Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p262
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with representatives of, or suitable surrogates for, that group.

Assessments of the Broader Landscape

Parliament House Vista Area Heritage Management Plan
This plan (Marshall and others 2010b) included an assessment of social and community-based aesthetic values derived from an on-line survey, focus groups, research and interviews.  The Parliament House Vista area stretches from State Circle to the Australian War Memorial, including the core of the Land Axis.

The plan offers considerable detail on the perceptions and values associated with the Parliament House Vista, some of which are directly relevant to Anzac Parade.

The on-line survey, primarily completed by Canberra residents, demonstrated the importance of the Vista for a variety of reasons including as 'a place that connects Australian's political history from past to present', as a place that 'evokes national memories', as a place where people can participate in 'important national events', as a 'dramatic and powerful landscape', and as an 'important symbol of Australian national identity'.  The symbolism embodied in this place is strongly recognised and deeply felt, as are its beauty and design qualities (Marshall and others 2010b, vol. 1, pp. 102-103).

In the focus groups it was recognised that the Vista is 'a significant place in terms of its design, symbolism and its role in Australian national memory and identity-building', although these values were seen as being primarily appreciated by the Canberra community rather than Australians as a whole (Marshall and others 2010b, vol. 1, p. 105).

An examination of images used to present Canberra to visitors (eg. postcards, tourism guides and materials) noted that views along the Land Axis dominated, looking to Parliament House or the Australian War Memorial, and indicating its high level of recognition as Canberra's signature or icon.

Delving further into the values expressed, the plan recognises that for the Canberra community the Vista is 'a special place which they see as at the heart of Australian national identity and what it is to be Australian', symbolising 'commemoration, democracy, national memory and history and is an iconic representation of Canberra'.  Further it 'gives them a real sense of their place in Australian history and engenders in them a sense of pride' (Marshall and others 2010b, vol. 1, p. 112).

As well as the symbolic meanings embodied in the landscape, the Vista is important for its beauty and design qualities,

    'the corridor from Parliament House to Mount Ainslie is a beautiful space'

    'it is a striking design element of the city linking (aesthetically and philosophically) key public buildings and facilities that are central to the identity of modern Australia'  (Marshall and others 2010b, vol. 1, p. 113)

As a designed space, it is valued as part of the Griffins design for Canberra,

    'The vista