Temporary Closures: Current advice
1925 - 1930: Federal Capital Commission
Image
Aerial view of Parliament House, Canberra, with Commonwealth Offices at rear, showing Governmental area with regard to garden layout, 1929.
Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia. NAA: A8875, 5
Role: To construct and administer Canberra.
Chief Commissioner: Sir John Butters
The Federal Capital Commission assumed responsibility for the planning and development of Canberra on 1 January 1925. By that time, the Federal Capital Advisory Committee had overseen the partial construction of Parliament House, Hotel Canberra and cottages in the suburbs of Acton, Ainslie, Braddon and Kingston.
The Government subsequently abandoned the Advisory Committee's proposal to transfer only key personnel to Canberra and directed the Federal Capital Commission to prepare for the transfer of 1,100 officers and their families. During its first 2 years of operation, the Commission completed the construction of Parliament House and the Prime Minister's Lodge, built 500 cottages and delivered several hotels, schools and public buildings. These included the West Block Offices, Albert Hall, the Institute of Anatomy, the Australian School of Forestry and the Observatory on Mount Stromlo. Additional development included hostels for single public servants and construction of the Sydney and Melbourne commercial buildings.
The Federal Capital Commission was responsible for both administering and developing the National Capital. Some public servants transferred from Melbourne, where they were accustomed to local government, expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission's decision-making on local matters and the limited opportunities for appeal.
The onset of the Great Depression in 1929 led the government cto reduce expenditure on the National Capital and disband the Commission. Responsibility for Canberra's development returned to the government departments that had characterised much of its development since 1913. To provide residents with a greater voice in local matters, a partly elected and partly nominated Advisory Council was established to advise the Minister on issues affecting Capital.
Next stop: 1938 - 1957 National Capital Planning and Development Committee | National Capital Authority