John Gorton Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Gorton Building |
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| Former names | Administrative Building |
| Etymology | John Gorton |
| General information | |
| Status | Under renovation |
| Type | Commercial office |
| Architectural style | Inter-war Stripped Classical |
| Location | King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°18′04″S 149°08′02″E / 35.301184°S 149.133879°E |
| Groundbreaking | 7 October 1927 |
| Construction started | 1946 |
| Topped-out | 1956 |
| Completed | 1956 |
| Opened | 2 February 1956 |
| Renovated | 2013 |
| Cost | £5 million |
| Renovation cost | A$17.3 million |
| Owner | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | George Sydney Jones |
| Architecture firm |
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| Main contractor | Concrete Constructions |
| Official name: John Gorton Building, Parkes Pl, Parkes, ACT, Australia | |
| Type: | Listed place |
| Criteria: | D., E. |
| Designated: | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference #: | 105472 |
The John Gorton Building is an important heritage listed government office in Canberra, Australia. It is located in the Parliamentary Triangle, a key area in the city. The building was once known as the Administrative Building.
This building was first planned in 1924 and finished in 1956. It is a great example of the Inter-war Stripped Classical style. This style uses straight lines and simple shapes. You can see this in its balanced look, tall sections, and simple columns. The building's outside, main entrances, and hallways still look very much like they did when it was new.
The John Gorton Building is also a big part of the Parliamentary Triangle's overall design. It sits in a special spot, just as planned in 1916 by Walter Burley Griffin. It helps create a beautiful and planned look for the area, along with the Treasury Building nearby. Because of its importance, the building was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004.
Exploring the Building's Past
The idea for this building came about in 1924. Construction started soon after, in 1927. However, there were problems with money and the building's base. This caused long delays.
It wasn't until 1946 that building work began again. The building was designed in the Inter-war Stripped Classical style. It took another ten years to finish, finally opening in 1956. This construction happened during a big growth period for Canberra after World War II.
When it first opened, many government groups used the building. These included the News and Information Bureau and the Department of Health. The Department of External Affairs (DEA) was also a main tenant. They stayed there until the late 1990s. Then, the Department of Finance moved in. In 1999, the building was renamed the John Gorton Building. This was to honor John Gorton, who was Australia's 19th prime minister.
The Communications Centre
In 1974, a special communications centre was built for the Department of Foreign Affairs. This department was the main user of the building. They needed a secure place for their communication equipment. The existing building wasn't safe or big enough.
To keep information secret and protect against attacks, the centre was built with strong steel walls and a concrete roof. People often call it a "bunker", but it was never actually a bunker. It was a secure communications facility.
Around 2000, the centre was no longer needed because computer systems became more modern. The equipment was moved into the main building. For several years, the communications centre was empty. In 2003, it was updated and turned into office space. The Department of Finance now uses these offices.
Even though the communications centre has always been known about, and you can see it from outside today, some people still tell stories about it. These urban legends in Canberra suggest it's hidden in different places.
