The National Capital Expands

The immediate post World War II years in Canberra were marked by housing shortages and a lack of office accommodation. In 1954 the government, dismayed by delays to its plans to transfer public servants from Melbourne and the general lack of progress, established a Senate Select Committee to inquire into the development of the Capital. This inquiry marked the turning point in the development of Canberra.

The Committee recommended the replacement of divided departmental responsibility for the city by a single National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) whose function would be to plan, develop and construct the National Capital with adequate funds to carry out a co-ordinated plan.

The major task of the new NCDC was to supply residential land, houses, schools and community facilities for the city whose population at that time was 39,000.

The Griffin plan for Canberra was reviewed and creation of the Lake began. The Molonglo River was dammed to create Lake Burley Griffin and to provide a setting for national buildings and a recreational resource for the city. The Lake was inaugurated in 1964.

The concept of Griffin's Parliamentary Triangle was fully realised by construction of bridges and avenues radiating from Capital Hill.

A series of new town centres to the north and southwest of Griffin's Canberra were commenced with residents moving into the first new town called Woden in 1964. The establishmment of the town centres of Belconnen (1967) and Tuggeranong (1973) followed.

The population of Canberra increased rapidly as public servants were transferred from Melbourne and Sydney.

A very large Defence office complex was constructed at one of the corners of the National Triangle called Russell Hill. The Royal Australian Mint was completed and other government offices were built in town centres to generate retail and services development around them.

New embassies were established reflecting Australia's growth and international links with the region and the world. Many were constructed to reflect the architectural style of their homeland. The NCDC also sought to enhance the national and symbolic importance of Canberra. A new National Library was constructed within the Parliamentary Triangle to be followed by the High Court of Australia, the Australian National Gallery and the National Science and Technology Centre.

Planning began for a new and permanent Parliament House to be completed by 1988 to mark the Bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. An international competition for the design of the building was won by the American firm of Mitchell, Giurgola and Thorp. Following 10 years of construction, the new Parliament House was opened on 9 May 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II.

In January 1989 the NCDC was abolished and replaced by the National Capital Planning Authority. Self-government
was introduced for the residents of Canberra with the establishment of an Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, the Territory Government.