City Centre, Australian Capital Territory
Encyclopedia
The central business district
of Canberra
, Australia
's capital city, is officially named City (postcode
: 2601). However it is also referred to as Civic, Civic Centre, City Centre, Canberra City and Canberra (postcode
: 2600).
Canberra's City was officially established in 1927, although the suburb name City was not gazetted until 20 September 1928. Walter Burley Griffin
's design for Canberra included a "Civic Centre" with a separate "Market Centre" located at what is now Russell
. However Prime Minister
Stanley Bruce
vetoed this idea and only the Civic Centre was developed; the idea of the "Market Centre" was abandoned.
. The buildings house many shops, bars and restaurants, including Mooseheads
on London Circuit
, which is the longest established bar and night club in Civic, having opened in 1990. Fletcher Jones
, an Australian clothing brand, has operated its Canberra store in the Sydney building since 1962.
The Canberra Centre
, a three-storey shopping complex is Civic's main shopping precinct with a retail presence from the national chains David Jones
, Myer
, Big W
and Target
department stores. Nearby is Glebe Park
, a picturesque park near the centre of the city with elm trees and oaks from early European settlement before the city was founded. Civic also is home to the Canberra Theatre
, Casino Canberra
, Canberra Museum and Gallery
and the National Convention Centre.
Garema Place
and City Walk
are open areas of Civic for pedestrian traffic with many outdoor cafes. One of the longest running cafes in Civic is Gus's Cafe
on Bunda Street
.
A local bus interchange predominantly used by ACTION
, the ACT government-operated bus service, is located on East Row, Alinga Street, Mort Street
and Northbourne Avenue. On the western side of Northbourne Avenue (north of Alinga Street) is the Jolimont Centre, which is the bus terminal for Greyhound Australia
and Murrays
.
Unlike many cities, Canberra has very strict planning rules including height limits on buildings: the maximum height of the office tower blocks in Civic is 13 floors, giving Canberra a "small town feel" to many visitors.
Before the development of the City of Canberra, there was no clear commercial centre for the area, other than nearby Queanbeyan
. Murray's store, considered the area's first retail store, operated from a house built in 1874 on the glebe of St John the Baptist Church
, within the present boundaries of Commonwealth Park
, to the east of what is now Nerang Pool. It burnt down in 1923.
Griffin's plan separated the national centre, the administrative centre of the city, now the Parliamentary Triangle
, from the Civic Centre, the principal commercial area. The commercial centre was planned to be on what Griffin described as the Municipal Axis which was projected to run north-west from Mount Pleasant. Variations from Griffin's plan that affect City include the abandonment of a city railway and a reduction in the widths of some streets, including of London Circuit which was planned to be 200 feet (61 m) and was reduced to 100 feet (30.5 m). Griffin's civic focus on Vernon Knoll, now known as City Hill
, has not materialised mainly because of the way city building has progressed.
The first major buildings planned for the commercial centre were the Melbourne and Sydney Buildings. Construction began in 1926 and they were finally completed in 1946. Immediately after World War II
, the Melbourne and Sydney buildings still comprised the main part of Civic and the Blue Moon Cafe was the only place to go for a meal apart from the Hotel Canberra and the Hotel Civic.
Up until the 1960s, Canberra shoppers found the retail environment frustrating. Many did their weekly shopping in Queanbeyan, where the central business district was more compact. Major purchases were made in Sydney. In 1963, the Monaro Mall (now Canberra Centre
) opened. It included a branch of the David Jones
department store.
The Melbourne and Sydney buildings were based on design principles set by John Sulman
in sketch form. The design work was finalised by J H Kirkpatrick. The buildings were the model which establish the colonnade principle, an important design element throughout Civic. From 1921 to 1924 Sulman was chairman of the Federal Capital Advisory Committee
, and in that role was involved in the planning of Canberra and refining Griffin's plan.
Sulman's concept of arcaded loggia
s was derived from Brunelleschi
's Ospedale degli Innocenti
(Foundling Hospital) and the cloisters of the 15th century Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze
. The Mediterranean influence was maintained by Kirkpatrick with Roman roof tiles and cast embellishments such as roundels. The buildings were originally constructed with open first floor verandahs which have since largely been glazed in.
The Melbourne Building was sold sequentially as independent parcels from 1927 until 1946. The corner of West Row and London Circuit was built specifically for the Bank of New South Wales (now the Westpac Banking Corporation). The manager lived above the bank. Much of the Melbourne Building facing West Row was completed by the Commonwealth Government in 1946 and used as the location of the Commonwealth Employment Service. From 1944 to 1953, the Canberra University College was housed in the Melbourne building. On 11 April 1953 the Melbourne Building was severely damaged by fire and the college relocated (it eventually became the Australian National University
).
In 1965, the Hotel Civic was the scene of a protest about the segregation of women in the hotel:
, Canberra Museum and Gallery
, Civic Library and Canberra Theatre
as well as many local cultural organisations, including the Canberra division of the National Trust of Australia
.
Civic Square was designed by Yuncken Freeman
architects and completed in 1961. Civic Square is sited within a primary axis of Griffin's design for Canberra which links City Hill and Mount Ainslie. Griffin intended that the square be the ‘heart of the city’. Civic Square is listed on the register of the National Estate.
The Canberra Theatre
was opened in June 1965 with the Australian Ballet
’s production of Swan Lake
. The old Playhouse, also from 1965, was demolished and rebuilt in 1998. The link between the Theatre and Playhouse buildings has been redeveloped to include the Civic Library and the theatre's bar and administration area.
A sculpture of Ethos by Tom Bass
was commissioned by the National Capital Development Commission
in 1959 and unveiled in 1961. "The NCDC intended that the work would emphasize that Canberra is the non-political centre, the locale of commerce and of private enterprise in its best sense." The sculpture was designed to represent the spirit of the community. Bass interpreted this in the figure which he intended "the love which Canberra people have for their city to be identified with her...I want them to be conscious of her first as an image from a distance...then comes the moment when they become personally involved with her... they feel her looking at them, reflecting their love for the place".
. Opened as the Monaro Mall in 1963, it was the first Australian three-storey, fully enclosed and air conditioned shopping centre. It was opened by the Prime Minister Robert Menzies
. In 1989 it was substantially redeveloped and renamed the Canberra Centre. A further redevelopment was completed by late 2007, substantially adding to the diversity of retailers and services within it including a Dendy Cinema complex.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's capital city, is officially named City (postcode
Postcodes in Australia
Postcodes are used in Australia to sort and send mail to the correct address. All postcodes in Australia have four numbers and are placed at the end of the address...
: 2601). However it is also referred to as Civic, Civic Centre, City Centre, Canberra City and Canberra (postcode
Postcodes in Australia
Postcodes are used in Australia to sort and send mail to the correct address. All postcodes in Australia have four numbers and are placed at the end of the address...
: 2600).
Canberra's City was officially established in 1927, although the suburb name City was not gazetted until 20 September 1928. Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
's design for Canberra included a "Civic Centre" with a separate "Market Centre" located at what is now Russell
Russell, Australian Capital Territory
Russell is a suburb of Canberra, Australia in the North Canberra district. Russell is one of the smallest suburbs in Canberra, comprising a number of government offices but no private residences...
. However Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Bruce
Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, FRS, PC , was an Australian politician and diplomat, and the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. He was the second Australian granted an hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom, but the first whose peerage was formally created...
vetoed this idea and only the Civic Centre was developed; the idea of the "Market Centre" was abandoned.
Overview
Some of the earliest buildings constructed in Canberra were the Sydney and Melbourne buildings which flank Northbourne AvenueNorthbourne Avenue, Canberra
Northbourne Avenue is a major road in Canberra, Australia. It extends from City Hill in the south to the Federal Highway in the north.It is a north-south running road which has three lanes for motorised traffic, and one lane for bicycles running in each direction, with a large median strip with...
