National Carillon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Carillon |
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National Carillon in 2016
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Carillon |
| Architectural style | Brutalist |
| Location | Aspen Island, Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°17′55″S 149°08′30″E / 35.2985°S 149.1417°E |
| Inaugurated | 26 April 1970 by Elizabeth II |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Owner | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Landlord | National Capital Authority |
| Height | 50 metres (164 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Concrete |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Cameron Chisholm Nicol |
| Other designers | John Taylor & Co (bells) |
| Official name: Carillon, Wendouree Dr, Parkes, ACT, Australia | |
| Type: | Listed place |
| Criteria: | D. and E. |
| Designated: | 22 June 2004 |
| Reference #: | 105346 |
The National Carillon is a huge musical instrument located on Aspen Island in Lake Burley Griffin. It's right in the middle of Canberra, Australia's capital city. The National Capital Authority looks after this amazing bell tower for the Australian government. It has 57 bells that can play almost five full musical scales, called octaves. The biggest bell weighs over 6,100 kilograms, and the smallest is just 8 kilograms!
Contents
History of the Carillon
The National Carillon was a special gift from the British Government to the people of Australia. It was given to celebrate Canberra's 50th birthday as the national capital.
The design for the carillon was chosen through a competition. Architects from both Australia and Britain took part. A company from Western Australia called Cameron Chisholm Nicol won the competition. They designed the carillon in 1967, and it was built between 1969 and 1970.
The carillon's three tall columns represent the British Government, the Australian Government, and the City of Canberra. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the National Carillon on 26 April 1970. The tower stands 50 metres (about 164 feet) tall. The bells and their playing system were made by a company called John Taylor & Co in England.
The carillon is also a good example of a building style called Brutalist architecture. This style uses strong, bold shapes, often with large plain walls and tall, narrow windows.
Carillon Upgrade in 2019
In 2019, the carillon got a big upgrade. It received a new clavier, which is the keyboard used to play the bells. The system that connects the keys to the bells (called the transmission) was also completely replaced.
Two new bells were added to the carillon. One was a new lowest bell, which sounds a note called G. This bell is very heavy, weighing over 5 tonnes! It was named the Ngunnawal bell to honor the first people of the Canberra area. The other new bell was a very light one, which helped the instrument play an even wider range of notes. John Taylor & Co also did this work.
The upgrade was delayed a bit because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How the Carillon Works
To be called a carillon, a musical instrument must have at least 23 bells. The National Carillon has 57 bells! When it was first built, it had 53 bells, and then 55 after some updates in 2003-2004. Each bell weighs between 7 kilograms (about 15 pounds) and 6 tonnes (about 13,000 pounds). The bells can play four and a half octaves of notes, covering all the notes in a musical scale.
The first person to play a public concert on the carillon was John Douglas Gordon. The footbridge leading to Aspen Island is now named after him.
The carillon building also has rooms for small events. These rooms offer great views of Lake Burley Griffin and central Canberra.
The carillon is played regularly. You can hear it chime every 15 minutes, and it plays a short tune every hour. There are also tours and concerts on many days. For example, a special concert of carols is often played on Christmas Eve. The best place to hear the carillon is usually within 100 metres (about 328 feet) of the building. However, you can often hear it much further away in areas like the Parliamentary Triangle, Kingston, and Civic.
Carillon and Memorials
The National Workers Memorial (Australia) is located nearby. It was built so that people visiting the memorial would hear the sound of the carillon's bells. This sound helps them remember their loved ones.
Gallery
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National Carillon bells
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Hot air balloon over Lake Burley Griffin, showing the National Carillon
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The Carillon keyboard
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Carillon at sunset, 2011
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Images for kids
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The National Carillon lit up in royal purple for the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II
