Lake Burley Griffin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Burley Griffin |
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Lake Burley Griffin
viewed from Black Mountain Tower |
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 Lake Burley Griffin
Location in Australian Capital Territory
Lake Burley Griffin
Location in Australia
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| Location | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory () |
| Coordinates | 35°17′36″S 149°06′50″E / 35.29333°S 149.11389°E |
| Lake type | Artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Molonglo River, Sullivans Creek, Jerrabomberra Creek |
| Primary outflows | Molonglo River |
| Catchment area | 183.5 km2 (70.8 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 11 km (6.8 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.2 km (0.75 mi) |
| Surface area | 6.64 km2 (2.56 sq mi; 1,640 acres) |
| Average depth | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Max. depth | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Water volume | 33,000,000 m3 (1.2×109 cu ft; 33 GL) |
| Surface elevation | 556 m (1,824 ft) |
| Dam | Scrivener Dam |
| Islands | 6 (Aspen, Springbank, Spinnaker, others unnamed) |
| Sections/sub-basins | East Basin, Central Basin, West Basin, West Lake and Tarcoola Reach, Yarramundi Reach |
| Settlements | Canberra |
Lake Burley Griffin is a man-made lake in the heart of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. It was finished in 1963 when the Molonglo River was dammed. The river used to flow through the area where the city centre and Parliamentary Triangle are now. The lake is named after Walter Burley Griffin, an American architect. He won a competition to design the city of Canberra.
Griffin designed the lake with many cool geometric shapes. He wanted the lake's layout to match natural landmarks nearby. However, government officials changed his original plans. Not much work was done before he left Australia in 1920. Building the lake was also delayed by the Great Depression and World War II. Planning finally started again in the 1950s. After some disagreements, construction began in 1960. This was strongly supported by Prime Minister Robert Menzies. The dams were closed in September 1963. But because of a drought, the lake didn't reach its full water level until April 1964. The lake was officially opened on 17 October 1964.
The lake is in the middle of Canberra. It is the main feature of the capital, just as Griffin planned. Many important places are built along its shores. These include the National Gallery, National Museum, National Library, Australian National University and the High Court. Parliament House is also very close by. The areas around the lake are mostly parklands. They are popular for fun activities, especially when the weather is warm. People don't usually swim in the lake, but they enjoy rowing, fishing, and sailing.
The lake is a beautiful body of water. It is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long. At its widest point, it is 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) across. The lake is usually about 4 metres (13 ft) deep. Its deepest spot is about 18 metres (59 ft) near the Scrivener Dam. The water flow is controlled by the 33-metre-tall (108 ft) Scrivener Dam. This dam is built to handle very big floods. If there's a drought, water levels can be kept up. This is done by releasing water from Googong Dam. Googong Dam is on a river that flows into the Molonglo River.
Contents
Designing the Lake
Charles Robert Scrivener suggested the site for Canberra in 1909. Canberra was meant to be a planned capital city. One reason for choosing this spot was that it could hold water easily for "ornamental purposes." Scrivener's work showed that the land could be flooded to create a lake.
In 1911, a competition was held to design Canberra. Scrivener's detailed map of the area was given to the architects. The Molonglo River flowed through the site, which was a flood plain. Scrivener's map showed a grey area that looked like an artificial lake. It was similar to the lake that was later built. The map also showed four possible places for a dam. Most of the architects included artificial lakes in their designs.
Walter Burley Griffin's Original Plan
The American architect Walter Burley Griffin won the design competition. He was invited to Australia to help build the new capital city. Griffin's plan had many geometric shapes. It included streets that formed circles and octagons.
His lake design was the heart of the city. It had a Central Basin shaped like a circle segment. There was also a West and East Basin, which were round. The West and East Lakes were much larger and had irregular shapes. The East Lake was planned to be 6 metres (20 ft) higher than the rest. Griffin's idea was "the grandest scheme submitted." It was also simple and clear.
