The idea of holding a competition to design the Nation's Capital was first suggested by George Sydney Jones in 1901 at a town planning conference in Melbourne, however it was a powerful bureaucrat (Colonel David Miller) who wrote to the Minister for Home Affairs (King O'Malley) that pushed the idea for a worldwide competition to design Australia's new capital.
O'Malley approved the design competition in 1911. He stated that the competition would be judged by architects and planners, however he would have the final say on the winning entry. This led to many organisations urging their members to not enter, as O'Malley's behaviour was quite suspicious.
The competition was officially announced on the 30th of April, 2011 - with entries due on the 31st of January 1912. This due date was extended a month, due to the large number of entries. The entries were narrowed down the 137 which were put forward to the judges.
WHAT WAS REQUIRED?
- A general plan drawn onto the contour map of the site.
- Additional drawings were allowed.
- The plan was to allocate sites for a wide range of public buildings and facilities.
- The railway route could be changed, and trams were also to be considered.
- The idea of damming the Molonglo River (to create
ornamental waters was also encouraged.
-A sewerage plant was also required, as well as a water supply system.
- No plans, drawings or any supplied materials were allowed to show any identification.
- The entry was also expected to show "excellence and modernity", embodying all recent town planning developments.
WHO JUDGED THE COMPETITION?
O'Malley selected one architect, one mechanical engineer, one civil engineer and one surveyor. A Federal Capital Designs Board was also formed.
WHAT WAS THE CRITERIA?
The following questions were asked during the judging process;
- Did it meet the listed requirements?
- Did it take account of storm water and drainage?
- Did it give sufficient area to parks and gardens, or allow for ornamental waters?
- Were residential areas separated from heavy traffic and industry?
- Did it suggest grandeur?
- Was it well adapted to the landscape?
- Did it effectively symbolise a national capital?
THE OUTCOME
The judges narrowed down the entries to 46, then to 11. Reports were submitted (as there was not a unanimous decision), and O'Malley made the final decision.
On May 23, 1912, O'Malley announced the winning entry of the competition as Walter Burley Griffin (an architect and landscape artist from Chicago). Second place was awarded to Eliel Saarinen (of Finland), and third to Dr Alfred Agache (of Paris).
The top three winners shared a common philosophy; "a belief that the city could be conceived of and shaped as a work of art".
Above: Saarinen's 2nd Place Entry
Above: Agache's 3rd Place Entry
(Information and Image Source: http://www.idealcity.org.au/competition-1.html)
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