Commonwealth Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Commonwealth Park |
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Commonwealth Park
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| Location | Parkes, Australian Capital Territory |
| Area | 34.25 hectares (84.6 acres) |
| Managed by | National Capital Authority |
Commonwealth Park is a large and important park in Canberra, Australia. It sits right next to the northern side of Lake Burley Griffin, a big lake in the heart of the city. The park covers about 34 hectares (that's like 34 sports fields!). It has lots of different areas, including natural spots and specially built places.
Many talented people helped design the park over the years. One important person was Dame Sylvia Crowe, a British landscape designer. Her ideas in 1964 really shaped how the park looks today.
You'll find many cool things in the park, like small ponds, pretty water features, and paths for walking or riding bikes. There are also interesting sculptures and special memorials. Inside the park, there's an outdoor stage called Stage 88, where you can often catch concerts and shows. From Regatta Point in the park, you get amazing views of famous buildings across the lake, like the National Gallery of Australia, the High Court of Australia, and the National Library of Australia. Right next door to Commonwealth Park, along the lake, is Kings Park.
Commonwealth Park is a popular spot for many events in Canberra. One of the biggest is Floriade, an annual flower festival that has been held there every year since 1988.
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Park History
This area has an interesting past. Back in 1874, a man named Ebenezer Booth built his house here, near where Nerang Pool is now. His house was also home to Murray's store, which was one of the first shops in the area. Sadly, it burned down in 1923. You can still see some old pine and elm trees that remain from that time.
When Walter Burley Griffin first designed Canberra, he planned for a recreation area north of the lake. His final plan in 1918 included a special "aquarium pond," which is now Nerang Pool. Griffin made some changes to his original ideas after he actually visited the site. This helped reduce the amount of digging and building needed.
Art in the Park
Commonwealth Park is home to several unique artworks. These sculptures and murals add to the park's beauty and give visitors something interesting to discover.
Play Sculpture
David Tolley created the "Play sculpture," which was installed in 1970. It's a group of four white sculptures made from concrete and fiberglass. They are designed to look natural and invite people to play or sit on them. You can find them near the Children's Fort playground.
Untitled (Earthworks)
This artwork, also known as "Earthworks," was created by Bert Flugelman and installed in 1975. It consists of six shiny aluminum shapes called tetrahedrons. They are actually buried permanently in a secret spot within the park! A small plaque near Nerang Pool marks their approximate location.
Two Figures
"Two Figures" is a bronze and enamel sculpture by Dame Barbara Hepworth. It was acquired in 1969 and installed in the park in 1976. This freestanding sculpture is a beautiful piece of modern art.
Walter Burley Griffin Terrazzo
The "Walter Burley Griffin Terrazzo" is a special mosaic set into the pavement. You can find it outside the entrance of the National Capital Exhibition. Created by David Humphries in 2000, it shows Walter Burley Griffin's winning design for Canberra from 1912. It looks like a page torn from a book.
Sir Robert Menzies Sculpture
A bronze sculpture of Sir Robert Menzies was created by Peter Collete and installed in 2012. Sir Robert Menzies was a very important Prime Minister who helped a lot with Canberra's development, especially the building of Lake Burley Griffin. The sculpture is located on RG Menzies Walk, which runs along the northern side of the lake.
Park Memorials
The park also features several memorials that honor important events or people.
The Canadian Flagpole
This tall flagpole was a gift to Australia from the Canadian Government in 1957. It was made from a single Douglas fir tree and stood 36 meters high! The Canadian Flag used to be raised here every year on Canada Day. Unfortunately, the flagpole had to be taken down in 2020 because of safety concerns.
Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet and Globe
This memorial was built in 1970 to celebrate 200 years since Captain James Cook landed on Australia's east coast. Queen Elizabeth II herself opened it! The memorial includes a powerful water jet that can shoot water up to 147 meters high.
The Captain Cook Memorial Globe is a cool, open globe made of metal lines that show the Earth's longitudes and latitudes. The land areas are made of beaten copper. You can see the routes of Cook's three famous voyages traced on the globe, with explanations of his stops on the railing around it.
Memorial to Pioneer Women
This memorial, unveiled in 1972, is a large seat with great views across the lake. It was designed by Margaret Hendry, a landscape architect. It honors the early women who helped build and shape the community.
