OUR HERITAGE AT RISK -  AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY - 2008

Place:  Old Canberra House and Setting

Threat: Loss of heritage values through inappropriate development

Significance:

Old Canberra House is the oldest substantial dwelling associated with the new national capital built within the first administrative centre prior to the construction of Walter Burley Griffin's plan.  Plantings within the ground are likely to be associated with Charles Weston, Canberra’s first Officer-in-Charge of afforestation.

Old Canberra House building, over looking a panorama of Lake Burley Griffin is situated within spacious grounds which contain many trees planted under the direction of Charles Weston.  The grounds are a particularly notable example of Charles Weston’s work and influence in that it is the only known garden in Canberra that he planned and planted.

The Old Canberra House grounds includes the house, a number of associated buildings and the garden setting.  The building is surrounded by an extensive garden including many trees planted in the early years of the Territory.  While the building has been externally altered, it still retains much internal detail.  Associated with the original house is a gardener’s cottage.  The cottage dates from the late 1920s, was extended in 1941 and also in recent times.  The later Chauffeur’s Cottage is a simple building which dates from the 1930s.  In addition the precinct includes an early, perhaps, 1920s garden shed and a rusticated, weatherboard garage probably dating from about 1913.

Statement of Risk:

The Australian National University has applied to construct a new building on the grounds which would impact on several significant elements of the site including the original building, relocation of associated buildings and removal of a section of historically associated trees.  Under the EPBC Act the proposal has been referred for a ministerial decision.

Degree of Risk:       High risk - no solution agreed

Threats / Risks:      Destruction

If the proposed building development goes ahead in its current form the visual/aesthetic significance of the building and grounds would be severely compromised,  historically significant trees would be destroyed, and the special context of associated buildings would be destroyed.

Fate/outcome:        

Stable (not yet saved or secure, ie, solution not yet fully implemented)

Because the building and grounds are within the Acton Conservation Area of the Australian National University and are listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List, any new development which may impact on the heritage integrity required approval under the EPBC Act with public comment.  Two rounds of public comment have been received and the proposal has been referred to the Minister for Environment and Heritage for a decision.

Desired Outcome / Vision:

As stated in our two submissions the ACT National Trust’s desired outcome is that the current development proposal be disallowed.

View Nomination Form

Bibliography:

• http://heritage.anu.edu.au/index.php?pid=1088
• ACT National Trust files
• Commonwealth Heritage Listing a:  http://www.environment.gov.au/