Page 200 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

198  NE W SOUTH W ALES AND A C T

The Parliamentary Triangle

Canberra’s major monuments, national buildings and key
attractions are all situated around Lake Burley Griffin
within the Parliamentary Triangle. Designed to be the focal
point of Canberra’s national activities by the architect
Walter Burley Griffin (see p201), the Parliamentary Triangle
has Capital Hill at its apex, topped by Parliament House. 4. Parliament House
Commonwealth Avenue and Kings Avenue fan out from Completed in 1988, this is one of
Capital Hill, cross the lake and end at the world’s most impressive
Parkes Way. Running at a right angle parliamentary buildings.
from the base of the triangle is
Anzac Parade, which leads to
the Australian War Memorial
(see pp204–5) and completes
the basic symmetry of
Burley Griffin’s plan.

KEY
1 The High Court of Australia
is the highest court of justice in
the country.
2 Kings Avenue
3 Capital Hill
4 Museum of Australian
Democracy was the first parliamen­
tary building in Canberra. Built in
1927, it was the centre of Australian
politics until 1988, when Parliament
House became the home of federal
government. It is open to the public.
5 Questacon is an action ­packed
science and technology centre with
hundreds of hands­on displays.
6. National Gallery of Australia
6 The National Library is the This impressive art gallery contains
country’s largest and includes an excellent collection of Australian
Captain Cook’s original journals. colonial and Aboriginal art, as well
7 Commonwealth Avenue as many significant European works.
8 The Captain Cook Memorial Jet
in Lake Burley Griffin spurts water to
a height of 147 m (480 ft).
9 Commonwealth Park is ablaze Commonwealth Park is ablaze Commonwealth Park
with colour during September and
October when it is home to the city’s
annual spring flower festival, Floriade
(see p45).
0 Parkes Way
q St John the Baptist Church and
Schoolhouse were built in 1844 and
are two of Canberra’s oldest buildings.
w The Australian American
Memorial was given to Australia by
the United States as a thank you for Blundells Cottage
the Pacific alliance during World Built in 1858, this is a fine example of an
War II (see pp61–2). early colonial cottage typical of remote
farming life of the time.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p485 and pp510–11