Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction
October 1913 – 31 December 1920
The office of Walter Burley Griffin as Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction, responsible for developing his competition-winning plan for Canberra and directing the design of the capital's layout and early works.
How it came into existence
Created in October 1913 when the Commonwealth Government appointed Walter Burley Griffin, winner of the 1912 international design competition for the federal capital, as Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction, initially for three years, in the Department of Home Affairs. It took the design of the capital back from the departmental board that had prepared an alternative plan.
- Design of the federal capital
Changes during its life
- 14 November 1916Federal capital works passed to the new Department of Works and Railways when the Department of Home Affairs was abolished.
- 1917A royal commission on federal capital administration found that departmental officers had obstructed Griffin's work.
How it ended
Ended on 31 December 1920, when Griffin's appointment was not continued and direction of the capital's development passed to the Federal Capital Advisory Committee, chaired by John Sulman, from 1921.
- Direction of the planning and development of the federal capital
Main functions
- Design and planning of Canberra (the Griffin plan)
- Direction of the design of the capital's layout and early works
- Advice on the development of the Federal Capital Territory
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Works and Railways.
Lineage
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Sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.