Introduction
This finding aid is to assist researchers using ACT Government archives on the topics of Freedom of the City, Freedom of Entry and the bestowing of the Keys to the City of Canberra. The government files listed in this aid are not necessarily a full listing of records on the topic; they indicate the areas of government that compiled the records and are now older than 20 years and so on open access. Other contemporary sources, such as newspapers are also cited to give a different viewpoint.          

Freedom of the City and Freedom of Entry are two different rights. Freedom of the City is conferred on individuals and Freedom of Entry is conferred on military units. These honours evolved out of different historical backgrounds dating to medieval times.

Freedom of the City
A freeman was a feudal status which granted full privileges and immunities of a city, borough or company. It was acquired by birth, purchase or apprenticeship to a freeman. In England the Municipal Corporations Act 1835 gave everyone living in the city or borough these rights. In 1885 the Honorary Freedom of Boroughs Act allowed local councils to admit distinguished people as honorary freeman.  In Victoria, the Freedom of the City of Melbourne 1956 was passed to enable it to grant freedom of the City to individuals.

Freedom of Entry
Freedom of entry to a city arose in the medieval struggle for power between the Barons and the Crown. It was customary for bodies of armed men to be challenged at the city gate by the City Marshall and allowed to enter with their arms sheathed, colours cased and drums silent to ensure their peaceful intention. 

With time the custom has evolved into a re-enactment comprising the relevant armed force, the relevant police commissioner and the head of the elected body symbolising the close association between military and civilian authorities.  The ceremony comprises two parts, the granting of the right, symbolised by the giving of the scroll by the civilian authorities to the military authorities and the exercising of the right by the military unit marching through the city.

When Freedom of the City was granted to the Royal Australian Air Force Base Fairbairn the actual wording for the challenges and replies were:

City Marshal, Sir Colin Woods KCVO, CBE, QPN [sic] issues the challenge:	 Halt – Who comes here?

Parade Commander:	
RAAF Fairbairn exercising its right and privilege to march through the City of Canberra with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying.

The parade commander then shows the scroll to the city marshal.

Police Officer:	
I acknowledge your right and privilege. Pass RAAF Fairbairn.

This wording was published in the program of the day; it was much abbreviated from wording discussed in the file.

Sir Colin Woods KCVO, CBE, QPM was the Commissioner for the Australian Federal Police 19 October 1979 to 1985. KCVO is Knight Commander of the Victorian Order, CBE is Commander of the Order of the British Empire, QPM is the Queen’s Police Medal for Gallantry.

Rights holders
The City of Canberra has granted Freedom of the City and Freedom of Entry to:

1928, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr Ulm
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1233458
1929, 26 November Mr C. S. Daley extended the “freedom of the city” on behalf of the public authorities to the visiting bowlers.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2517399

In 1980 the Secretary of the Department of the Capital Territory, Mr Laurie Daniels announced that two military units would be granted freedom of the City of Canberra in 1981. 

This action caused considerable reaction in the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly, as that body believed it had the right to initiate and decide any bestowing of civil or military honours.

1981, 26 January RAAF Fairbairn. They exercised their right in 1990.

Figure 1: Grant of the Freedom of the City to RAAF Fairbairn - Cover of program

Figure 2: Folio 28 - Final wording for scroll

1981, Saturday 14 March 3rd Battalion the Royal New South Wales Regiment in recognition of the bond. 

Originally the 3rd Battalion – the Werriwa Regiment – was raised in and drawn from Canberra and surrounds before deployment to the Kokoda Trail in 1942. The 4th Battalion – the Australian Rifles – had longstanding connections with southern New South Wales and the Riverina. 

On 22 October 1988 it was agreed the right will continue with the now reconstituted as the 4th/3rd Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment. 