. The buildings house many shops, bars and restaurants, including Mooseheads
Mooseheads, Canberra
Mooseheads, a bar and nightclub which opened in Canberra, Australia in 1990. Mooseheads is located in the Sydney Building, on London Circuit in the central Canberra region of Civic.Mooseheads claims to be the longest-established bar and night club in Civic....
on London Circuit
London Circuit, Canberra
London Circuit is a road in Canberra, Australia, which surrounds City Hill in Civic, the city centre. It has a hexagonal shape, and intersects with several main roads such as Northbourne Avenue , Edinburgh Avenue , Akuna Street , Constitution Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue .Several important...
, which is the longest established bar and night club in Civic, having opened in 1990. Fletcher Jones
Fletcher Jones
Sir Fletcher Jones OBE was an Australian clothing manufacturer and retailer, and a pioneer in workforce participation...
, an Australian clothing brand, has operated its Canberra store in the Sydney building since 1962.
The Canberra Centre
Canberra Centre
Canberra Centre is a shopping centre located in Civic, Canberra, Australia. It opened on 6 March 1963 as the Monaro Mall, then underwent a $220 million redevelopment and became the Canberra Centre in 1989...
, a three-storey shopping complex is Civic's main shopping precinct with a retail presence from the national chains David Jones
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
, Myer
Myer
Myer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and...
, Big W
Big W
Big W is one of the largest chain of discount department stores in Australia, with over 150 stores. It is a division of Woolworths Limited, the second largest retailer in Australia. Its main competitors are Kmart and Target, both owned by Wesfarmers....
and Target
Target (Australia)
Target Australia Pty Ltd is an Australian department store chain owned by Wesfarmers . It operates 172 Target stores and 119 Target Country stores making 291 combined stores with its head office located in North Geelong, Victoria. It sells clothing, cosmetics, toys, homewares, electrical and...
department stores. Nearby is Glebe Park
Glebe Park, Canberra
Glebe Park is a public park on the eastern side of Civic, Canberra, Australia. The park is bounded by Coranderrk, Ballumbir, Akuna, and Bunda Streets, and to the south, the National Convention Centre.-History:...
, a picturesque park near the centre of the city with elm trees and oaks from early European settlement before the city was founded. Civic also is home to the Canberra Theatre
Canberra Theatre
The Canberra Theatre Centre is the Australian Capital Territory’s central performing arts venue and Australia’s first performing arts centre, the first Australian Government initiated performing arts centre to be completed, that opened on Thursday 24 June 1965 with a gala performance by the...
, Casino Canberra
Casino Canberra
Canberra Casino is a casino located in Civic in the central part of the Australian capital city of Canberra. It was the first legal casino to open in the City after the City was given Federal approval to open a casino in the years just prior to Self Government. The Casino is relatively small...
, Canberra Museum and Gallery
Canberra Museum and Gallery
Canberra Museum and Gallery is an art gallery and museum in Canberra, the capital of Australia. It is located on London Circuit, in Civic in the centre of the city. The gallery was opened on 13 February, 1998....
and the National Convention Centre.
Garema Place
Garema Place, Canberra
Garema Place is a paved outdoor area in Civic, Canberra, Australia, with a number of shops, restaurants and cafes with outdoor dining. Many community events including protests and festivals are held at the location...
and City Walk
City Walk, Canberra
City Walk is a paved outdoor pedestrian area in Civic, Canberra. It was formed by the closure to traffic of Alinga Street between East Row in the east and Binara Street in the south-west...
are open areas of Civic for pedestrian traffic with many outdoor cafes. One of the longest running cafes in Civic is Gus's Cafe
Gus's
Gus's cafe is a well-known cafe located in Civic, Canberra, Australia. It opened in 1969 and later became the first outdoor pavement cafe in Canberra. It is one of the oldest and best known cafes in Canberra and one of the first European-style cafes in Australia...
on Bunda Street
Bunda Street, Canberra
Bunda Street is a road in Canberra, Australia in the central area of Civic. It passes between Northbourne Avenue and its end near Glebe Park. A number of cafes and nightclubs are located on the side of the road, such as Gus's cafe in the Garema Centre. The road now passes underneath the Canberra...
