City Hill

Marking the place of Territory government.

• Location
• Facilities
• History
• A significant place in the National Capital
• Designed to emphasise its key location in Griffin's Plan
• A place to reflect on the plan for the National Capital
• Reference
  

Location

Surrounded by Vernon Circle, Civic.

• A map of Inner North Canberra with the location of City Hill marked.
• A map of City Hill.

Facilities

Shade, grass, seating, time limited car parking available off London Circuit.

History

From the early days of the federal capital, planners placed emphasis on development of the "civic and business" side of the city north of the lake. Early formal planting of City Hill as the focal point of the Civic area occurred. The landscaped hill, now surrounded by Vernon Circle, is a significant landmark on the main vehicular entrance into the National Capital. Since 1989 the hill, with the Australian Capital Territory flag flying from its central flagpole, has also been a symbol of self-government in Australia's most famous garden city.

A significant place in the National Capital

Walter Burley Griffin saw City Hill as a significant point on his prize-winning plan for Canberra. Six important avenues radiate from it. Two of these - Commonwealth and Constitution Avenues - are sides of the parliamentary triangle which is Griffin's intended symbolic heart of the Capital. The other avenues are Ainslie, Northbourne, University, and Edinburgh. From the top of City Hill vistas along all six avenues are possible. Planting of the hill from 1921 onwards by Charles Weston, Canberra's first Superintendent, Parks and Gardens, helped to emphasise these vistas.

The planted hill has remained throughout its history as the symbolic point of gathering for the local population. On 13 February 1954, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was welcomed at the foot of the hill by the people of Canberra. A plaque, at the intersection of London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue, marks the location of the dais on which the welcoming ceremony was staged. The ACT Legislative Assembly, the law courts, Civic Square and local administration offices were all located subsequently at the foot of City Hill within London Circuit.

The naming of Vernon Circle, draws attention to the involvement of W.L. Vernon, NSW Government Architect, who was a member of the Advisory Board on the Federal Capital site in 1909.

City Hill is entered into the Register of the National Estate and the ACT Heritage Places Register. It is also listed by the National Trust of Australia (ACT).

Designed to emphasise its key location in Griffin's Plan

Charles Weston's symmetrical landscape design for City Hill responds to Walter Burley Griffin's plan. On either side of Griffin's six radiating avenue axes Weston planted double staggered rows of closely spaced Roman cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens Stricta). The rows are located with the intention of providing confined views from City Hill along each of the six avenues. Twelve oval shaped groups of Roman cypresses and six groups of Monterey pines (Pinus radiata) reinforce the symmetrical nature of his design and confine the views from the hill-top to the avenues. Weston added deciduous trees to achieve a touch of autumn colour and spring flowering effects. As the dark green trees have grown they have tended to increase the perceived height of the hill, and emphasise its important role as a landmark in the National Capital.

The original composition and character of the landscape has changed little since the 1920s. Most of the spring flowering trees have been removed. Safe public access to the top of the hill has been lost with the construction in the early 1960s of the now heavily used Vernon Circle to the south-eastern flank of the hill where a landscaped lookout and carpark (time limited) were constructed at the time. At this point there is a directional indicator, coin-operated tourist information dispenser and seats.

A place to reflect on the plan for the National Capital

The tree planted City Hill is a strong visual symbol marking one corner of Walter Burley Griffin's Parliamentary triangle. At the Vernon Circle lookout visitors and residents can view the National Capital's parliamentary triangle and appreciate the role of City Hill in Griffin's outstanding design for Canberra.

Reference

Gray, J (1999). The Historical and Cultural Background of selected Urban Parks in Canberra - Volume 2.