The Keys to Canberra's History

The colourful characters, controversial decisions and milestone moments that shaped the national capital feature in The Keys to Canberra's History, a series of five booklets on that explore Canberra's early history as the national capital.

The series details many aspects of Canberra's early history and uses undiscovered stories and rarely-seen images to portray the turbulent journey from concept to creation of the national capital.

The booklets have been written by three well–known and respected Canberra historians: Dr David Headon, Mr Greg Wood and Mr Ian Warden.

The booklets are available for download:

• Canberra—Crystal Palace to Golden Trowels, Dr David Headon

Download: Crystal Palace to Golden Trowels (PDF - 5.15MB)

• Canberra—Think of it! Dream of it! In six snapshots, Mr Ian Warden

Download: Think of it! Dream of it! In six snapshots (PDF - 3.88MB)

• Canberra—The Community That Was, Mr Greg Wood

Download: The Community That Was (PDF - 3.8MB)

• Canberra—Maps and Makers, Mr Greg Wood

Download Maps and Makers (PDF - 4.14MB)

• Canberra—Those Other Americans, Dr David Headon

Download Those Other Americans (PDF - 5.53MB)

History of the Federal Capital Design Competition

Centenary of Canberra History Adviser Dr David Headon has also written two pieces on the history of the original competition held to design the new national capital. 

These are available for download:

• Canberra’s Federal Capital Design Competition 1911–12 SNAPSHOTS, Dr David Headon 

Download: SNAPSHOTS (PDF - 1.13MB)

• Canberra’s Federal Capital Design Competition 1911–12 THE BRIEF, Dr David Headon

Download: THE BRIEF (PDF - 1.05MB)