The lakes were designed so their direction matched Canberra's natural landmarks. The lakes stretched from east to west, dividing the city. A "land axis" went from Capital Hill (where Parliament House would be) north across the central basin. It continued along Anzac Parade to the Australian War Memorial. This was so that from Capital Hill, the War Memorial would line up with Mount Ainslie.
The straight edge of the central basin was called the "water axis." It pointed northwest towards Black Mountain. Another line, the "municipal axis," ran parallel to the water axis on the city's north side. This became Constitution Avenue. It connected City Hill in Civic Centre and Market Centre. Commonwealth Avenue and Kings Avenue would run from Capital Hill to City Hill and Market Centre. These formed the sides of the central basin. The area inside these three avenues was called the Parliamentary Triangle. It was meant to be the main part of Griffin's design.
Later, Charles Scrivener, as part of a government committee, changed Griffin's design. He suggested making the lake's shape more natural. He wanted one dam instead of Griffin's series of weirs. Griffin wanted to keep the pure geometric shapes. He said they were "one of the reasons" for the lake's beauty. But his ideas were not followed. The new design included parts from other good plans. Many people thought the new design was not as good. The new lake plan still had Griffin's three main basins: east, central, and west. But they were shaped more loosely.
Griffin talked with the government about the plans. He was invited to Canberra in August 1913. He was then made the Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction for three years.
The plans changed again in the following years. But the design of Lake Burley Griffin still largely followed the committee's plan. It was officially approved by the federal parliament in 1926. This was based on a 1918 plan. However, Griffin had a difficult relationship with the Australian government. Also, there wasn't enough money. So, by the time he left in 1920, not much work had been done on the city.
Political Changes and Delays
The Great Depression and World War II slowed down Canberra's development. After the war, Canberra was criticized for looking like a small village. Its buildings seemed messy and ugly. People often joked that Canberra was "several suburbs in search of a city."
During this time, the Molonglo River flowed through the area. It had only a small amount of water compared to Griffin's plan. The centre of his capital city was mostly farmland. There were small, temporary settlements on both sides. It didn't look like Canberra was a planned city. The lake and Parliamentary Triangle, which were central to Griffin's plan, were just empty fields. A golf course, a racecourse, and a sports ground were located where the West Lake would be. People had to move farm animals before playing sports. A rubbish dump was on the north side of where the central basin would be. No earth had been moved for three decades since Griffin left.
In 1950, the East Lake, which was the largest part, was removed from the plans. This was suggested by the National Capital Planning and Development Committee (NCPDC). Today, the area that would have been the East Lake is the suburb of Fyshwick. The reason given was that about 1,700 acres (690 ha) of farmland would be underwater. Also, they thought the Molonglo River wouldn't have enough water to keep the lake full.
In 1953, the NCPDC removed the West Lake from its plans. They replaced it with a winding stream, 110 metres (360 ft) wide. This stream covered about one-fifth of the original area. The NCPDC only had advisory powers. This change was likely due to senior officials who thought Griffin's plan was too grand. Supporters of the smaller plan thought it would save money and 350 hectares (860 acres) of land. However, engineering reports, which were ignored, showed that the smaller plan would actually cost more. It would also need more complex dams and be less able to prevent floods.
At first, there wasn't much opposition to these changes. But then, more people started to oppose reducing the water area. The way the changes were made was criticized for being secretive. Some groups complained they weren't asked for their opinion before the change was made official. Many politicians and the chief town planner were not told. Critics suggested that powerful members of the Royal Canberra Golf Club, whose course was on the West Lake site, were behind the change.
The Parliamentary Public Works Committee told Parliament to bring back the West Lake. After an investigation in late 1954, they decided:
The West Lake is good and can be built. It was removed from the Canberra plan by the Department of the Interior without proper study. It was replaced by a small stream plan that would cost nearly 3 million more. The lake should be put back into the plan, and the necessary government action is recommended as soon as possible.
The Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, thought the capital city was embarrassing. Over time, he changed his mind and became a strong supporter of its development. He even fired two ministers in charge of the city's development because he felt they weren't working hard enough.