The Regiment exercised their right of Freedom of Entry to the City of Canberra in 1985 and then again on 11 December 1999, with the Chief Minister addressing and inspecting the parade.
http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/1754/CMD-Annual-Report-1999-2000-Vol1.pdf

Figure 3: Presentation of the Freedom of the City to the 3rd Battalion the Royal New South Wales Regiment - Cover of program

Figure 4: Presentation of the Freedom of the City to the 3rd Battalion the Royal New South Wales Regiment - Scroll reproduced from program

1982, 10th March HMAS Canberra was granted freedom of entry to the city of Canberra by the Hon. Michael Hodgman, Minister for Territories. The right was exercised in 1990 and in 2000.  On 4 March 2000  they led the National Multicultural Festival parade.
http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/1754/CMD-Annual-Report-1999-2000-Vol1.pdf
http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/Hansard/2000/week02/477.htm They also exercised their right, for the final time, in 2005 to mark the decommissioning of the HMAS Canberra.

1995, 15 September, Australian Defence Force Academy received the Freedom of the City of Canberra on the 10th anniversary of midshipman and officer cadet training at Australian Defence Force Academy
http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/pr/news/news_archives/Archive%202008/February%2021.html They also exercised their right in 2008.

2001, 9 June, Royal Military College Duntroon 
http://www.dunsoc.com/Newsletter-web/2-2004-web.pdf
http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/1753/CMD-Annual-Report-2000-01-Vol1.pdf

2003, 27 June 28 Squadron RAAF Base Fairbairn relinquishes its right to Freedom of the City and the honour is granted to 28SQN 30 June 2003
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/editions/4510/topstories/story07.htm
http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnews/EDITIONS/4512/history/story01.htm
http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=7013&m=51&s=4

2004, May Royal Military College Duntroon Band http://www.dunsoc.com/Newsletter-web/2-2004-web.pdf

Archives open to the public
81/295 Department of the Capital Territory.  Information and Public Relations Section - Production of Freedom of City Scrolls
81/613 Department of the Capital Territory. Ministerial and House of Assembly Liaison - Freedom of Entry and Freedom of the City of Canberra
81/739 Department of the Capital Territory. Information & Public Relations Section – Production of visitors scroll
81/989 Department of the Capital Territory. Recreation & Tourism Branch. R.A.A.F. Fairbairn – Freedom of the City 26/1/81
81/991 Department of the Capital Territory. Recreation & Tourism Branch. 3rd Battalion Royal N.S.W. Regiment. Freedom of the City 14/3/81
82/0652 Recreation & Tourism Branch HMAS Canberra - Freedom of the City
89/18357 Public Affairs Branch – Canberra – Freedom of the City

Keys to the City of Canberra
Keys to the City are granted in recognition of significant celebrations or contributions by organisations and individuals at the discretion of, prior to self-government the relevant Commonwealth Minister and after self-government, the Chief Minister.
1981 September Peter Allen presented by Michael Hodgman
1983 July Robert De Castella   
1987 September Raiders rugby league team presented by Ros Kelly 
1988 August Canberra Cannons basketball team presented by Member for Canberra and Cannons patron, Ros Kelly 
1989 September Raiders rugby league team presented by Ros Kelly 
1997 June ACT Brumbies rugby union team presented by the Chief Minister Kate Carnell and Minister for Sport Bill Stefaniak
1999 November Wallabies Australian rugby union team
20008, 2002 and 2007 Canberra Capitals Women’s Basketball Team 
2000 October Sydney Paralympic Team presented by Gary Humphries
2004 September ACT Olympians, Petria Thomas and Katrina Powell 
2004 October Commissioner Keelty on behalf of the Australian Federal Police received the keys presented by the Chief Minister John Stanhope 
2005 December Ted Quinlan, the Minister for Sport and Recreation presented the Keys to the City to ACTAS scholarship holders Michael Rogers and Oenone Wood in recognition of their outstanding achievements in cycling
2006 April Scouts ACT presented by the Chief Minister, John Stanhope 
2006 September Jason Croker of Canberra Raiders rugby league team presented by the Chief Minister John Stanhope
2007 October Carrie Graf Canberra Capitals coach presented by the Minister for Sport Andrew Barr