SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL CITY

Anonymous
Typescript in Australian Archives, ACT, Series CP487/6/1, Item 1

This description of the design entered in the Canberra Competition of 1911-12 cannot be linked to any of the 47 plans that have survived in the Australian Archives or the National Library of Australia. From the description one can understand how the judges of the competition decided to eliminate it from further consideration when they narrowed down the selection to 46 from the 137 entries received.
This Plan is drawn to scale -- 400 feet -- to one inch.

The City will be 7600 feet long from North to South exclusive of Parks, laid out in blocks each 500 ft. square, separated by streets 200 ft. wide, except the two central cross streets here named for clearness "The Strand" and "Broadway" which will be each 400 ft. wide as shown on Sectional Plan. Thus ­ starting from the Northend it will show, running from East to West;

Avenue 300ft. wide
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Broadway (Centre) 400
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Avenue 300
            7600

Right of ways or Lanes each 60 feet wide dividing these Blocks from East to West explained next.

Measurement across from Southern Boundary to North including Parks.

Parks Southern 1500feet.
Avenue 300
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Street 200
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Street 200
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Street 200
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Street 200
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Broadway (Centre) 400
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Street 200
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Street 200
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Street 200
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Street 200
Block 220
Lane 60
Block 220
Avenue 300
Parks Northern 1500
                        10600

Depths are irregular but 1500 is minimum.

The width from East to West will be 10400 feet exclusive of Parks arranged thus--

Avenue 300ft. wide
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
The Strand (Centre) 400
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Avenue 300
        10400

Measurement across from Western Boundary to Eastern Limit including Parks.

Parks Western 2000feet.
Avenue 300
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Strand (Centre) 400
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Street 200
Block 500
Avenue 300
Parks Eastern 2000
                    14400

This plan is designed in the serious opinion that in these days of intense commercial vigour and strenuous movement it is essential that the business portion of the City should be as level as possible. The Bumps as existing in the streets of the City of Melbourne are anathema to the active man, pedestrian or driver.

The immense cost and inconvenience incurred in the past in levelling the streets of some of the large Cities of the world, which work was loudly proclaimed for many years to be absolutely necessary, would show the necessity of doing the work in advance when there are no business obstacles in the way, and the cost will be light.

The fall to carry off storm waters and general drainage should be moderate, and in the direction of the river, or lower points on other sides either natural or artificial. These storm waters will pass quietly and quickly off, the great width of the streets, 200 feet wide, accelerating the flow. Watercourses and wells should be filled up.

If the hills on which are marked the Houses of Parliament on the North and the Residence of the Governor General on the South are too steep for buildings they could be reduced by dynamite until a sufficiently lower elevation is made. The value of the positions for the great buildings is undoubted.

If Red Hill on Western Side of Government House is too steep for Railway Station and Goods Shed they could be placed on the Eastern Side, and markets and Sports Oval could also be transferred to that side, changing position with State House and Military Barracks.

It is to be noted that Markets are next to a Railway Station in every quarter of the City with a 200 feet street between; Sports Oval are next, so that the railways may get a large share of the traffic on Saturday afternoons and holidays when the attendance at Sport is heavy. Tramways also go by.

A Plan of section is submitted, showing how the space of the Strand or Broadway is divided or allotted into every convenience for traffic, pedestrian, vehicular, railway, and tramway; with parterres and trees. An avenue of 300 feet wide will run on each side of the city, which may be named in honor of the first four Governor Generals ­ Hopetoun Avenue, Tennyson Avenue, Northcote Avenue, Dudley Avenue, merging on the opposite sides into Park Lands Blocks, allotted to Great Public institutions, with ample grounds and gardens for each, as shown on Plan.

The streets being 200 feet wide will allow a row of stately trees on each side, the centre being taken by a double row of Tramlines.

