Canberra Centenary Column

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Canberra Centenary Column
Canberra Centenary Column 2.jpg
Coordinates35°16′53″S 149°07′45″E / 35.28143°S 149.12921°E / -35.28143; 149.12921Coordinates: 35°16′53″S 149°07′45″E / 35.28143°S 149.12921°E / -35.28143; 149.12921[1]
LocationCity Hill, Canberra
DesignerGeoff Farquhar-Still
TypeObelisk
MaterialStainless steel, granite, glass
Width5 metres (16 ft)
Height8.5 metres (28 ft)
Opening date2014-03-11

The Canberra Centenary Column is a sculpture in City Hill, Canberra, Australia. It was built to commemorate the city's centenary, and unveiled on 11 March 2014.[1][2]

The sculpture is an 8.5-metre (28 ft) stainless steel obelisk on a 5-metre-wide (16 ft)[3] granite-dressed concrete base. The top of the base is inlaid with glass tiles and has a steel covering etched with images depicting Canberra's 100-year history.[4] It was designed by local artist Geoff Farquhar-Still. The design was inspired by the "Commencement Column" that was proposed to have been built when Canberra was founded, but was never completed.[1][a]

Encased in the base is a time capsule containing one hundred objects,[6] both symbolic and mundane.[7] The time capsule is intended to be opened in 100 years,[6] during Canberra's bicentenary.[8] The ACT Heritage Library and the National Film and Sound Archive have catalogues of the capsule's contents, and copies of some of the items.[9]

Notes[]

  1. ^ The Commencement Column was to have been built on three foundation stones that were laid in 1913 to mark the founding of Canberra. The column was never constructed; the foundation stones have since been moved, and are included on the Commonwealth Heritage List.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c h (13 June 2014). "Canberra Centenary Column". artsACT. ACT Government. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Canberra's first 100 years sealed in centenary time capsule". ACT Government. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  3. ^ Jane Easthope (13 December 2013). "Questions and Answers about the Canberra Centenary Column and Time Capsule". Canberra CBD Limited. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  4. ^ David Ellery (11 March 2014). "Centenary column ticks off some unfinished business for Canberra". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Commencement Column Monument (Place ID 105347)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government.
  6. ^ a b Louise Maher (11 March 2014). "Time capsule sealed inside Canberra's new Centenary Column". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  7. ^ Stephen Easton (11 March 2014). "Monumental end to Centenary". Canberra CityNews. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  8. ^ Launch of the Canberra Centenary Column. YouTube. 11 March 2014. Event occurs at 2:20.
  9. ^ "HMSS 0375 Canberra Centenary Time Capsule". ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections. ACT Government. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
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