Previous Find of the Month

November 2024

'Romantic frolics' in a 'fairy tale city':

1982 Canberra Tourist Bureau brochures

Figs. 1-3. Covers for Canberra Tourist Bureau brochures, 1982

Do you remember travel before the internet? Way back last century, tourism authorities relied on paper brochures to entice visitors to come and spend their time and money holidaying in their city or region.

This month, we are featuring a distinctive set of 1982 Canberra Tourist Bureau brochures. We have included some of these in past Finds of the Month – see:

Their vibrant blue and red design would have captured attention at the Canberra Tourist Bureau locations in Elizabeth Street, Sydney, and within the NSW Government Travel Centre in Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

Many of the recommendations from the 1982 brochures are still great tourism tips today. Most of our national attractions and monuments are promoted, although the National Gallery of Australia was not quite open to the public, and New Parliament House was still under construction.

Fig. 4-6. Covers for Canberra Tourist Bureau brochures, 1982

Some inclusions and omissions are reflective of their time. There are only fleeting references to First Nations people and their tens of thousands of years of custodianship of the Canberra region. Overseas visitors are informed about Canberra’s name meaning “meeting place”, and that the region is a rich repository of Aboriginal culture. And “culture vultures” are invited to view fine examples of Aboriginal art at the Institute of Anatomy. But otherwise it is the “pioneer past” that is described as the region’s history prior to its nomination as capital.

Tourism was an important element of Canberra’s identity and development as a city. We have previously written (see April 2024) about Ulrich Ellis’s energetic promotion of Canberra in the 1930s and 1940s, including as a member of the Kangaroo Club (“keep Canberra hopping”), and as the independent chairman of Canberra Tourist Bureau, from its official establishment in April 1937. The aim of these bodies was certainly to boost economic development and employment, but they also wanted to nurture hospitality and the “stimulation of a feeling for their national city among Australians.”[i]

The Canberra: on a Crust brochure reflects the idea that all visitors are welcomed to the city as their national capital, even if they don’t have a lot of money to spend. Some of the more surprising recommendations include McDonalds hamburgers and discount liquor stores.

Fig. 7. Canberra Tourist Bureau brochure,1982

One of our favourite brochures is Canberra: for Romantics, with its gently suggestive prose about the romantic opportunities that a city “scattered through one enormous park” offers.

Fig. 8. Canberra Tourist Bureau brochure, 1982

With perhaps a backward glance at the ubiquitous school visit, the Canberra for the Young at Heart brochure asks prospective visitors “how long has it been since you took a good hard look at the city that has grown up in your lifetime? Come and see what a great job your generation made of it.” And, in a nod to that perennial complaint about Canberra that we still try to ignore today, the brochure assures the wavering tourist that “Canberra doesn’t die at dusk”, spruiking our 200 restaurants, and “more licensed clubs than any other city, the majority with poker machines and many with live entertainment”. Now, that’s a grown-up city.

Fig. 9. Canberra Tourist Bureau brochure, 1982

Fig. 10-11. Covers for Canberra Tourist Bureau brochure, 1982

ACT Government files used

RTA-458. PUBLICATION - Production - Master Copies - Commonwealth Series A7411/1 - ACT Barbecue - Picnic Facilities - Day & a Half Day Tours From Canberra

References

i Jim Gibbney. Canberra 1913–1953. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1988, p. 204.

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