.
A local bus interchange predominantly used by ACTION
ACTION
ACTION is a public bus service operating in Canberra, ACT, Australia. It is operated by the ACT Department of Territory and Municipal Services...
, the ACT government-operated bus service, is located on East Row, Alinga Street, Mort Street
Mort Street, Canberra
Mort Street is a road in Civic, the city centre of Canberra, Australia. It passes through the city centre's main bus interchange, and continues into the commercial precinct in the suburb of Braddon. At its southern end it is closed to regular traffic where it forms part of the Civic bus interchange...
and Northbourne Avenue. On the western side of Northbourne Avenue (north of Alinga Street) is the Jolimont Centre, which is the bus terminal for Greyhound Australia
Greyhound Australia
Greyhound Australia is the largest long distance bus operator in Australia, operating in all mainland states and territories. It is owned by the Chapman Group and ANZ....
and Murrays
Murrays
Murrays Coaches is an Australian bus and coach charter company. Murrays provides scheduled services in New South Wales, including:*EXPRESS - Canberra to Sydney,*EXPRESS - Canberra to Snowfields...
.
Unlike many cities, Canberra has very strict planning rules including height limits on buildings: the maximum height of the office tower blocks in Civic is 13 floors, giving Canberra a "small town feel" to many visitors.
History
Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan is a regional centre in the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, high technology, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the...
. Murray's store, considered the area's first retail store, operated from a house built in 1874 on the glebe of St John the Baptist Church
St John the Baptist Church, Reid
St John the Baptist Church is the oldest church in Canberra, Australia, and also the oldest building within Canberra's city precinct. It is sited at the corner of ANZAC Parade and Constitution Avenue in the suburb of Reid.-Construction:...
, within the present boundaries of Commonwealth Park
Commonwealth Park
Commonwealth Park is in Canberra, Australia, on the north side of Lake Burley Griffin. The annual spring Floriade festival is held in the park...
, to the east of what is now Nerang Pool. It burnt down in 1923.
Griffin's plan separated the national centre, the administrative centre of the city, now the Parliamentary Triangle
Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra
The Parliamentary Triangle is the ceremonial precinct of Canberra, containing some of Australia's most significant buildings. The triangle is formed by Commonwealth, Kings and Constitution avenues...
, from the Civic Centre, the principal commercial area. The commercial centre was planned to be on what Griffin described as the Municipal Axis which was projected to run north-west from Mount Pleasant. Variations from Griffin's plan that affect City include the abandonment of a city railway and a reduction in the widths of some streets, including of London Circuit which was planned to be 200 feet (61 m) and was reduced to 100 feet (30.5 m). Griffin's civic focus on Vernon Knoll, now known as City Hill
City Hill, Canberra
City Hill is a park located in Canberra, Australia on one of the points of the Parliamentary Triangle, a feature of Walter Burley Griffin's plan for the city. The park is surrounded by Vernon Circle, at the south end of Northbourne Avenue but the precinct extends to London Circuit and is an...
, has not materialised mainly because of the way city building has progressed.
The first major buildings planned for the commercial centre were the Melbourne and Sydney Buildings. Construction began in 1926 and they were finally completed in 1946. Immediately after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Melbourne and Sydney buildings still comprised the main part of Civic and the Blue Moon Cafe was the only place to go for a meal apart from the Hotel Canberra and the Hotel Civic.
Up until the 1960s, Canberra shoppers found the retail environment frustrating. Many did their weekly shopping in Queanbeyan, where the central business district was more compact. Major purchases were made in Sydney. In 1963, the Monaro Mall (now Canberra Centre
Canberra Centre
Canberra Centre is a shopping centre located in Civic, Canberra, Australia. It opened on 6 March 1963 as the Monaro Mall, then underwent a $220 million redevelopment and became the Canberra Centre in 1989...