Lanes or right­of­ways, each 60 ft. wide, will divide the City Blocks from East to West and West to East. Thus -- Depth of Blocks running East to West, or West to East 220 ft. wide; right­of­way 60 ft.; opposite block 220 ft; Total 500 ft; but not run through the Central Blocks, of "The Strand", which are reserved for Public Offices, Law Courts, and National Institutions erected for our Citizens pleasure and political work.

These lanes can carry part of the sewers, gas and water pipes, which can be connected with various premises through the backway. By limiting the depth of blocks to 220 ft. most of the business premises may be carried through from street to lane, thus ensuring a fresh air movement through the buildings, and giving ample light which will not be curtailed by dividing or party walls. It will allow much of the cartage work being done through the back entrance, and keep the streets clear for pedestrians. It will also prevent as far as possible small lanes and back slums, which are the haunts of the vicious and the abodes of vice and crime. All corners to be rounded off, say outer entrances and centres to "The Strand" and "Broadway" 50 ft. back; City Block 20 and lanes 12.

The minute scale, 400 ft. to the inch, to which this design is drawn, would hardly allow curves at corners of streets and lanes to appear if they were drawn to scale. They are therefore drawn somewhat in excess to impress their existence upon the examiners.

On the Eastern and Western sides of the City a straight strip to land 2000 ft. wide has been reserved and divided into large parks for National Institutions, University, Technical Colleges, Exhibition Buildings, Hospital, Public Parks, State Schools, Drill Grounds, Ma[rest of word obliterated][,] Sports Oval, Tennis Courts, Bowling Greens, and above all, Boys [word missing] sports grounds; and everything required to minister to the ardent desire for open air Sport which is the unquenchable mania of the rising Australian. The Northern or top end of the City will not on the upper side fit in a straight line as the river comes cranking in, and makes the reserves have different lengths; with a minimum of 1500 ft., the areas are ample for Public Parks and places, Botanic Gardens, Boating Establishments and Railway Yards.

On the Southern side the width of the reserve is limited to 1500 ft., but the boundary line on the Contour Plan may, by the Ministers' sanction, be removed 500 ft. further south, and give the same width as the two eastern and western reserves above stated. This extra strip of 500 ft. would be useful; partly for railway carriage yards.

The areas for Central Institutions in Park Grounds are:­

To the Exhibition Building on the west is allotted an area 2000 ft. long by 1400 ft. wide. Off this strip of 200 ft. wide on the right hand side has been taken up for railway purposes as shown on plan leaving 1200 ft., an area of 55 acres. Fractions of acres are omitted. The same applies to the University on the east. On the south Government House takes 1500 ft. by 1400 less 200 ft. railway reservation, leaving 1200 ft. ­ or 41 acres. The same will be the average for Parliament House reserve on the North. The smaller parks around the city of 2000 ft. by 500 contain each 22 acres. The 1500 by 500 have 17.

It will be noted that some of the allotments for public institutions in "The Strand" are larger than requirements; but parts may be leased for buildings and bring in soothing rents; which may remove the necessity of annual applications to the Treasurer for grants to pay off debts. The buildings can be set to 50 ft. back; having beautiful gardens on every side.

Electric wires can be run in continuous boxes or chutes, about 5 ft. wide and sufficient depth, with portable to in 6 ft. lengths set flush on edge of footpath. This is a new idea.

It may appear on a cursory glance that the centres of the four great buildings, Parliament House, Government House, Exhibition Building and University are not set in line with the middle of their respective streets, "The Strand" and "Broadway"; but this is an optical illusion caused by taking off 200 ft. on one side of each reserve for railway purposes.

The plan of bringing the railways in to the heart of the City may commend itself for the following reasons:--

The public will alight on level platforms and avoid obnoxious ramps, stairs, and overhead bridges. Upon emerging in the "Piazza" they will go their several ways. The train will instantly be shunted on to the opposite platform; or down side of the pavilion; take up its load of passengers and depart; all within five minutes. Entrances and Exits have separate platforms.

