Previous Find of the Month June 2021

June 2021

Lessees, architects and builders

Canberra's early private building development

Line of private properties in Eastlake1

June’s Find of the Month is a register that records information on some of the earliest information about private building applications and permits processed by the Federal Capital Commission (FCC) from 1925 until 1930. It was then used and updated by the Federal Capital Territory branch of the Department of Home Affairs and finally the Department of the Interior until 1953.[i] The volume was originally held by the National Archives of Australia but has been transferred to ACT government custody since self-government. Many of the later entries also relate to additions to existing buildings. It is an interesting document because it lists not only the original lessees of blocks of land, but also the connections between the architects and builders that designed and constructed the original buildings on each block. We felt the FCC’s Record of building applications and permits issued 1925-1953 was well worth looking at in this month’s article.

In August 1925 the Federal Capital Pioneer reported that Mr Priest from Adelaide had visited Canberra in the previous week to view the nine parcels of land he had purchased at the first auction of land in the Federal Capital Territory in December of the previous year. In the meantime, having read ‘exaggerated’ reports about building operations and a recent flood, he had begun to wish he had not invested in the area. On his second visit he ‘found that instead of devastation he was surprised at the progress made and the undoubted good prospects for safe investment’ in the Federal Capital. So much so, that he purchased six more building sites on his second visit.[ii]

It is an interesting anecdote as Mr Priest’s name doesn’t appear in the early part of the applications and permits register, possibly due to him passing on his land interests in the Federal Capital, although it’s also possible some of the earliest applications aren’t included in this register. The first auction was held in December 1924. The Commission only took control of the Territory from the 1 January 1925[iii] and, according to the register, the first application to build was lodged on 24 February 1925. The Commission’s first annual report shows that following the sale of leaseholds ‘buildings of an approved character must be commenced within two years’ and that ‘work carried on by private enterprise may only be performed by registered contractors, in accordance with plans which are signed by registered architects and approved by the Commission.’

Examples of building applications and permits issued, including J B Young's application to build a store2

The progression of this approval process can be followed for each block of leasehold land listed in the register. One of the earliest entries shows J B Young’s application to build a store in Eastlake (now Kingston) designed by J W Sproule and built by J Howie and Sons (see above and below).

Shopping blocks at Eastlake (Kingston) June 1927, including J B Young's completed store3

Applications for other types of buildings such as garages, picture theatres, churches and banks are all well represented in the register, as well as private residences often described as ‘cottages’. Building companies took advantage of the demand for new housing as would be expected. The Canberra Building and Investment Company, H L Dawson, J Deans and W J Perry are prominent names among the earlier builders listed alongside familiar names connected with Canberra architecture, such as Oakley and Parkes and Rudd and Limburg.

Advertisement for cottages in Eastlake, Ainslie Red Hill4

By far the most common name throughout the register is Ken Oliphant. He is mentioned as the architect, sometimes as K H Oliphant but other times as just K Oliphant, for buildings and building additions with predictable regularity from January 1927 through to when the register ends in June 1953. He had actually started his work in Canberra with the Oakley and Parkes firm but parted ways in 1927.[i] His contribution to Canberra architecture includes designs for shops and offices in Civic, garages, a laundry and even a stable. One of his unexpected contributions was not constructed in Canberra itself, but on the Booroomba pastoral station then leased by Sir Keith Murdoch. The register shows that in 1950 he prepared designs for the station’s staff quarters and other building additions and alterations.

Pages from register showing entries with Kenneth Oliphant as architect5

At least one other renowned architect is listed in the register for his design of the residence on section 3, block 1 Red Hill. On the 8 June 1953, Robin Boyd’s plans were approved and a little later a permit issued to allow Karl Schreiner to construct the residence now known as Fenner House.

If you are researching private buildings in the ACT erected between 1925 and 1953, the building applications and permits register is a valuable resource for identifying when they were built, who the original lessee was, the design architect and its builder.

Ready to start your own research?

Contact us through our Request a Record service and we will be happy to help.

File References

  • ArchivesACT: 2011/2225. Federal Capital Commission Record of building applications and permits issued 1925-1953.

References

i National Archives of Australia. Series registration webpage – CP952/1. https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/SeriesDetail.aspx?series_no=CP952/1 .

ii Federal Capital Pioneer (Canberra, ACT: 1924-1926). Viewed via Trove 20 August 1925. p. 1.

iii The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. Federal Capital (Canberra), first annual report of the Federal Capital Commission for the year ended 30th June 1925 etc

iv Australian Dictionary of Biography. Oliphant, Kenneth Henry Bell (1894–1975). Viewed 26/05/2021. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/oliphant-kenneth-henry-bell-11300 .

Images

  1. The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. Territory for the Seat of Government. Third annual report of the Federal Capital Commission for the year ended 30th June 1927. Appendix L.
  2. ArchivesACT, 2011/2225. Federal Capital Commission: Record of building applications and permits issued 1925-1953. p. 20
  3. The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. Territory for the Seat of Government. Third annual report of the Federal Capital Commission for the year ended 30th June 1927. Appendix L.
  4. Canberra Community News. 18 July 1927 p. 10. Viewed via Trove 26/05/2021. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page6598853 .
  5. ArchivesACT, 2011/2225. Federal Capital Commission: Record of building applications and permits issued 1925-1953. p. 128

Website links

National Archives of Australia. Series registration webpage – CP952/1. Viewed 26/05/2021. https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/SeriesDetail.aspx?series_no=CP952/1

Federal Capital Pioneer (Canberra, ACT: 1924-1926). Viewed via Trove 20 August 1925. p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36247346 .

Canberra Community News. 18 July 1927 p. 10. Viewed via Trove 26/05/2021. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page6598853 .

Canberra House – Robin Boyd. Viewed 26/05/2021. http://www.canberrahouse.com.au/people/robin-boyd.html .

Australian Dictionary of Biography. Oliphant, Kenneth Henry Bell (1894–1975). Viewed 26/05/2021. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/oliphant-kenneth-henry-bell-11300 .

Canberra House – Ken Oliphant. Viewed 26/05/2021. http://www.canberrahouse.com.au/people/ken-oliphant.html .

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