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December 2025

A pleasure palace for the national capital:

The Canberra Tivoli Gardens

Archives are of historical interest as records of what has happened, and sometimes what has not happened. It can be fascinating to see bold ideas that never came to fruition, such as the Canberra Tivoli Gardens. Long-time Canberrans may recall this proposal of the early 1980s, intended to be situated in Glebe Park.

Fig. 1. Artist’s impression of Canberra Tivoli Gardens, 1982

According to National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) files, the Tivoli Gardens were proposed by the Canberra Development Board in 1980. They were to be named after the famous gardens and amusement park in Copenhagen, Denmark – in turn named after the gardens at Villa d’Este, in Tivoli, Italy.

Figs. 2 & 3. Artist's impressions of Canberra Tivoli Gardens, 1982

The proposal envisioned a shareholder-owned, privately developed complex with entry fees. It would feature restaurants, theatres, an Aboriginal Cultural Centre, a lake, a Tower of Science, and other leisure and entertainment facilities designed to attract tourists to Canberra. Early plans also included an impressive National Wine and Brandy Centre. The facilities were intended to draw inspiration from the Copenhagen gardens of the 1920s, rather than the more recent arcade-dominated version.[i]

Fig. 4. Concept plan for Tivoli Gardens, Canberra, 1980

Fig. 5. Aerial view of National Wine & Brandy Centre, Tivoli Gardens, 1980

The NCDC had reservations about both the use of the site, given existing plans to landscape the park within the following year, and the economic viability of the Tivoli Gardens project. The files also note opposition from other parts of government; the Recreation and Tourism Branch of the Department of the Capital Territory outlined their concerns in five succinct points:

Fig. 6. Recreation and Tourism Branch minute regarding Tivoli Gardens proposal, October 1980

Once the proposal became public, substantial community opposition emerged. The ACT Heritage Library holds the records of the Save Glebe Park Committee, associated with the Reid Residents’ Association. The Committee was a vocal opponent of the plan, arguing that Glebe Park should remain a green space primarily for local residents and other Canberrans, rather than be repurposed to attract paying tourists.[ii] In April 1982, a picnic was held in support of the campaign, with Professor Manning Clark to speak. For 50c, supporters could buy a certificate to ‘care for’ one of the hundreds of elm and oak trees in and around the park.[iii]

The campaign was successful, and in 1983 the park was gazetted, ensuring it would not be developed. Landscaping plans went ahead, including the fencing of the park, and later, the addition of the rotunda at its centre. More than four decades later, the park continues to provide a retreat to local residents, city workers and tourists – arguably less exciting, but certainly more tranquil than the Tivoli Gardens proposal.

ACT Government files used

SP006745#01. Statutory Planning files (ACT 62): Tivoli Gardens

NC-80/01384#1. National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) – Correspondence files: Tivoli Gardens Proposal.

Images

Fig. 1. Artist’s impression of Canberra Tivoli Gardens, 1982. SP6745-1

Figs. 2 & 3. Artist's impressions of Canberra Tivoli Gardens, 1982, SP6745-1

Fig. 4. Concept plan for Tivoli Gardens, Canberra, 1980. NC-80/01384-1

Fig. 5. Aerial view of National Wine & Brandy Centre, Tivoli Gardens, 1980. NC-80/01384#1

Fig. 6. Minute from Assistant Secretary, Recreation and Tourism Branch, Department of the Capital Territory to the First Assistant Secretary regarding Tivoli Gardens proposal, 15 October 1980. NC-80/01384#1, folio 23

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