In 1958, the new National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) was created. Menzies gave it more power after a 1955 inquiry. The NCDC put the West Lake back into its plans. It was officially approved in October 1959. The NCDC also stopped a plan to build a bridge across the lake along the land axis. This bridge would have gone between Parliament House and the War Memorial, which was against Griffin's original ideas.
A powerful Senate committee watched over the NCDC. A famous British architect, Sir William Holford, was brought in to improve Griffin's original plans. He changed the central basin's shape. It was no longer a perfect circle segment. He made the southern edge into a polygon with three sides and added a small bay on the northern shore. This new design was closer to Scrivener's modified plan from decades earlier.
Lake Features
The lake holds 33,000,000 cubic metres (27,000 acre⋅ft) of water. Its surface area is 6.64 square kilometres (2.56 sq mi). It is 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long and 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) wide at its widest point. The shoreline is 40.5 kilometres (25.2 mi) long. The water level is 555.93 metres (1,823.9 ft) above sea level.
The lake is quite shallow. The deepest part is 17.6 metres (58 ft) near the Scrivener Dam. The average depth is 4.0 metres (13 ft). The shallowest part is the East Basin, with an average depth of 1.9 metres (6.2 ft). The water is about 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) deep at the walls. Rocks are placed at the base of the walls to stop water plants from growing.
Lake Burley Griffin originally had six islands. Three were small and unnamed. Three were larger and named: Aspen Island, Springbank, and Spinnaker. Aspen Island is in the Central Basin. Springbank and Spinnaker Islands are in the West Lake. Aspen Island is connected to the land by a footbridge. It is home to the Australian National Carillon. A seventh island was made as part of the Kingston Foreshore development in the East Basin.
Building the Lake
In 1958, engineers studied the water flow and building needs for the dam. More studies looked at water quality, silt, climate effects, and land changes. These studies suggested that the water level could stay within a metre of the planned 556 metres (1,824 ft) above sea level, even during a flood.
In February 1959, official permission was given to start building. However, some officials tried to stop the money for the lake. This delayed the start of construction. Once it began, work moved quickly. At its busiest, 400 to 500 people worked on the lake. John Overall, the NCDC Commissioner, promised Menzies the work would be done in four years. He succeeded, even though the Prime Minister was doubtful. Equipment was quickly brought in.
After all the political arguments about the design, criticism of the project faded. Menzies strongly spoke out against those who complained about the lake. Most critics said the project was a waste of money. They felt the money should be spent on important services across Australia. Other concerns were about mosquitoes, pollution, and the lake causing fog. The concern about fog turned out to be wrong.
Lake, Islands, and Shoreline
Work on Lake Burley Griffin started in 1960. First, they cleared plants from the Molonglo River floodplain. Trees from the golf course and along the river were removed. Sports grounds and houses were also taken down.
During the digging, at least 382,000 cubic metres (500,000 cu yd) of topsoil was removed. This soil was used for public parks and gardens, like the future Commonwealth Park. It was also used to create the six artificial islands, including Springbank Island. This island was named after the Springbank Farm that used to be there. Land dug out for a sailing course at Yarralumla was used for Spinnaker Island. Stone that was dug up was moved near the Kings Avenue Bridge to Aspen Island.
Workers made sure to dig the entire lake floor to a depth of at least 2 metres (6.6 ft). This was to make sure boats had enough room. Another reason was to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and weeds from growing. A program was started to protect the soil in the area. Traps were installed to catch earth that might wash away. These traps have also provided sand and gravel for building sites. Special drainage layers were used to stop water from escaping under the lake.
Next, four types of lake edges were built. On the south side of the Central Basin, low concrete walls were used. On the east side, you can see rock walls near Commonwealth Park and much of the East Basin. Sand and gravel beaches were built for fun activities. These are mostly on the western half of the lake. Rocky areas and sloping shores with water plants like bullrushes were also used. You can see this in the West Lake in Yarralumla. William Holford and Partners designed the landscaping around the lake. Over 55,000 trees were planted. Eucalypt trees were chosen to keep the natural look of the city.
