Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00148:reg:2017:p22
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00148
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2017 (pt 22/81)
Character Range: 98539–101457

because of the place's potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of Australia's natural or cultural history

As indicated in Section 2.6 above, while the building contains evidence of its design, construction and use, there is no indication that this evidence is likely to establish new facts about Australia's cultural history.  There is also no evidence of major archaeological deposits associated with the place.

Accordingly, the Library does not meet this criterion.

    (d) the place has significant heritage value because of the place's importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of:
    (i) a class of Australia's natural or cultural places
    (ii) a class of Australia's natural or cultural environments

The Library may be considered part of the group of libraries in Australia, being a class of cultural places.  However, while certain characteristics are obvious (eg. reading rooms and book stacks), there is no known research into the full characteristics of this class, such as a type profile, which would enable a meaningful analysis.

In addition, the Library may be considered atypical of libraries in some ways because of its size and national role.

In this context, analysing the Library under this criterion would not seem possible at this time, and may not prove worthwhile given its atypical characteristics.

As noted in Section 2.2 above, the building displays all seven of the indicators of the Late Twentieth Century Stripped Classical style of architecture, including the two key indicators (symmetrical façade and regular bays of vertical proportion).

Other Canberra examples of this style include the Civic Square Complex (1961), Law Courts of the ACT (1963), Reserve Bank of Australia (1965), City District Police Station (1966) and Treasury Building (1969).[76]  Some of these examples are slightly earlier than the Library, a few are good examples displaying many or all of the style indicators (eg. the Law Courts), while others are only moderate examples of the style (eg. the Police Station).

In this context, the Library is a good and confident Canberra example of the style, which is also both large and prominent in the city.

The Library meets this criterion regarding its architectural style.

    (e) the place has significant heritage value because of the place's importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics valued by a community or cultural group

While the evidence of community-based values is somewhat limited, none the less there is sufficient to conclude that the Library is an icon and landmark for the Canberra community.  This relates, at least in part, to the presence of the building in several prominent Canberra views:
     * the distant view of the Library, and Parliament House, from Commonwealth Park;  and
     * the view of the Library from under Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.

Other findings