The surveyor will bear in mind that the Federal Capital should be a beautiful city, occupying a commanding position, with extensive views, and embracing distinctive features which will lend themselves to the evolution of a design worthy of the object, not only for the present, but for all time…
– ‘Instructions’ of Hugh Mahon, Minister for Home Affairs, to District Surveyor, Charles Scrivener, 21 December 1908
I have planned a city not like any other city in the world. I have planned it not in a way that I expected any government in the world would accept. I have planned an ideal city- a city that meets my ideal of the future.
– Walter Burley Griffin, New York Times, 2 June 1912
[Canberra] will soon rank with Washington as one of the world’s great monumental capitals, an eloquent testimony to the wisdom of making haste slowly… Canberra achieves the difficult feat of being one of the last Cities Beautiful, and also the world’s biggest Garden City.
– Sir Peter Hall, Cities of Tomorrow, 2002
It is not too outlandish to regard the [nation’s capital] as symbols of the ideals, dreams, aspirations, achievements, culture and history of the nation.
– Looking to the Future, 1994
Remember that the traditions of this City will be the traditions of Australia. Let us hope… that here a city may arise where those responsible for the government of this country in the future may seek and find inspiration in its noble buildings, its broad avenues, its shaded parks, and sheltered gardens- a city bearing perhaps some resemblance to the city beautiful of our dreams.
– Lord Denman, Governor-General of Australia, Founding Stones ceremony, 12 March 1913
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