List of buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory

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This list of buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory includes historically and architecturally significant buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

The recognition and legal protection of significant buildings and structures in the ACT is performed by numerous bodies:

  • National Heritage List is a list of places with outstanding heritage value to Australia;
  • Commonwealth Heritage List is specifically for buildings owned by the Australian Government which are significant at any threshold including local, state/territory and National levels.

Places on these lists are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Listed places are protected under the Act which means that no-one can take an action that has, will have or is likely to have, a significant impact on the environment of a listed place, including its heritage values, without the approval of the Minister. It is a criminal offence not to comply with this legislation.

  • Register of the National Estate, the register is a list of historically significant places, this is a non-statutory list.
  • The National Trust of Australia administers several properties in the ACT, listing on this register is non-statutory.[according to whom?]
  • Australian Capital Territory Heritage Register, places on the register are of particular importance to the people of the ACT and are thought to enrich the understanding of history and identity. Places on the register are legally protected under the Heritage Act 2004, and changes or development of them requires advice by the ACT Heritage Council on development issues to improve conservation outcomes.

The Royal Australian Institute of Architects also maintains a register of significant 20th-century buildings, which although it has no legal capacity to protect buildings, it provides information on architecturally significant buildings within the territory.

19th century[edit]

Name Year completed Location Description and significance Preservation and access
St John's Anglican Church 1845 Reid St John's Church is the oldest surviving public building within Canberra's city precinct, predating the establishment of the capital by almost 70 years. The Schoolhouse Museum within the church precinct displays items dating back to Canberra's rural past. The church building and surrounding precinct remains an active place of worship and Canberra landmark.
Blundells Cottage 1860 Parkes Blundells Cottage is five room stone cottage, and is one of the few reminders of the rural history of Canberra left in the city. The building is listed by the National Trust of Australia and operates as a museum.
Canberry, Kanberry 1824 Acton Canberry was the first building in the ACT. Canberry was knocked down in 1942 to make way for the construction of the Royal Canberra Hospital.
Lambrigg
Tharwa Bridge 1895 Tharwa Tharwa Bridge was the first bridge built across the Murrumbidgee River. The four span Allan truss bridge is still open to traffic. (Closed in 2006 - temporarily) The bridge reopened in August 2008 to light traffic, below 5 tonnes.[1][2]
Hill Station 1862
Yarralumla 1891 Yarralumla Built by the Campbell family, the house became the home of the Governor-General of Australia from 1927. Commonwealth Heritage List
Duntroon House 1833 Royal Military College, Duntroon Built by the Campbell family, now the officer's mess at RMC Duntroon. The oldest surviving private building in Canberra. Commonwealth Heritage List

20th century[edit]

Pre World War II[edit]

