List of buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory facts for kids
This list of buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory includes historically and architecturally significant buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
The recognition and legal protection of significant buildings and structures in the ACT is performed by numerous bodies:
- National Heritage List is a list of places with outstanding heritage value to Australia;
- Commonwealth Heritage List is specifically for buildings owned by the Australian Government which are significant at any threshold including local, state/territory and National levels.
Places on these lists are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Listed places are protected under the Act which means that no-one can take an action that has, will have or is likely to have, a significant impact on the environment of a listed place, including its heritage values, without the approval of the Minister. It is a criminal offence not to comply with this legislation.
- Register of the National Estate, the register is a list of historically significant places, this is a non-statutory list.
- The National Trust of Australia administers several properties in the ACT, listing on this register is non-statutory.
- Australian Capital Territory Heritage Register, places on the register are of particular importance to the people of the ACT and are thought to enrich the understanding of history and identity. Places on the register are legally protected under the Heritage Act 2004, and changes or development of them requires advice by the ACT Heritage Council on development issues to improve conservation outcomes.
The Royal Australian Institute of Architects also maintains a register of significant 20th-century buildings, which although it has no legal capacity to protect buildings, it provides information on architecturally significant buildings within the territory.
19th century
| Name | Year completed | Location | Description and significance | Preservation and access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John's Anglican Church | 1845 | Reid | St John's Church is the oldest surviving public building within Canberra's city precinct, predating the establishment of the capital by almost 70 years. The Schoolhouse Museum within the church precinct displays items dating back to Canberra's rural past. | The church building and surrounding precinct remains an active place of worship and Canberra landmark. |
| Blundells Cottage | 1860 | Parkes | Blundells Cottage is five room stone cottage, and is one of the few reminders of the rural history of Canberra left in the city. | The building is listed by the National Trust of Australia and operates as a museum. |
| Canberry, Kanberry | 1824 | Acton | Canberry was the first building in the ACT. | Canberry was knocked down in 1942 to make way for the construction of the Royal Canberra Hospital. |
| Lambrigg | ||||
| Tharwa Bridge | 1895 | Tharwa | Tharwa Bridge was the first bridge built across the Murrumbidgee River. | The four span Allan truss bridge is still open to traffic. (Closed in 2006 - temporarily) The bridge reopened in August 2008 to light traffic, below 5 tonnes. |
| Hill Station | 1862 | |||
| Yarralumla | 1891 | Yarralumla | Built by the Campbell family, the house became the home of the Governor-General of Australia from 1927. | Commonwealth Heritage List |
| Duntroon House | 1833 | Royal Military College, Duntroon | Built by the Campbell family, now the officer's mess at RMC Duntroon. The oldest surviving private building in Canberra. | Commonwealth Heritage List |
20th century
Pre World War II
| Name | Year established | Location | Description and significance | Preservation and access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Canberra | 1922-26 | Yarralumla | Hotel Canberra was designed by architect John Smith Murdoch in the Garden-Pavilion style drawing strong influences from American Prairie, Californian Bungalow and Australian Colonial styles. | The Hotel is open to the public and operated by Hyatt, it is listed by the National Trust. |
| Old Parliament House | 1927 | Parkes | Open to the public as a museum and home of the National Portrait Gallery. Commonwealth Heritage List | |
| Ian Potter House | ~1927 | Acton | The exterior of the house is in Inter-War Georgian Revival style and was designed by Anketell and Kingsley Henderson. The house was originally used to house female public servants. | Listed on the ACT Heritage Register |
| Canberra Hospital Administration Building, former | 1941-43 | Acton | Many of the old hospital buildings are now used by the Australian National University. Listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List, RSTCA Register | |
| Commencement Column Monument | 1913 | Capital Hill | The Commencement Column Monument is composed of three foundation stones with inscriptions, set in a hexagonal base (of an intended but never completed column) and was designed by J S Murdoch. | Commonwealth Heritage List |
