[UNTITLED DESCRIPTION OF A COMPETITION PLAN FOR CANBERRA

Henry Harford
Typescript in the Australian Archives, Canberra: Series CP487/6/1, Item 1.

This description of a plan for Canberra submitted in the competition of 1912 probably came from Henry Harford, Royal Engineers Office, Delhi Barracks, Tidworth, Andover, England. The transcription is from a typescript in the Australian Archives, ACT, Series CP 487/6/1, Item 1. It was sent to the Department of Home Affairs with this hand-written note: "I regret I omitted to enclose the accompanying description of my design in the packing case now forwarded. The description will easily show to which design it belongs. I have omitted address to same to keep strictly to the `conditions.'" On the typescript another note dated 14 March 1912 reads "Will Mr. Clarke please affix this to its appropriate design if he can identify it." To the left of this note is the number 22, the entry number assigned to Harford's plan. No photograph or drawing of it has been located.
I respectfully submit my Sketch Design for the Federal Capital City of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Molonglo River. As it is stated in the conditions of Competition that the River is Sluggish and can be controlled, I have made a special feature of the portion shewn coloured Blue in Design. I propose an Embankment to be constructed after the lines of the Thames Embankment, to be built in Reinforced Concrete, & each Pier built at regular intervals to be lighted by Electric Light. The enclosed Water can be utilised for pleasure boats etc. The existing course of the River is shewn by dotted lines -unaltered-

Roads. All the Main Roads are shewn on Plan 200 ft wide, this will give ample room for a broad Pavement, a strip of grass planted with trees, tramways, Main Sewer, Water Main, etc. Other Roads are shewn 100ft. & between blocks of Buildings 30' wide.

Tramways. The Tramways are shewn to touch all parts of the City.

Storm-Water. The Storm Water is to be conducted by Channels &c to the River wherever possible.

House of Parliament I have enclosed this Building in substantial grounds & suggest a Park or Zoological Gardens be laid out on the opposite side of the Road South of the House.

State House This is conveniently arranged near the above.

Cathedral. Should a Cathedral be erected on the Site shewn a splendid view of it would be seen along the 100ft. road running West to East.

Public Departments It will be seen I have grouped all the Departments in close touch with one another, formed round a good sized Park. Near the Departments a few Professional Offices are shewn & houses for Officials who may prefer to live near their Departments. Public Buildings are coloured in red.

Market Place This is shewn near the Central Railway Station for the convenience of those whose calling oblige them to travel by Train.

Central Railway Is shewn about the centre of the City.

Station Another Station is shewn near the University.

Cattle Market This is shewn adjoining the Railway for the convenience of loading & unloading from a siding.

Public Abattoir I think it desireable there should be one Public Slaughter House for the City which I have shewn adjoining the Cattle Market with a Yard for Cattle waiting slaughter.

Stadium This is placed a short distance East of the Central Railway station. The Cricket, Football & Sports Grounds adjoining.

Industrial Class Is shewn N of the River.

Residential Class I propose to be S of the River & South Westerly of the Public Department.

Factories These are shewn near the Railway for convenience, economy, & use of sidings.

Gas Works. As above.

Central Power As above.

Station

Barracks. It is not stated in the Conditions what class of Barracks are required, whether for Infantry, Cavalry or Artillery, so I assume the actual Building Sites will be selected & reported on by an Officer of Engineers, perhaps in accordance with our latest Barracks, comprising Camping Grounds etc at Tidworth & Bulford Camps on Salisbury Plain. This is very necessary in order to lay out Rifle Ranges, Field Firing Area, & accommodation for an Aeroplane Corps. It is also very important that no public road be allowed to cross the Camping Area laid out. For this reason I have shewn the Site of the Barracks on the N.E. of the Design with a road leading up to the Barrack Gates only.

Gaol. This Site is shewn near the Barracks to be in touch of the Military.

Mint For the same reason.

Taxi-Stands Two Taxi Stands are provided for. 

    Selected, scanned, 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