Bridges
Lake Burley Griffin has three crossings: Commonwealth Avenue Bridge (310 metres or 1,020 feet), Kings Avenue Bridge (270 metres or 890 feet), and a road over Scrivener Dam. The two bridges were built before the lake was filled. They replaced older wooden bridges.
Tests for both bridges happened in late 1959 and early 1960. Construction of the Kings Avenue Bridge started in 1960. The Commonwealth Avenue Bridge began a year later. Luckily, Canberra was in a drought, so the ground stayed dry during construction. Both bridges use strong concrete reinforced with rustproof steel cables.
Both bridges are made of concrete and steel. They have two separate roadways. Commonwealth Avenue has three lanes in each direction, while Kings Avenue has two. Instead of normal streetlights, Kings Avenue Bridge used fluorescent tubes on the handrails. This was a new idea called "integral lighting." It worked well, so it was also used on the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge. Both bridges won awards for their lighting.
Kings Avenue Bridge opened on 10 March 1962. Prime Minister Menzies unlocked a chain, and cars drove across the lake in front of a big crowd. Commonwealth Avenue Bridge opened in 1963 without a ceremony. Menzies called it "the finest building in the national capital."
The Dam
The dam that holds back the water of Lake Burley Griffin is called Scrivener Dam. It is named after Charles Robert Scrivener. The dam was designed and built by a company from West Germany. It used advanced building methods to handle any movement in the riverbed. This was important because of the type of rock and geological faults under the dam. About 55,000 cubic metres (72,000 cu yd) of concrete was used to build it. The dam is 33 metres (108 ft) high and 319 metres (1,047 ft) long. Its thickest part is 19.7 metres (65 ft). The dam is built to handle a flood that happens only once every 5,000 years. Construction started in September 1960, and the dam was closed in September 1963.
The dam has five large gates that control water flow. These gates are 30.5 metres (100 ft) wide and are operated by hydraulics. They are called "fish-belly flap gates" because of their shape. These gates allow very precise control of the water level. This helps keep the banks from being too wet or too dry. All five gates have only been opened at the same time once, during a big flood in 1976. The gates hold back two-thirds of the lake's water. They were designed to let debris flow out of the lake easily.
The dam can handle a water flow of 5,600 cubic metres per second (200,000 cu ft/s). It can even withstand up to 8,600 cubic metres per second (300,000 cu ft/s) before serious damage occurs. A flow of 2,830 m3/s (100,000 cu ft/s) can be managed without much change in the water level. The highest recorded flow in the Molonglo River was 3,400 cubic metres per second (120,000 cu ft/s) during an earlier flood.
Lady Denman Drive, a road on top of the dam wall, is the third way to cross the lake. It has a road and a bike path. This allows people from western Canberra to cross the lake. This was possible because the dam gates close by pushing up from below, unlike older designs where gates were lifted from above.
Filling the Lake
A long drought happened at the same time the lake was being built. This made the construction easier. The dam's valves were closed on 20 September 1963 by Minister for the Interior, Gordon Freeth. Menzies was not there due to illness. For several months, with no rain, only small pools of water with mosquitoes were visible. When the drought finally ended, the lake reached its planned level on 29 April 1964. On 17 October 1964, Menzies (now Sir Robert) celebrated the lake's filling and the completion of the first stage. There was an opening ceremony with sailing boats and fireworks. Griffin's lake was finally finished after five decades. It cost AUD5,039,050. Freeth suggested naming the lake after Menzies. But Menzies insisted it should be named after Griffin.
During very dry times, Lake Burley Griffin's water level can get too low. When this happens, water can be released from Googong Dam. This dam is located upstream on the Queanbeyan River, which flows into the Molonglo River. Googong Dam was finished in 1979. It is one of three dams that provide water for Canberra and Queanbeyan. The Googong Dam can hold 124,500,000 cubic metres (100,900 acre⋅ft) of water.
Later Developments
Griffin's design made the lake a central part of the city. In the decades after the lake was built, many important national buildings were added. The government's plan states that "The lake is not only one of the centrepieces of Canberra's plan, but forms the immediate foreground of the National Parliamentary Area."