) opened. It included a branch of the David Jones
David Jones Limited
David Jones Limited , colloquially known as DJs, is a high-end Australian department store chain.David Jones was founded in 1838 by David Jones, a Welsh immigrant, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name. It...
department store.
Sydney and Melbourne Buildings
John Sulman
Sir John Sulman was an Australian architect. Born in Greenwich, England, he emigrated to Sydney, Australia in 1885. From 1921 to 1924 he was chairman of the Federal Capital Advisory Committee and influenced the development of Canberra.-Early life:Sulman was born in was born at Greenwich, England...
in sketch form. The design work was finalised by J H Kirkpatrick. The buildings were the model which establish the colonnade principle, an important design element throughout Civic. From 1921 to 1924 Sulman was chairman of the Federal Capital Advisory Committee
Federal Capital Advisory Committee
The Federal Capital Advisory Committee was a body of the Australian government which oversaw the construction of Canberra from 1921 to 1924 following the termination of the contract of architect Walter Burley Griffin....
, and in that role was involved in the planning of Canberra and refining Griffin's plan.
Sulman's concept of arcaded loggia
Loggia
Loggia is the name given to an architectural feature, originally of Minoan design. They are often a gallery or corridor at ground level, sometimes higher, on the facade of a building and open to the air on one side, where it is supported by columns or pierced openings in the wall...
s was derived from Brunelleschi
Filippo Brunelleschi
Filippo Brunelleschi was one of the foremost architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. He is perhaps most famous for inventing linear perspective and designing the dome of the Florence Cathedral, but his accomplishments also included bronze artwork, architecture , mathematics,...
's Ospedale degli Innocenti
Ospedale degli Innocenti
The Ospedale degli Innocenti is a historical building in Florence, central Italy. Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, who received the commission in 1419, it was originally a children's orphanage. It is regarded as a notable example of early Italian Renaissance architecture...
(Foundling Hospital) and the cloisters of the 15th century Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze
Basilica di San Lorenzo di Firenze
The Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the largest churches of Florence, Italy, situated at the centre of the city’s main market district, and the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III...
. The Mediterranean influence was maintained by Kirkpatrick with Roman roof tiles and cast embellishments such as roundels. The buildings were originally constructed with open first floor verandahs which have since largely been glazed in.
The Melbourne Building was sold sequentially as independent parcels from 1927 until 1946. The corner of West Row and London Circuit was built specifically for the Bank of New South Wales (now the Westpac Banking Corporation). The manager lived above the bank. Much of the Melbourne Building facing West Row was completed by the Commonwealth Government in 1946 and used as the location of the Commonwealth Employment Service. From 1944 to 1953, the Canberra University College was housed in the Melbourne building. On 11 April 1953 the Melbourne Building was severely damaged by fire and the college relocated (it eventually became the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
).
Hotel Civic
The Hotel Civic opened in 1935. It was constructed in an Art Deco style from Canberra Cream bricks. It was demolished in late 1984 through early 1985. The hotel was on the corner of Alinga Street and the eastern side of Northbourne Avenue.In 1965, the Hotel Civic was the scene of a protest about the segregation of women in the hotel:
... a protest where a number of us [including the interviewee Helen Jarvis] chained ourselves to the bar in the Hotel Civic. Women weren't allowed to be served in the public bar -- that was the law in both NSW and the ACT. We had to use the saloon bar or the ladies' bar, where prices were higher, or to huddle out the back around the old kegs. They were also morose places, at least at the Civic, which was the only pub near the university. The public bar had all the spirit. We chained ourselves to the public bar. The bartender wouldn't serve us, but there were some sympathetic men who bought drinks for us. The newspapers trivialised it, of course: they wrote it up with the headline, “Women breast the bar”.
Civic Square
Civic Square houses the Australian Capital Territory Legislative AssemblyAustralian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory...
, Canberra Museum and Gallery
Canberra Museum and Gallery
Canberra Museum and Gallery is an art gallery and museum in Canberra, the capital of Australia. It is located on London Circuit, in Civic in the centre of the city. The gallery was opened on 13 February, 1998....
