Library & Information Centre

The National Capital Authority Library and Information Centre is now based in an off-site location, at:

The Royal Australian Institute of Architects building
2A Mugga Way, Red Hill.

The library’s collection provides a comprehensive history of the planning and development of the national capital. Collecting for the library began in the 1950s to provide technical information for those involved in the building of Canberra. Today it has a strong core of architecture and planning, landscape architecture, environmental planning and substantial material to do with capital city planning, development and maintenance.

Included in the collection are specialist journals, a section devoted to the works and influences of Walter Burley Griffin and documents associated with the former Building Better Cities Program containing information on urban redevelopment, renewal, consolidation, and revitalisation.

Over 3000 reports published by the National Capital Development Commission offer a rare insight into the early development of Canberra. This particular part of the collection is of significant value as it contains material dating from the first days of the NCDC in 1958 until it was abolished in 1988. Subsequent publications by the National Capital Planning Authority and the National Capital Authority are added as they come to hand.

The library has a substantial image collection holding approximately 25,000 images in print, slide and transparency formats. It is rich with rare historical images, which team up with contemporary shots of Canberra to form an especially valuable collection. Some key images in the collection are gradually being digitised.

The centre provides a quiet space for private research or browsing journals. It is open to the public between the hours of 10am – 2pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. To ensure a staff member is available to assist you in your enquiry please phone to make an appointment.

Contact: