Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01869:reg:1911
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01869
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1911
Character Range: 515987–518981

1911            The Commonwealth Government announces a design competition for the federal capital.
23 May 1912     The entry submitted to the design competition by the Chicago architect, Walter Burley Griffin, is chosen as the winning design for the federal capital. Griffin's plans show the parliament building standing astride his Land Axis within the Government Group of buildings.
12 March 1913   At a major official ceremony, the federal capital is officially named 'Canberra' and the foundation stones of the commencement column for the building of the city are laid.
June 1914       The government announces a design competition for a permanent Parliament House for Canberra.

    82      Article by Sally McInerney, Sydney Morning Herald, 30 July 1983, p. 32; Canberra Times, 29 May 1997, p. 14; Sunday Telegraph, 17 June 1984; Souter, Acts of Parliament, p. 599; Senator John Button, quoted in the McInerney article, p. 32.
    83      Button, 'Federal Parliament. Decision making in a bizarre working environment', paper delivered to the 48th ANZAAS Congress, Melbourne, 29 August–2 September 1977, pp. 6–7.
    84      Canberra Times, 20 August 1995, p. 17, and 7 May 1996, p. 19; 'Old Parliament House', clipping labelled Canberra National Trust, August 1994, Canberra and District Historical Society.
Date               event
25 September 1914  Because of the war, the government defers the design competition for the Parliament building.
August 1916        The design competition for a permanent Parliament House is revived.
24 November 1916   The government postpones indefinitely the Parliament House design competition.
March 1920         The Minister for Home and Territories refers inter alia the question of building a parliament house in Canberra to the Federal Capital Advisory Committee.
July 1921          Under the chairmanship of Sir John Sulman, the Federal Capital Advisory Committee recommends the building of a Provisional Parliament House, to last for about 50 years, on the northern slope of Camp Hill.
March–April 1923   The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works considers the question of the construction of a Provisional Parliament House; it conducts a lengthy series of hearings and examines draft plans submitted by John Smith Murdoch, Chief Architect of the Department of Works and Railways.
12 July 1923       Handing down its report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works recommends either that the nucleus of the permanent parliament house be erected on Camp Hill or that a provisional structure be built on the northern slope of the hill.
26 July 1923       The government decides to proceed with the erection of a Provisional Parliament House on the northern slope of Camp Hill.
28 August 1923     Work commences on the construction of the provisional building, with the Minister for Works and Railways, PG Stewart, turning the first sod.
9 May 1927         The Duke of York officially opens Provisional Parliament House.