Remarkably, as envisaged, a competition for the new federal capital was finally announced in 1911.
by Christopher Vernon: published in 'The Griffin's in Australia and India'
Thursday 28 July 2011
WBG: An 'Accidental' Australian
Australia, and visions of it's future capital, Canberra, entered Walter Burly Griffin's thinking at least a decade before he would ever step foot on it's shores. News of the Federation movement coalescing in the distant antipodes captured his attention in 1896, while he was still a student at the University of Illinois, at Urbana - Champaign (1895-99). Convinced that a new capital city was an inevitable necessity, Griffin, his father recollected 'then decided to build it'. About five years later, on 2 January 1901, the Chicago Tribune reported that a 'new era in Australia' had begun with the inauguration of the Commonwealth. With Federation the likely catalyst, and in anticipation of a design competition, the recently graduated (1899) designer began an earnest interest and study of town planning.
Remarkably, as envisaged, a competition for the new federal capital was finally announced in 1911.
by Christopher Vernon: published in 'The Griffin's in Australia and India'
Remarkably, as envisaged, a competition for the new federal capital was finally announced in 1911.
by Christopher Vernon: published in 'The Griffin's in Australia and India'
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This is a great story of foresight, and determination. WBG was 'reading the play' well and realising that the formation of a nation would soon occur in Australia; and also that a Capital would need to be designed and planned. WBG was able to study and prepare for this so that when the competition was announced, he was in a good position to prepare a strong entry.
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