Although the pavilions may be admitted as the Termini, the rails, paved on each side to prevent inconvenience to pedestrians, may be carried across "The Piazza" and trains may pass over to any other line as required. This will allow any wanting repairs from the south, east, or west sides to be removed to the railway marshalling yards on the north. This movement may not incommode the public, as it would, doubtless, be done at the hour when the passenger traffic was at its minimum.

Carriage yards, where trains may be placed for the night or when off duty, will be located at the outer end of the railway station, which are marked for existence at each entrance of the city, and may be extended to the surplus grounds at the back of the Houses of Parliament, the Residence of the Governor General, the University, the Exhibition Building.

The only inconvenience to the traffic and public will be (if so considered) at the four entrances to the city, when after leaving the several stations the trains cross over the open streets. But the space allotted is so ample that there will be no danger to horses, pedestrians or drivers. And pointsmen could be on duty to protect the public.

It is designed that the streets of the city shall continue in straight course over the railway lines running along the "Strand" and "Broadway", but no danger need be feared as gates operated from the Pointhouses will open and close them when necessary.

A better scheme to bring the railways into the heart of the city would be in cuttings sufficiently wide and deep; but along the lines of railway marked in plan. These could start from about 2000 ft. back from the City's boundaries, within the entrances to the Parks on the South, East and West and south of the river on the North; and gradually fall until the outer city stations are reached, say 12 ft. below level. Then they would pass under the avenue entrances, which would be bridged over completely.

The City streets could also be carried straight over the railway cuttings by light bridges, thus removing the only obstruction in this plan to traffic in any direction. The only disadvantage to the public would be in having to descent and ascend about twelve feet of steps. "The Piazza" could also be bridged over, and the trains could then pass under, and in any direction at any hour. The cost may be heavy but the work will be for eternity. The ballast could be utilised for filling up low places, making river embankments, raising Park Lands, or artificial terraces in fronts of large public buildings, say the University and Exhibition building and others.

Deviations of the Railway shown on the contour plan are marked in red ink, and will explain themselves. Those on the east are made to preserve the frontages of the hospital and other parks. If the allotment, 2000 ft. long by 200 wide, on the south of the University, which is of itself on the eastern side of the city, is allocated for the Great Central Railway Station it will in time, as the City expands, be as near to the centre as possible. Otherwise it can be regarded as one of the four outer railway stations as explained herein.

Tramways will have a double line on each side of the four railway lines, allowing trams from different points to run into the city at one time. On arriving at the Termini ("The Piazza") the trams will instantly shunt on the outer line and depart back, so that the succession will be continuous. Only sixteen lines are marked on the plan, which will suffice for the present, but in future lines can be run through all streets of the city ­ north, south, east, west, and proceed in straight lines, as far as the boundaries of the city are placed. The straight streets may in the future be continued to every cardinal point as the city increases in magnitude and power.

By placing all the Government Offices, Law Courts and Public Institutions in one street by themselves, with ample grounds round each for gardens and the circulation of fresh air, one of the drawbacks to...

[page 10 of text is missing]

...the opposite side of the river may be allocated as a future addition.

Future extension of the city's business plots on the north and east are clearly denoted, conceived on the same lines. Land may also be reserved in the Ministers' judgment for the same purpose on the south and west.

Botanic Gardens ­ Objections may be made to the 200 ft. wide streets running through the gardens, and dividing them into parts. But they may be made into leafy avenues converting the gardens into one umbrageous park, and be of great advantage to the future northern part of the city.

Bridges ­ Positions are shown for twenty bridges; thirteen on the north and seven on the east. Many of these may not be wanted for years, but as the City expands a public demand will be made for one in every street crossing the river.

Bathing Grounds ­ In addition to the central baths in the "Strand" a large block on the river, at the northeastern corner has been reserved. 


Selected, transcribed, edited, provided with headnotes, and formatted as a web document by John W. Reps, Professor Emeritus, Department of City and Regional Planning, West Sibley Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA. Tel: (607) 255-5391, Fax: (607) 255-6681, E-mail: jwr2@cornell.edu 
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