Timeline

Before World War I

1823: European settlement
1901: Australian Federation
1908: The site for Australia’s capital chosen
1911: Federal Capital Territory (FCT) created
1911: Population of ACT 1,714
1911: Mount Stromlo Observatory established
1912: Walter Burley Griffin wins international design competition
1913: Canberra chosen as name for the city
1913: Griffin appointed as Director of Design and Construction
1914: Rail link to Canberra established

1920s

1920: Griffin removed from position
1921: Federal Capital Advisory Committee formed under John Sulman
1924: Griffin plan for Canberra gazetted
1924: First auction of city leases
1924: Competition for designs and layout of Blandfordia (Forrest)
1925: Federal Capital Commission formed, John Butters made Head
1926: Sydney and Melbourne Buildings (Sir John Sulman)
1927: Provisional Parliament House opened
1928: Albert Hall opens
1929: Wall Street Crash

The depression and after

1930: Federal Capital Commission disbanded
1930: Canberra’s population 9,000
1931: Federal Highway links Canberra to NSW town of Goulburn
1935: Malcolm Moir designs 43 Melbourne Avenue, Forrest
1936: Regular air services to and from Canberra commence
1938: FCT renamed Australian Capital Territory
1939: Population 10,000

Second World War

1941: Australian War Memorial opened
1943: US Embassy opened
1945: Population 13,000
1946: Australian National University established

Post-war reconstruction

1954: Australian-American War Memorial
1954: Fenner House, Red Hill, completed (Robin Boyd)
1955: Bowden House, Deakin, completed (Harry Seidler)
1955: Senate inquiry recommends Commission to develop Canberra
1957: National Capital Development Commission established
1957: Population 39,000
1958: Round House, Deakin, completed (Alex Jelinek)
1959: Australian Academy of Science (Grounds, Romberg and Boyd)
1959: First transfer of Defence departments from Melbourne

1960s boom

1960: Population 50,000
1961: Forrest Townhouses completed (Roy Grounds)
1962: Northbourne Flats completed (Sydney Ancher)
1962: Kings Avenue Bridge
1962: Woden Valley development begins
1963: Commonwealth Avenue Bridge
1964: Lake Burley Griffin filled
1966: Population 96,000
1966: Belconnen development begins
1968: National Library of Australia (Bunning and Madden)
1969: Swinger Hill Stage 1 and 2 completed (Ian McKay)

1970s

1970: NCDC begins promoting townhouses
1971: Population 146,000
1972: Cameron Offices (John Andrews International)
1973: Barton Offices (Harry Seidler and Associates)
1973: Tuggeranong development begins
1976: Population 203,100
1977: National Athletics Stadium completed (Phillip Cox)

1980s to the present

1980: Mitchell, Giurgola and Thorp win Parliament House design competition
1981: High Court of Australia (Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo and Briggs)
1981: National Indoor Sports Centre, Bruce (Philip Cox)
1982: National Gallery of Australia (Edwards, Madigan, Torzillo and Briggs)
1983: Population 235,000
1988: New Parliament House opened
1988: National Science and Technology Centre opens
1988: Population 270,000
1989: Dissolution of the NCDC and election of a Legislative Assembly
1989: Establishment of National Capital Planning Authority
1991: Royal Canberra Hospital closed
1997: Acton Peninsula chosen as site for National Museum of Australia
1998: Construction begins on National Museum
2000: Population 311,000
2001: National Museum of Australia opens