Name Year established Location Description and significance Preservation and access
Hotel Canberra 1922-26 Yarralumla Hotel Canberra was designed by architect John Smith Murdoch in the Garden-Pavilion style drawing strong influences from American Prairie, Californian Bungalow and Australian Colonial styles. The Hotel is open to the public and operated by Hyatt, it is listed by the National Trust.
Old Parliament House 1927 Parkes Open to the public as a museum and home of the National Portrait Gallery. Commonwealth Heritage List
Ian Potter House ~1927 Acton The exterior of the house is in Inter-War Georgian Revival style and was designed by Anketell and Kingsley Henderson. The house was originally used to house female public servants. Listed on the ACT Heritage Register
Canberra Hospital Administration Building, former 1941-43 Acton Many of the old hospital buildings are now used by the Australian National University. Listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List, RSTCA Register
Commencement Column Monument 1913 Capital Hill The Commencement Column Monument is composed of three foundation stones with inscriptions, set in a hexagonal base (of an intended but never completed column) and was designed by J S Murdoch. Commonwealth Heritage List
Old Canberra House 1913 Acton Designed by J S Murdoch it was the first two-storey masonry structure in the new capital. Commonwealth Heritage List, Register of the National Estate
Melbourne & Sydney Buildings 1927 City Centre The pair of Inter-War Mediterranean style buildings were the earliest major developments in the City Centre The exterior and remaining original interiors are protected by the ACT Heritage Register. They are still used for commercial and residential purposes.
Canberra School of Art 1939 Acton A two-storey rendered brick symmetrical Art Deco style school with central clock tower. Commonwealth Heritage List, Register of the National Estate
The Lodge 1927 Deakin The Lodge is a two-storey, rendered brick building in the Colonial Revival style with Georgian detailing. It has been the Canberra residence for most of Australia's Prime Ministers. Annual open days for public viewing, listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List.
Ainslie Public and Primary Schools 1927 Braddon The first modern school open in the ACT, designed in the Art Deco style. RAIA register
Gorman House Community Arts Centre 1924-25 Braddon The first hostel completed for the Federal Capital Advisory Committee. It was designed by the Commonwealth Architect John Smith Murdoch in the Garden-Pavilion style. The buildings are used by various community groups. Many of the buildings are open to the public during regular markets. ACT Heritage Register
Yarralumla Woolshed & Outbuildings 1904 Adjacent to Yarralumla Fredrick Campbell built this large woolshed for his nearby property Yarralumla. The woolshed is available for hire as a party venue. Nominated to the ACT Heritage Register
Manuka Swimming Pool 1930 Griffith The pool was an important social hub for early Canberra from 1930 until the 1960s. It is built in the Federal Capital Style. Open to the public, admission charge. ACT Heritage Register
Kingston Powerhouse 1915 Kingston The powerhouse was the first permanent public building in the ACT. It was designed by John Smith Murdoch in the Federal Capital style. ACT Heritage Register
Westlake 1922 Yaramulla Accommodation for construction workers including cottages designed by H M Rolland Completely demolished. Unrestricted public access to the site.
Alt Crescent Buildings & Precinct
Reid Urban Conservation Area
Albert Hall 1927 Yarralumla It was designed by J H Kirkpatrick, R Casboulte and H M Rolland, and is representative of the Federal Style of architecture in early Canberra. Venue available for hire. ACT Heritage Register
Australian War Memorial 1941 Campbell
Belconnen Naval Transmission Station 1938-1939 Belconnen Transmitting station for Bonshaw Receiving Station at HMAS Harman; the 600 ft masts were brought to ground on 20 December 2006. Register of the National Estate and Commonwealth Heritage List
Canberra City Garbage Incinerator 1938-41 Yarralumla One of the few remaining examples of the incinerators designed by W B Griffin and E M Nicholls between 1929-38. Register of the National Estate
Australian Forestry School 1926 Yarralumla Now part of CSIRO
Westridge House 1928 Yarralumla Private Residence owned by the CSIRO.
Institute of Anatomy Acton The building currently houses the National Film and Sound Archive
Mount Stromlo Administration Building 1924 Badly damaged by bushfires in 2003. Fenced off from the public.

Listed on Commonwealth Heritage List.

Fenner House
Royal Swedish Embassy Yarralumla Nominated to the Commonwealth Heritage List
Canberra Olympic Pool 1955? Civic Built in the post war International Style the pool was designed by Ian Slater of the Department of Works. Register of the National Estate
Former Forrest Fire Station & Residence 1938 Forest Designed by Edwin Henderson and Cuthbert Whitley, the buildings are an example of typical Canberra inter-war functionalism. House the Canberra Fire Brigade Museum, Register of the National Estate
Canberra Grammar School and Chapel 1929-64 Red Hill Church school complex which is a good example of the inter-war Gothic style. Register of the National Estate
Barton Conference Centre
Braddon Urban Conservation Area Braddon
Forrest Urban Conservation Area Forrest
Mercure Hotel Canberra 1926-27 Braddon
Hotel Kurrajong Barton
Manuka Housing Precinct Griffith
Mackie House
Cater House
Birch House
Fisher Government Housing Fisher
Wilson House
Swinger Hill Stages 1 & 2 Cluster Housing Phillip
Beaufort House
Kanangra Court
Arnold Grove
Forrest Townhouses
Northbourne Housing Precinct Dickson & Lyneham Lyneham. Dickson and Owen Flats were designed by Sydney Ancher.

Listed on RSTCA.

