3. Exhibition and outreach

Section 6 of the Act provides for the National Capital Authority:

1. to foster an awareness of Canberra as the National Capital.

Output 2: Promotion and awareness of the significance of Canberra as the National Capital

Overview

The Australian Government is committed to a National Capital that embodies Australia’s heritage, aspirations, unity and values, and is worthy of pride for all Australians. The capital, as the seat of government, centre of national administration, location for national institutions and reflection of national life, should be such that all Australians can appreciate it.

The Authority is charged with developing an understanding and appreciation of the role of Canberra as the National Capital. The responsibility complements and informs the Authority’s other roles of planning, capital works and land management, and provides an excellent balance to the cultural programs of its national cultural institutions.

The Authority takes a strategic approach to fostering an awareness of the capital through research; by encouraging participation, appreciation and celebration in the National Capital; by providing information and education about the Capital; and by promoting the attributes of Canberra that are of national significance.

Key initiatives and achievements

Two key initiatives and achievements during 2008–09 were a temporary display on the centenary of the selection of Canberra as the site for the National Capital, and the Anzac Parade walking tour podcast.

A Capital Choice: The Selection of Canberra as the Site of our National Capital 1908–2008

On 13 October 2008, Senator Kate Lundy officially launched a temporary display in the National Capital Exhibition entitled, A Capital Choice: The Selection of Canberra as the Site of our National Capital 1908–2008. Through images and an interactive game, the display explores the decision to select Yass–Canberra as the site for the National Capital.

A Capital Choice has been well received by schools visiting the National Capital Exhibition and a teacher resource has been included on the Authority’s education portal. The display is also part of the National Capital Exhibition’s virtual tour, which gives all Australians an opportunity to learn about the first of the Canberra centenary anniversaries.

A Capital Choice will be on display at the National Capital Exhibition until August 2009 when it will be replaced by a temporary display celebrating the centenary of the survey of the National Capital site by Charles Scrivener.

Anzac Parade walking tour podcast

The Anzac Parade walking tour podcast, available as a download from the Authority’s website, allows all Australians to learn about the memorials which line the National Capital ’s major ceremonial way.

The walking tour podcast explores the symbolism and stories behind the memorials on Anzac Parade, including information provided by veterans involved in selected conflicts. The full tour takes approximately one hour and complements the Authority’s Anzac Parade Self Guided Walking Tour brochure.

The walking tour can be downloaded in full or visitors can create their own tour of memorials of personal interest by downloading information on individual memorials.

Launches

In 2008–09 the Authority conducted two launches:

• At a media launch on 24 July 2008 the Authority announced that due to the support of local sponsors the 2009 Canberra screening of Tropfest had been secured.
• On 13 October 2008, Senator Kate Lundy launched the temporary display A Capital Choice: The Selection of Canberra as the Site of our National Capital 1908–2008.

Outreach

The Authority’s program of reaching out to the community to foster an awareness of Canberra as the National Capital covers a broad spectrum of promotion and awareness strategies, projects and services.

National Capital Exhibition

The National Capital Exhibition tells the story of Canberra, Australia’s National Capital. It is located on Regatta Point, Commonwealth Park, with spectacular views of the Parliamentary Triangle and the Captain Cook Memorial Jet.

Through interactive displays, the National Capital Exhibition illustrates Canberra’s vital role as a symbol of Federation. It features the people, events, history and design, which contributed to the development of this unique, modern, fully-planned capital city.

A virtual tour of the National Capital Exhibition and self guided tours are available online to assist schools prepare for their visit.

The National Capital Exhibition is open from Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, and at weekends from 10 am to 4 pm. It is also open on Australia Day and Canberra Day but is closed on Christmas Day and other public holidays. Admission is free.

School groups represent a large proportion of visitors to the National Capital Exhibition. An internal restructure of Authority staffing during the year enabled the creation of a dedicated ‘education officer’ position to focus on school visits. The education officer coordinates the scheduling and structure of school visits and ensures appropriate education support materials are available for students and teachers. The current displays in the National Capital Exhibition are ageing. Early planning is underway for major renewal in 2010–11. Feedback from visitors and stakeholders will guide much of the renewal.

In May 2009 staff-led guided tours were reintroduced to the National Capital Exhibition. Throughout the year exhibits have been updated, including the Canberra Sound and Light Show.

In 2008–09 visitor numbers were 218,443 consisting of:

• 57,424 school students, predominantly from interstate
• 36,936 international tour group visitors
• 4,417 domestic tour group visitors
• 119,639 free independent travellers.

In June 2009, visitors were surveyed at the conclusion of their visit. Of those surveyed 100 per cent agreed their visit to the National Capital Exhibition had increased their awareness of the special importance of Canberra as Australia’s National Capital.

Renewal of the National Capital Exhibition

In 2008–09 the Authority commenced a project to renew the National Capital Exhibition. Stage 1 of the project will deliver a master plan for the renewal, including a creative brief and major themes. The master plan for the National Capital Exhibition will be delivered in 2009.

