Previous find of the month - 4/2014


Previous find of the month

March 2014

50 Shades of Red, Yellow and Crimson

Autumn in Canberra

Spring might be Canberra's showiest season, but autumn is when Canberra's famous street trees really come into their own. In October 2013 we brought you two brochures that promoted Canberra’s "riot of spring colour." Today we are highlighting their autumn companions. These brochures encourage visitors to come to Canberra to admire the changing colours of the many deciduous trees planted around the Capital and provide this month’s ArchivesACT Find of the Month.

Vivid Colour to the Streets and Parks

The first of these brochures is 'Canberra Autumn: A Guide to the City’s Colourful Trees' published in 1980. This guide identifies many exotic tree species that change colour each autumn and describes their "dramatic contrast to the greys and greens of the native eucalyptus and coniferous species."

This guide estimates "that there are some twenty-seven genera of exotic deciduous trees" that "colour with remarkable regularity each year." This makes it possible to plan visits to Canberra to "view the landscape at its peak of colour before the colder months." The guide provides an extensive listing of the trees you can find in Canberra, detailing the plant species, their common names, and countries of origin. There is also and a map showing where "areas of particular scenic attraction" can be found.

This brochure was produced in conjunction with the federally funded ‘Life Be In It’ campaign that ran from 1977 to 1981.

Canberra Autumn: A Guide to the City's Colourful Trees cover

Canberra Autumn: A Guide to the City's Colourful Trees - images of trees

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Canberra Autumn: A Guide to the City's Colourful Trees - text and tree list

A PDF of this brochure can be downloaded here: (PDF Icon PDF 2.02Mb)

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In Autumn Something Magical Happens to Canberra

The second brochure 'Canberra: Autumn Leaves and Warm Fires Tour' proclaims that "If you’re lucky enough to be there you’ll feel the first bracing hint of winter." Not wishing to scare visitors away, the brochure goes on to provide a list of places where you can relax in front of an open fire. Many of these are still operating today, although some, like the Boot and Flogger, are sadly departed.

Much like the spring version, this autumn brochure lists a number of events visitors can catch during the season. Unlike the spring events, not all of Canberra’s autumn attractions of the 1980s survive today. Who remembers the National Wine and Food Frolic or the Lake and Air Show? You can however, always experience the sheer joy when you "Kick yourself up a shower of golden leaves on a walk through Weston Park."

It is true that "In autumn something magical happens to Canberra."
 
Autumn Leaves & Warm Fires Tour cover

Autumn Leaves & Warm Fires Tour text

A PDF of this brochure can be downloaded here: (PDF Icon PDF 319Kb)

Yarralumla Nursery's 100th Birthday

The majority of the trees that provide Canberra's autumn colours were raised at Yarralumla Nursery which is celebrating its 100th Birthday on April 6. Canberrans have the opportunity to celebrate with the Nursery at a special community event from 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday 6 April 2014. The event will be held at Weston Park, Yarralumla, off Banks Street.

More information can be found here: http://www.tams.act.gov.au/city-services/yarralumla_nursery/?a=389158

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