| Old Canberra House | 1913 | Acton | Designed by J S Murdoch it was the first two-storey masonry structure in the new capital. | Commonwealth Heritage List, Register of the National Estate |
| Melbourne & Sydney Buildings | 1927 | City Centre | The pair of Inter-War Mediterranean style buildings were the earliest major developments in the City Centre | The exterior and remaining original interiors are protected by the ACT Heritage Register. They are still used for commercial and residential purposes. |
| Canberra School of Art | 1939 | Acton | A two-storey rendered brick symmetrical Art Deco style school with central clock tower. | Commonwealth Heritage List, Register of the National Estate |
| The Lodge | 1927 | Deakin | The Lodge is a two-storey, rendered brick building in the Colonial Revival style with Georgian detailing. It has been the Canberra residence for most of Australia's Prime Ministers. | Annual open days for public viewing, listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List. |
| Ainslie Public and Primary Schools | 1927 | Braddon | The first modern school open in the ACT, designed in the Art Deco style. | RAIA register |
| Gorman House Community Arts Centre | 1924-25 | Braddon | The first hostel completed for the Federal Capital Advisory Committee. It was designed by the Commonwealth Architect John Smith Murdoch in the Garden-Pavilion style. | The buildings are used by various community groups. Many of the buildings are open to the public during regular markets. ACT Heritage Register |
| Yarralumla Woolshed & Outbuildings | 1904 | Adjacent to Yarralumla | Fredrick Campbell built this large woolshed for his nearby property Yarralumla. | The woolshed is available for hire as a party venue. Nominated to the ACT Heritage Register |
| Manuka Swimming Pool | 1930 | Griffith | The pool was an important social hub for early Canberra from 1930 until the 1960s. It is built in the Federal Capital Style. | Open to the public, admission charge. ACT Heritage Register |
| Kingston Powerhouse | 1915 | Kingston | The powerhouse was the first permanent public building in the ACT. It was designed by John Smith Murdoch in the Federal Capital style. | ACT Heritage Register |
| Westlake | 1922 | Yaramulla | Accommodation for construction workers including cottages designed by H M Rolland | Completely demolished. Unrestricted public access to the site. |
| Alt Crescent Buildings & Precinct | ||||
| Reid Urban Conservation Area | ||||
| Albert Hall | 1927 | Yarralumla | It was designed by J H Kirkpatrick, R Casboulte and H M Rolland, and is representative of the Federal Style of architecture in early Canberra. | Venue available for hire. ACT Heritage Register |
| Australian War Memorial | 1941 | Campbell | ||
| Belconnen Naval Transmission Station | 1938-1939 | Belconnen | Transmitting station for Bonshaw Receiving Station at HMAS Harman; the 600 ft masts were brought to ground on 20 December 2006. | Register of the National Estate and Commonwealth Heritage List |
| Canberra City Garbage Incinerator | 1938-41 | Yarralumla | One of the few remaining examples of the incinerators designed by W B Griffin and E M Nicholls between 1929-38. | Register of the National Estate |
| Australian Forestry School | 1926 | Yarralumla | Now part of CSIRO | |
| Westridge House | 1928 | Yarralumla | Private Residence owned by the CSIRO. | |
| Institute of Anatomy | Acton | The building currently houses the National Film and Sound Archive | ||
| Mount Stromlo Administration Building | 1924 | Badly damaged by bushfires in 2003. | Fenced off from the public.
Listed on Commonwealth Heritage List. |
|
| Fenner House | ||||
| Royal Swedish Embassy | Yarralumla | Nominated to the Commonwealth Heritage List | ||
| Canberra Olympic Pool | 1955? | Civic | Built in the post war International Style the pool was designed by Ian Slater of the Department of Works. | Register of the National Estate |
| Former Forrest Fire Station & Residence | 1938 | Forest | Designed by Edwin Henderson and Cuthbert Whitley, the buildings are an example of typical Canberra inter-war functionalism. | House the Canberra Fire Brigade Museum, Register of the National Estate |
| Canberra Grammar School and Chapel | 1929-64 | Red Hill | Church school complex which is a good example of the inter-war Gothic style. | Register of the National Estate |
| Barton Conference Centre | ||||
| Braddon Urban Conservation Area | Braddon | |||
| Forrest Urban Conservation Area | Forrest | |||
| Mercure Hotel Canberra | 1926-27 | Braddon | ||
| Hotel Kurrajong | Barton | |||
| Manuka Housing Precinct | Griffith | |||
| Mackie House | ||||
| Cater House | ||||
| Birch House | ||||
| Fisher Government Housing | Fisher | |||
| Wilson House | ||||
| Swinger Hill Stages 1 & 2 Cluster Housing | Phillip | |||
| Beaufort House | ||||
| Kanangra Court | ||||
| Arnold Grove | ||||
| Forrest Townhouses | ||||
| Northbourne Housing Precinct | Dickson & Lyneham | Lyneham. Dickson and Owen Flats were designed by Sydney Ancher.