Vasey Crescent Houses
Calthorpes' House Red Hill
Dickson Library Dickson
General Bridges' Grave 1920 Royal Military College, Duntroon Memorial Grave of designed by architect Walter Burley Griffin Commonwealth Heritage List
ANZAC Memorial Chapel of St Paul Commonwealth Heritage List
Changi Chapel Royal Military College, Duntroon Commonwealth Heritage List
ANU Drill Hall Acton Commonwealth Heritage List
ANZ Bank Building
Monaro Mall Civic Now part of the Canberra Centre
Colonial Mutual Building
Yarralumla brickworks Yarralumla Closed to the public
Cotter Pumping Station & Electrical Sub-station Confluence of the Cotter and Murrumbidgee Rivers Closed to the public, visible from the Cotter Road.
East Block Government Offices Parkes Commonwealth Heritage List
West Block Government Offices Parkes Commonwealth Heritage List
USA Chancery, Residence & Precinct Yarralumla
Law Courts of the ACT & Precinct Civic
Robert Garran Offices
Canberra Baptist Church & Manse
St Paul's Church of England
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Townhouse Motor Inn
RAIA Headquarters
Old Parliament House Commonwealth Heritage List, National Heritage List
Girlalang Primary School Girralang
Corroboree Park
de Quetteville Hughes
Barton Court
John Gorton Building 1927 (foundation built then cancelled); 1956 (rebuilt) Parkes An Art Deco building that was built over the span of several decades. Construction initially began in 1927, before it was quickly cancelled due to budgetary constraints and substandard foundations. Construction started over in 1946, and the building finally opened in 1956. Listed on the Commonwealth heritage register
Irish Embassy
Northbourne Flats Braddon & Turner
Manning Clark House
Trade Offices
Evans Crescent Housing Precinct
The Pines
Sri Lankan Embassy
Allawah & Bega Flats
Campbell Group Housing
Kingston Transport Depot
Open Systems House
ANU Cottage No 3 Acton Commonwealth Heritage List
CSC Building
Canberra National Seventh Day Adventist Church
Guardian House

Post World War II[edit]

Name Year established Location Description and significance Preservation and access
Canberra Olympic Pool 1953—1955 Civic Modernist public pool by Commonwealth Department of Public Works architect Ian Slater, with Australia's first concrete diving tower. Designed in 1953, winner of the 1955 Sulman Medal. Open to the public.
University House 1954 Acton
The Shine Dome 1959 Acton The Dome is thought to be only example in Australia of Geometric Structuralism and was designed by Sir Roy Grounds. The Shine Dome is houses the offices of the Australian Academy of Science, it is occasionally open for public lectures. It is listed on the National Heritage List.
Reserve Bank of Australia 1963-65 City Centre Australia's first national central bank, in minimalist style. Commonwealth Heritage List
National Carillon 1970 Parkes An example of the late twentieth century Brutalist style designed by architects Cameron Chisholm Nicol and forms a part of the Parliamentary Triangle. It was given to Australia by the British Government to commemorate Canberra's 50th anniversary. Open to the public and listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List.
Cameron Offices 1970-77 Belconnen Designed by John Andrews, in the late Twentieth Century Brutalist Style. Part of the building is scheduled for demolition, wings 3,4 and 5, and the bridge are on the Commonwealth Heritage List.
Canberra School of Music 1976 Acton Designed in the Late Twentieth-Century Brutalist style with strong sculptural forms by Daryl Jackson and Evan Walker. The building includes the 1500 seat Llewellyn Hall. Commonwealth Heritage List
Hotel located within the ANU Commonwealth Heritage List
Toad Hall 1977 Acton Student residence in late twentieth century late modern style designed by internationally acclaimed architect John Andrews. ANU student residence, Commonwealth Heritage List
ACT Police Headquarters City Centre RAIA register
High Court of Australia 1975-80 Parkes The High Court building, designed by Christopher Kringas, Edwards Madigan Torzillo and Briggs Commonwealth Heritage List
Burgmann College Acton RAIA register
UC Student Residences Group 22 Bruce
Research School of Biological Science Acton
Edmund Barton Building 1970-74 Barton, Australian Capital Territory Building was designed by Harry Seidler. It is 'outstanding example of the Late Twentieth-Century International Style of architecture in Australia and is the largest such example in the National Capital'. Commonwealth Heritage List
National Gallery of Australia 1973-82 Parkes, Australian Capital Territory National Gallery was designed by Colin Madigan and built from reinforced concrete. The Gallery and the adjoining sculpture garden are open to the public and are listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List.
RG Menzies Building ActonCommonwealth Heritage List The building holds the ANU collections relating to Asia and the Pacific, theses, Rare books, special collections and the United Nations collection. It is open to the public and listed on the ACT Heritage Register.
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture 1999 Barton A Christian ecumenical centre and chapel. Associated with Saint Mark's National Theological Centre and Charles Sturt University. Open to the public.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Tharwa Bridge to reopen today for light traffic". Canberra Times. 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  2. ^ "Sign Posted Bridge Restrictions in the ACT" (PDF). Retrieved 20 November 2016.
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