out of the State o£ New South Wales. It was one O|f the bargains which induced the free State, New South Wales, to enter into a protected Commonwealth.

“It was npt until 1908 that the Act was finally passed by which this territory was agreed upon. In addition to the 900 square miles or more in the vicinity of Canberra there is also an area of 2302 acres at Jervis. Bay for the purpose of a Comjnonwealth port, which is under the same commissioners. Canberra is situated 204 miles from Sydney, 429 miles from Melbourne, 912 miles from Adelaide, and 929 miles from Brisbane. It is, therefore, nearly equidistant from the chief centres of population in the continent. It is separated by a distance of 20 miles from the main dividing range between the eastern coast of Australia and the rivers that empty themselves into the Murray. “The site is admirably chosen, bounded by mountains in each direction. The Mplonglo River flows through the site in a westerly direction and joins the Queanbeyan River at that town, seven miles -from Canberra —twelve miles by road, and at present five miles by rail. A new road is being constructed which will be about the same length as the railway. “The city will lie in an amphitheatre of hills in large areas of gently undulating country. The great tributary of the Murray, the Murrumbidgee, flows through the territory, but the main river which supplies water is the Cotter River. “The Parliament Building is to be opened by the Duke of York early in May. The architecture is plain and obviously economical, the intention being to erect what is called a ‘temporary building,’ but it is a building that will last one hundred years, without showing any signs of decay. The idea is, at a later date, to build the permanent Houses, of Parliament behind the present Parliament House at a higher level overlooking it, and to- use the present structure for government offices, but the general opinion is that the present building will be used as a Parliament for at least half a century.

“The Senate Chamber and the Chamber for the House of Representatives are large enough for double the number of members that now constitute the Federal, Parliament. “In the case of Canberra the commissioners' have decided that one district shall be industrial. There are already being erected large laundries and the other buildings of an industrial character that are necessary in a great residential city. They will have .full power to prevent any manufacturers arising within the city that would lessen its amenities and disfigure the scenery. “In another part of the city altogether it is intended to cultivate the development of large residences. In yet another part houses are built for workmen and minor officials. “There will be a large university founded, which will attract, no doubt, a considerable number of families, and will furnish opportunities for education to the children of the leading civilians and the members of the two Houses of Parliament.

Canberra being a garden city, the planting of trees and shrubs is being carried out on very careful lines. The streets and avenues are to be planted with every possible care. A certain amount of afforestation work is going on in the outskirts of the city. Pretty parks and belts of trees for shelter have both beenplanted. The number of employees now controlled by the commissioners amounts to 3,400'. "I was much interested to find that Mr Butters (the chief commissioner) was an ardent supporter of church union, not because of any strong ecclesiastical views of . his own, but .’because the rival sects aregiving him a great deal of trouble in their demands for sites for cathedrals, halls, and churches."