Listed on RSTCA. |
||
| Vasey Crescent Houses | ||||
| Calthorpes' House | Red Hill | |||
| Dickson Library | Dickson | |||
| General Bridges' Grave | 1920 | Royal Military College, Duntroon | Memorial Grave of designed by architect Walter Burley Griffin | Commonwealth Heritage List |
| ANZAC Memorial Chapel of St Paul | Commonwealth Heritage List | |||
| Changi Chapel | Royal Military College, Duntroon | Commonwealth Heritage List | ||
| ANU Drill Hall | Acton | Commonwealth Heritage List | ||
| ANZ Bank Building | ||||
| Monaro Mall | Civic | Now part of the Canberra Centre | ||
| Colonial Mutual Building | ||||
| Yarralumla brickworks | Yarralumla | Closed to the public | ||
| Cotter Pumping Station & Electrical Sub-station | Confluence of the Cotter and Murrumbidgee Rivers | Closed to the public, visible from the Cotter Road. | ||
| East Block Government Offices | Parkes | Commonwealth Heritage List | ||
| West Block Government Offices | Parkes | Commonwealth Heritage List | ||
| USA Chancery, Residence & Precinct | Yarralumla | |||
| Law Courts of the ACT & Precinct | Civic | |||
| Robert Garran Offices | ||||
| Canberra Baptist Church & Manse | ||||
| St Paul's Church of England | ||||
| Holy Trinity Lutheran Church | ||||
| Townhouse Motor Inn | ||||
| RAIA Headquarters | ||||
| Old Parliament House | Commonwealth Heritage List, National Heritage List | |||
| Girlalang Primary School | Girralang | |||
| Corroboree Park | ||||
| de Quetteville | Hughes | |||
| Barton Court | ||||
| John Gorton Building | 1927 (foundation built then cancelled); 1956 (rebuilt) | Parkes | An Art Deco building that was built over the span of several decades. Construction initially began in 1927, before it was quickly cancelled due to budgetary constraints and substandard foundations. Construction started over in 1946, and the building finally opened in 1956. | Listed on the Commonwealth heritage register |
| Irish Embassy | ||||
| Northbourne Flats | Braddon & Turner | |||
| Manning Clark House | ||||
| Trade Offices | ||||
| Evans Crescent Housing Precinct | ||||
| The Pines | ||||
| Sri Lankan Embassy | ||||
| Allawah & Bega Flats | ||||
| Campbell Group Housing | ||||
| Kingston Transport Depot | ||||
| Open Systems House | ||||
| ANU Cottage No 3 | Acton | Commonwealth Heritage List | ||
| CSC Building | ||||
| Canberra National Seventh Day Adventist Church | ||||
| Guardian House |
Post World War II
| Name | Year established | Location | Description and significance | Preservation and access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra Olympic Pool | 1953—1955 | Civic | Modernist public pool by Commonwealth Department of Public Works architect Ian Slater, with Australia's first concrete diving tower. Designed in 1953, winner of the 1955 Sulman Medal. | Open to the public. |
| University House | 1954 | Acton | ||
| The Shine Dome | 1959 | Acton | The Dome is thought to be only example in Australia of Geometric Structuralism and was designed by Sir Roy Grounds. | The Shine Dome is houses the offices of the Australian Academy of Science, it is occasionally open for public lectures. It is listed on the National Heritage List. |
| Reserve Bank of Australia | 1963-65 | City Centre | Australia's first national central bank, in minimalist style. | Commonwealth Heritage List |
| National Carillon | 1970 | Parkes | An example of the late twentieth century Brutalist style designed by architects Cameron Chisholm Nicol and forms a part of the Parliamentary Triangle. It was given to Australia by the British Government to commemorate Canberra's 50th anniversary. | Open to the public and listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List. |
| Cameron Offices | 1970-77 | Belconnen | Designed by John Andrews, in the late Twentieth Century Brutalist Style. | Part of the building is scheduled for demolition, wings 3,4 and 5, and the bridge are on the Commonwealth Heritage List. |
| Canberra School of Music | 1976 | Acton | Designed in the Late Twentieth-Century Brutalist style with strong sculptural forms by Daryl Jackson and Evan Walker. The building includes the 1500 seat Llewellyn Hall. | Commonwealth Heritage List |
| Hotel located within the ANU | Commonwealth Heritage List | |||
| Toad Hall | 1977 | Acton | Student residence in late twentieth century late modern style designed by internationally acclaimed architect John Andrews. | ANU student residence, Commonwealth Heritage List |
| ACT Police Headquarters | City Centre | RAIA register | ||
| High Court of Australia | 1975-80 | Parkes | The High Court building, designed by Christopher Kringas, Edwards Madigan Torzillo and Briggs | Commonwealth Heritage List |
| Burgmann College | Acton | RAIA register | ||
| UC Student Residences Group 22 | Bruce | |||
| Research School of Biological Science | Acton | |||
| Edmund Barton Building | 1970-74 | Barton, Australian Capital Territory | Building was designed by Harry Seidler. It is 'outstanding example of the Late Twentieth-Century International Style of architecture in Australia and is the largest such example in the National Capital'. | Commonwealth Heritage List |
| National Gallery of Australia | 1973-82 | Parkes, Australian Capital Territory | National Gallery was designed by Colin Madigan and built from reinforced concrete. | The Gallery and the adjoining sculpture garden are open to the public and are listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List. |
| RG Menzies Building | ActonCommonwealth Heritage List | The building holds the ANU collections relating to Asia and the Pacific, theses, Rare books, special collections and the United Nations collection. It is open to the public and listed on the ACT Heritage Register. | ||
| Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture | 1999 | Barton | A Christian ecumenical centre and chapel. Associated with Saint Mark's National Theological Centre and Charles Sturt University. | Open to the public. |
See also
- Government housing in Canberra
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List of buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.