Blundells Cottage

Built around 1860, Blundells Cottage pre-dates the National Capital. Originally part of the ‘Duntroon Estate’, the cottage was a home for farm workers and their families. The cottage is now a fascinating hands-on museum and a memorial to the pioneers of the Limestone Plains.

Blundells Cottage is open on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm, excluding public holidays. Entrance fees are $7 for adults, $5 for children and concessions, and $15 for families.

During 2008–09 Blundells Cottage attracted 980 visitors.

National Carillon

Located on Aspen Island in Lake Burley Griffin, the National Carillon was a gift of the British Government to the people of Australia to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Capital. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II accepted the National Carillon on 26 April 1970.

The National Carillon building comprises three main levels. The first level, the George Howe Room – named for a long-serving carillonist – houses the main instrument called the clavier. The second floor, the bell chamber, houses the 55 static bronze bells which are played by the clavier, and on the third level is a function room named Chimes.

The Authority has facilitated a sponsorship with Colliers International and the Molonglo Group to support the National Carillon recital program in 2008–09 and 2009–10. This sponsorship allows for the continuation of National Carillon public programs, including Stillness and the Night and extra summer recitals, and the National Carillon Open Day.

Regular recitals could be heard on Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the year. From January to March extra recitals were also performed on Mondays and Fridays. Further recitals were also performed on Tuesday evenings during January and February as part of the Stillness and the Night program.

Special recitals were also performed for Christmas Eve, Valentine’s Day, Canberra Day,
World Aids Day, and in memory of the victims of the Victorian bushfires.

The open day in March 2009 provided families and other members of the public the opportunity to tour the National Carillon, including seeing the bells and meeting the carillonists.

Authority volunteers

The National Capital Authority Interpretive Volunteer program was established in August 2000 to complement the Authority’s awareness of Canberra as the National Capital. Since this time the program has been expanded to include the Horticulture Volunteer program.

Interpretive volunteers

Interpretive volunteers share their time, skills and knowledge, to develop their understanding and appreciation of Canberra as the National Capital which they pass on to the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the capital. At 30 June 2009 there were 19 active interpretative volunteers.

Volunteers continued to be rostered as interpretive guides at the National Capital Exhibition and at Blundells Cottage to assist school groups and other visitors to appreciate these facilities. Volunteers also provide tours of the National Carillon and informative walking tours of Anzac Parade, the Old Parliament House Gardens, and the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin.

Horticulture volunteers

Horticulture volunteers undertake defined activities, under the Authority’s supervision, such as deadheading of roses and other flowering plants, and weeding and maintenance of garden beds in the Old Parliament House Gardens.

Since the horticulture volunteers began shifts in July 2005 the program has grown substantially. At 30 June 2009 there were 47 active horticulture volunteers.

The activities of the horticulture volunteers have made a tangible difference to the experience of visitors to the Old Parliament House Gardens.

In September 2008, the Authority recognised the horticulture volunteers for undertaking 3,000 shifts in the Old Parliament House Gardens.

Education kits

The Authority has developed four online education resource kits, which are available through the Authority’s education portal at http://www.education.nationalcapital.gov.au

Two of the kits – A Look into the Past, an online education resource for Blundells Cottage and The Story of our Nation’s Capital – are aimed at primary school students. The other two – The National Police Memorial education resource and Reflections of a Nation: The History and Design of our National Capital – are aimed at lower to upper high school students. Reflections of a Nation has been updated with new activities and curriculum links to meet the needs of teachers and their students.

Each resource informs students about aspects of Canberra’s history and the role of the National Capital through interactive activities linked to Australian state curriculum. In 2008–09, 8,453 people accessed the education portal and the Authority’s online outreach tools.

In 2008–09 the Authority’s education portal was updated to include education materials linked to A Capital Choice: The Selection of Canberra as the Site of our National Capital 1908–2008 temporary display.

Centenary of Canberra

Both the Australian Government and ACT Government have committed to planning the 2013 celebration of the centenary of Canberra through an inter-governmental agreement signed on 12 December 2008.

An inter-governmental working group with the ACT Government is developing themes and a program of joint activities for the centenary. The Attorney-General’s Department convened an inter-departmental committee in March 2009 to develop a program of Commonwealth events to mark the centenary that will be considered later this year.

Decisions about the Commonwealth’s contributions to the centenary will be made through the Government’s normal processes.

Library

The Authority’s library is located at the Royal Australian Institute of Architects ACT Chapter building, 2A Mugga Way, Red Hill ACT 2603.

The library holds a collection of specialist materials covering the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, urban development, environmental planning, local history and cultural awareness, and serves as a rich resource for study of the planning and development of the National Capital.

The library also holds reports from the Authority, the National Capital Development Commission and its predecessors, as well as a photographic collection containing over 25,000 images in print, slide and transparency formats.

The library is open by appointment only one day each month.