Creating the lake also gave water views to many important places that were previously landlocked. The Royal Canberra Hospital was on the Acton Peninsula until it was taken down. Government House, the old Blundell's Cottage (built over 50 years before Canberra began), and the new Australian National University all gained waterfront views.
In 1970, two tourist attractions were added to the Central Basin. The Captain James Cook Memorial was built to celebrate 200 years since James Cook first saw Australia's east coast. It has a water jet fountain in the central basin, like the one in Geneva. It also has a globe sculpture at Regatta Point showing Cook's journeys. On 25 April 1970, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the memorial. At the same ceremony, she also opened the National Carillon on Aspen Island. This is a set of 53 bronze bells given by the British Government to celebrate Canberra's 50th anniversary.
The central basin created a waterway between Parliament House and the War Memorial. A beautiful road was built along the land axis. Later, important national buildings were built along this axis from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. The National Library opened in April 1968. The High Court and National Gallery were built in the late 1970s. They opened in May 1980 and October 1982. These two buildings are on the eastern side of the axis and are connected by a bridge. In 1988, the new Parliament House was built on Capital Hill. This completed the most important building in the Parliamentary Triangle.
The current National Museum was built on the old site of the Royal Canberra Hospital in 2001. This happened after the public watched the controlled demolition of the hospital in 1997. A tragic accident occurred, leading to public concern and criticism of the ACT Government.
In the early 2000s, the lake's layout changed significantly for the first time. This was due to the Kingston Foreshores Redevelopment on the south shore of the East Basin, planned in 1997. Luxury apartments were built in Kingston, making property values very high. After some debate about the environmental impact, building started on the industrial lakeside area. In 2007, work began to reclaim land from the lakebed to create a harbour.
The Kingston Powerhouse, which used to provide the city's electricity, became the Canberra Glassworks in 2007. This was 50 years after the power generators stopped. A 25-metre-high (82 ft) tower of glass and light called Touching Lightly was unveiled on 21 May 2010. It was built by Australian artist Warren Langley.
In 2007, the government suggested redeveloping the area around the historic Albert Hall. They wanted to create a tourist and dining area. This included an eight-storey building and changing some waterfront land from cultural to commercial use. Many people and heritage groups were against this plan. They submitted over 3,300 signatures in a petition. One criticism was that the project focused too much on business and not enough on arts and community events. The proposal was cancelled in 2009.
There has been a suggestion to build a footbridge called Immigration Bridge. It would connect the National Museum of Australia and Lennox Gardens on the south shore. This would recognise the contributions of immigrants to Australia. Most feedback on this idea has been negative. An inquiry suggested redesigning the bridge or moving it to suit other lake users.
Fun Activities at the Lake
The areas around Lake Burley Griffin, known as LBG, are very popular for recreation. Public parks are along most of the shoreline. They have free electric barbecues, fenced swimming areas, picnic tables, and toilets. These parklands cover 3.139 km2 (776 acres) in total. Some popular parks include Commonwealth, Weston, Kings, Grevillea Parks, Lennox Gardens, and Commonwealth Place. Commonwealth and Kings Park on the north shore of the Central Basin are very popular. Commonwealth Park is a beautiful garden park and hosts the Canberra Festival.
Commonwealth Park is also where Floriade is held. This is an annual flower festival that lasts about a month in spring. It attracts over 300,000 visitors, which is similar to Canberra's population. It's the biggest flower festival in Australia and a major tourist attraction. An expansion is planned for Canberra's 100th birthday. Weston Park to the west is known for its trees. Black Mountain Peninsula is a great spot for picnics. Grevillea and Bowen Parks in the East Basin are used less often.
The West Lake is most used by swimmers and boats. This is because it has many beaches, boat ramps, and jetties. A bike path goes around the lake. Riding, walking, or jogging around the lake are popular weekend activities. Fireworks are often held over the lake on New Year's Eve. A big show called Skyfire has been held at the lake since 1989.
