Wonderful imagery both visual and mental of the importance of the Canberra "swimming pool" to the community with particular reference to the war years 1939-1945...


"Pools hold more than water, often expressing new hopes for new generations... Manuka Pool, Canberra's first public swimming baths is utilized here as a 'memory holder' for stories from WWII, reflections on life in early Canberra & as a holding place for explorations of remembrance and peace. As a meeting point for personal and social history, the pool offers a poigant reminder of the connection between generations & the fragility of Peace".




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This newspaper clipping from The Sydney Morning Herald - 27 May 1924 describes the Polish naturalist Dr John Lhotsky's (bio) observations of the Limestone Plains whilst on route to explore the Australian Alps in 1834. Lhotsky relates via journal entries coming to "Limestone", the topography and geology of the area, the expansion of the yet to be named "Duntroon farm" and his prophesy of the future "fine town" that will one day exist...






National Library of Australia (here)

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The selection of the location for Australia's national capital had become a race between Dalgety and Canberra. This newspaper article from the Queanbeyan Age - 11 September 1908 describes the merits of the Limestone Plains and region for selection and relates a few interesting observations about the landscapes of different areas of present day Canberra such as Mount Taylor "...takes its name from another free-booter who, after his raids on the out-stations of the shepherds, found in it's rocky summit a safe retreat".

Many areas of Canberra's Limestone Plains are mentioned apart from Yarralumla and Duntroon including Ginninderra, Tuggeranong, Wanniassa, Lanyon, Woden, Murrumbateman, Majura, Gungahlin and Uriarra...







National Library of Australia (here)

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This ABC News article discusses the fact that Lake Burley Griffin heads a list of the top 10 Australian heritage places at risk that may be lost or damaged by inappropriate development. Dr Peter Dowling of the National Heritage Trust details the reasons why the lake has been determined to be "at risk"...



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The reminiscences of Canberra by a resident in the 1870's. Mr G Percival relates growing up in the area and describes Duntroon as "...represented an attempt to transplant in Australian soil the life and style of the English rural village of that and earlier times" and describing Campbell as it's master. He also relates the story of how Robert "merchant' Campbell (bio) acquired the Duntroon Estate.


This article contains many more tales from Percival's memory including the establishment of the township of Queanbeyan and descriptions of it's townspeople and life in the times...

(It should also be noted that this newspaper article from The Sydney Morning Herald - 11 June 1927 contains racist remarks common in the 1870-1930 era.)






National Library of Australia (here)

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Another Canberra time-capsule and a discussion on the merits of preserving a historical snapshot of society under important buildings to be discovered in the event of " ...the building ever being demolished". This newspaper clipping from The Argus - 25 June 1920 relates the inclusion of items under the Canberra foundation stone. That is one monument I can't see being demolished in the foreseeable future...



National Library of Australia (here)

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Mount Tennent dominates the skyline from the southern Canberra suburbs. The township of Tharwa nestles at it's base and the Gudgenby river flows by. Originally the base for Canberra's first bushranger John Tennant (post here) in 1826 it today could soon become part of Canberra's water system if the Gudgenby River is dammed at it's base. This video from Pastor John Evans shows (with descriptions of landmarks) the 360 degree view from the fire-tower at the mountains summit...




More information can be found at Johnny Boy's Walkabout blog (here)
and more videos of the ACT mountains at his YouTube Channel (here)

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The origins of the Canberra Historical Society. This newspaper clipping from The Canberra Times - 9 December 1953 highlights the need 30 years after Canberra's establishment to record the districts history since exploration and settlement in the 1820's. The article goes on to make some suggestions in recording old Canberra such as marking historical sites in an "abiding" form...


National Library of Australia (here)

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What will be the population of Canberra ten years hence? This was the question asked by the population in the early years of establishing the new Federal Capital of Australia. Comparisons are made between the establishment of America's capital Washington and Canberra. This newspaper clipping from The Canberra Times - 19 July 1927 then goes on to discuss the possibilities of population from a 1920's perspective...



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Located in the south/west Australian Capital Territory, Mount Gudgenby sits on the border with New South Wales as the landscape extends further into the rugged Australian Alps. This video from Pastor John Evans of the Canberra Bushwalking Group is taken from the trig point at the summit of Gudgenby taking in a 360 degree views of the ACT and NSW beyond.

More information can be found at Johnny Boy's Walkabout blog (here)
and more videos of the ACT mountains at his YouTube Channel (here)


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A newspaper clipping from The West Australian - 7 February 1929 reporting on car usage in the new capital of Canberra. One car for every four and a half persons...



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Being literally in the middle of WWII The Sydney Morning Herald - 10 December 1942 reports a temporary end to any beer shortage that the territory faced...



And we were a thirsty lot...




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