, Civic Library and Canberra Theatre
Canberra Theatre
The Canberra Theatre Centre is the Australian Capital Territory’s central performing arts venue and Australia’s first performing arts centre, the first Australian Government initiated performing arts centre to be completed, that opened on Thursday 24 June 1965 with a gala performance by the...
as well as many local cultural organisations, including the Canberra division of the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
.
Civic Square was designed by Yuncken Freeman
Yuncken Freeman
Yuncken Freeman is an Australian architecture firm. Yuncken Freeman has grown steadily over the years particularly from the economic boom from the 1950s to 1980s to be a sizeable firm in Australia...
architects and completed in 1961. Civic Square is sited within a primary axis of Griffin's design for Canberra which links City Hill and Mount Ainslie. Griffin intended that the square be the ‘heart of the city’. Civic Square is listed on the register of the National Estate.
The Canberra Theatre
Canberra Theatre
The Canberra Theatre Centre is the Australian Capital Territory’s central performing arts venue and Australia’s first performing arts centre, the first Australian Government initiated performing arts centre to be completed, that opened on Thursday 24 June 1965 with a gala performance by the...
was opened in June 1965 with the Australian Ballet
Australian Ballet Company
The Australian Ballet is the largest classical ballet company in Australia. It was founded by J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd. and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1962, with the English ballerina Dame Peggy van Praagh as founding artistic director...
’s production of Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
. The old Playhouse, also from 1965, was demolished and rebuilt in 1998. The link between the Theatre and Playhouse buildings has been redeveloped to include the Civic Library and the theatre's bar and administration area.
A sculpture of Ethos by Tom Bass
Tom Bass
Thomas Dwyer Bass AM, was a renowned Australian sculptor. Born in Lithgow, New South Wales on 6 June 1916, he studied at the Dattilo Rubbo Art School and the National Art School and established the Tom Bass Sculpture School in Sydney in 1974. In 1988 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia...
was commissioned by the National Capital Development Commission
National Capital Development Commission
The National Capital Development Commission was an Australian Commonwealth Government body created to complete the establishment of Canberra as the seat of government. It was created in 1957 through the National Capital Development Commission Act 1957.Under the control of the NCDC Canberra grew...
in 1959 and unveiled in 1961. "The NCDC intended that the work would emphasize that Canberra is the non-political centre, the locale of commerce and of private enterprise in its best sense." The sculpture was designed to represent the spirit of the community. Bass interpreted this in the figure which he intended "the love which Canberra people have for their city to be identified with her...I want them to be conscious of her first as an image from a distance...then comes the moment when they become personally involved with her... they feel her looking at them, reflecting their love for the place".
The form of the work is highly symbolic. The figure is robed in a fabric richly embossed with emblems and figures representing the Community. The shallow saucer on which the figure stands represents Canberra's nick-name "Frosty Hollow". The saucer is 6 sided because the plan for Civic square is itself hexagonal. The surface of the saucer bears a relief map of Canberra and the rolling countryside around it. At the feet of Ethos are indentations that represent the lake that was later to fill the space between the Civic Centre and the administrative part of the city. The bursting sun she holds aloft is symbolic of culture and enlightenment which the presence of Canberra's University, its research organisations and the Diplomatic Corps and so on give to the city.Bass regarded the work as his most important civic work. During the 1960s and 70s, pictures of the sculpture were frequently used in Canberra tourism images.
Canberra Centre
Civic's major shopping mall is the Canberra CentreCanberra Centre
Canberra Centre is a shopping centre located in Civic, Canberra, Australia. It opened on 6 March 1963 as the Monaro Mall, then underwent a $220 million redevelopment and became the Canberra Centre in 1989...
. Opened as the Monaro Mall in 1963, it was the first Australian three-storey, fully enclosed and air conditioned shopping centre. It was opened by the Prime Minister Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
. In 1989 it was substantially redeveloped and renamed the Canberra Centre. A further redevelopment was completed by late 2007, substantially adding to the diversity of retailers and services within it including a Dendy Cinema complex.