News and Media Research Centre
University of Canberra
Building 9, Level C, Room 10
23/02/2024 |
Faculty of Arts and Design
Lost heritage: Canberra's modernist architectural legacy
Canberra's unique urban landscape conceals numerous architectural gems. These houses, buildings, and landscapes chronicle the historical, social, and economic evolution of Canberra's suburban character and the Capital's identity as a 'designed' city. Researchers have delved into the 'lost heritage in the Capital' to examine environmental and socio-economic sustainability, highlight adaptive reuse benefits, and raise awareness for at-risk buildings central to the city's modernist identity. This exploration not only preserves cultural heritage but also informs sustainable urban development practices.
Canberra's recent urban history began in 1913 with the renowned American architect Walter Burley Griffin and his wife, landscape architect, Marion Mahony Griffin. The Griffins' won the international competition to design the new capital of Australia. The Griffins’ envisioned a city that would be a symbol of democracy and progress, with wide avenues, parks, and public buildings designed to integrate with the surrounding landscape. Their tenure was cut short due to financial constraints, political interference and WW2 which had significant impact on construction as resources were diverted to the war efforts and many projects were abandoned or delayed.
Following WW2 Canberra’s population was growing at three times the national average. An urgent need for infrastructure saw a resurgence of architectural development which transformed Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin’s ‘planned’ city.
The National Capital Development Commission (NCDC), an independent statutory authority, oversaw Canberra's development from 1958 to 1989. Tasked with creating a modern, planned city, the NCDC attracted top Australian and international architects by offering substantial funding and creative freedom. This strategy assembled a team of pioneering professionals committed to designing a capital that would make all Australians proud.
The architectural contribution to the development of Canberra at that time resulted in our distinctive city aesthetic, seen in various iconic Canberra buildings. Roy Grounds, a prominent Australian architect was responsible for designing the Australian Academy of Science, Shine Dome; John Andrews, much sought after overseas, designed the Cameron Offices in Belconnen, the Eggshell/Wagan residences at UC and the futuristic Callum Offices in Woden. Another significant figure in Canberra's architectural history was Harry Seidler. Seidler, an Austrian-born architect who immigrated to Australia, designed several modernist buildings in the city, including the Edmund Barton Building, Ethos House, and a number of residential sites across the ACT. These architects, along with many others, contributed to the creation of a city that is renowned for its distinctive aesthetic.
This architectural history not only serves as a reminder of events and unique aesthetic but has contributed to our cultural identity – the modernist aesthetic has helped to establish Canberra as a city that is both forward-thinking and deeply connected to place.
Heritage spectrums
The 'Spectres of Architecture in Canberra’ research project seeks to reveal the past, present and future roles of architectural history in the ACT’s cultural heritage.
UC researchers have revealed that building stock from 1960s is witnessing the highest rate of demolition in Canberra, followed by buildings from the 1950s and 1970s. This significant loss of mid-century architecture poses a substantial threat to Canberra's architectural heritage, cultural identity, and historical legacy.
UC researchers are documenting Canberra’s lost heritage with both printed and web-based maps alongside multiple exhibitions to engage with everyday Canberrans. The exhibitions were held at the Australian Institute of Architects’ Canberra Chapter Headquarters during both the ACT Heritage Festival 2024 and the 2024 Design Canberra Festival.
The researchers aim to engage audiences by reimagining how they present the research. The exhibition presented the idea of the lost buildings situated in our present day through constructed ‘perspectives machines’ that use archival images overlaid into their present-day context. The web-based maps were designed to use familiar design conventions and work quickly across a range of devices.
The mapping process visualises the lost buildings within Canberra’s urban landscape which reveals the historical, social and economic transformation of the suburban character – particularly in the areas experiencing increasingly larger developments like those seen along Northbourne Avenue and around City Hill.
Significance
The project's significance extends to multiple areas of research: embodied energy (energy used to produce a material or product) and environmental sustainability, as well as the ongoing housing crisis and socio-economic sustainability. It underscores the importance of adaptive reuse in existing buildings (the process of reusing an existing building for a purpose other than what it was originally built for), offering both sustainable and heritage benefits. Additionally, the research begins to expose potential weaknesses in current ACT heritage protection policies.
One of the researchers, Sally Farrah, was invited by Georgia Stynes to speak about the exhibition on ABC Canberra (12 April, 2024). Stynes invited listeners to text in their favourite lost buildings in Canberra. The response from listeners was immense, highlighting Canberrans connection to place and architectural identity. This has led to an ongoing weekly segment on ABC Canberra focusing on significant, but perhaps, unknown architecture in Canberra.
The project was recently recognised by the ACT heritage community and awarded a 2024 ACT National Trust Heritage Award for Heritage Education and Promotion.
The research team were successful in being awarded a 2025 ACT Heritage Grant to continue work on some of the issues that have arisen in the research project. They are working to increase public awareness of the importance of Canberra’s significant mid-century, the aim being to ensure that significant buildings are recognised for their contribution to Canberra’s heritage, identity and legacy.
Research team
Researchers from Centre for Creative and Cultural Research and the Faculty of Arts and Design