Water Sports
Lake Burley Griffin is used for many fun water activities. Canoeing, sailing, paddleboating, windsurfing, and dragon boating are popular. A rowing course is set up at the western end of the lake. National rowing championships were held there in 1964. However, strong winds have sometimes made organizers hesitant. Once, winds blew a boat into a bridge support. Swimming is not very popular. This is partly because the lake is often closed due to water quality concerns. The water is also generally cold. In summer, the lake is used for the swimming part of triathlon and aquathlon events.
Generally, powerboats are not allowed on the lake. Permits are given for rescue, training, commercial use, or special interest boats (like old steam-powered boats). Molonglo Reach, an area of the Molonglo River just before it enters the East Basin, is set aside for water skiing. Only ten powerboats can be used in this small area.
Safety at the Lake
The lake is patrolled by the Australian Federal Police water police. They help lake users, like righting overturned boats and towing broken ones to shore.
Most swimming spots around Lake Burley Griffin have fenced-in areas for safety. In popular areas, there are also safety lockers with life belts and emergency phones. Between 1962 and 1991, seven people drowned in the lake.
For safety and water quality, the lake has different zones for different activities. The far eastern part is for "primary contact" activities like swimming and water skiing. The East and Central Basins, closer to populated areas, are for "secondary contact" sports like sailing or rowing. West Lake and Tarcoola Reach, between Commonwealth Avenue and Kurrajong Point, are the main recreation areas. Both primary and secondary contact sports are allowed there. Yarramundi Reach, near Scrivener Dam, has a marked rowing course. It is zoned for secondary contact, but primary contact activities are also allowed.
Environmental Concerns
Water Quality
Harmful blue-green algae blooms happen fairly often in the lake. Warnings are issued when an algal bloom is found, advising people not to touch the water. Efforts are being made to reduce the amount of phosphates entering the lake. This is hoped to improve water quality. Blue-green algae produce toxins that can harm humans and animals. There have been cases of dogs getting sick after playing in and drinking the lake water.
The water also looks cloudy because of high turbidity. However, this usually isn't a health risk. But the cloudiness, caused by wind, stops plants from helping to clean the water. Silt (fine dirt) building up is not a big problem. It's only an issue in the East Basin, but dredging (removing silt) is not needed. The problem has lessened since Googong Dam was built. Heavy metal pollution has also decreased, partly because some lead mines upstream closed. However, some pollution still comes from leaching and groundwater. Traps for rubbish, oil, and sediment have been placed at the lake's entry points to reduce pollution.
Fish and Fishing
Fishing is quite popular in the lake. The most common fish caught is the carp, which was introduced illegally. Fish populations are checked every year. The introduced redfin European perch are also very common. They are often caught when people are fishing for golden perch. However, other less common fish also live in the lake. These include native Murray cod, western carp gudgeon, and golden perch. Introduced goldfish, Gambusia, rainbow trout, and brown trout are also present.
The lake has been stocked with different types of fish every year. Over half a million fish have been released since 1981. There have been many changes to the fish populations and stocking practices since the lake was first filled.
Regular stocking since the 1980s has brought back good numbers of golden perch and Murray cod. These native fish lived in the Molonglo River before the lake was built. But they were lost due to mining pollution in the early 1900s. The main reason for stocking is to increase fish numbers in the Molonglo. They had been reduced by overfishing, introduced species, and habitat loss. One goal of stocking Murray cod and golden perch is to balance the ecosystem. They act as native predators for other fish.
Native Silver perch and introduced brown trout were released in the 1980s but have not been stocked since. Silver perch stocking didn't result in many fish being caught. Introduced rainbow trout have been released sometimes, about once every ten years. But they haven't been released since 2002-2004 because too few survived. A government report says the reason for low survival is unknown. One idea is that carp outcompete them for food. However, the lake's high nutrient levels and warm summer temperatures are more likely reasons. Golden perch and Murray cod have made up about four-fifths of the fish released in the last three decades. They have been the only fish stocked in the last five years. The government plans to stock only these two species for the next five years until 2014.
Engineering Award
Lake Burley Griffin is listed as a National Engineering Landmark by Engineers Australia. This is part of their Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Burley Griffin para niños
