It was a challenging task to establish trees on a site with an average rainfall of 580cm (23 inches), a mean temperature in the coldest month of approximately 1 degree C. (34.1 F), dry summers and relatively poor soils.
Where the National Capital now stands was originally savanna woodlands with dry schlerophyll forests on the slopes of Black Mountain and other hills, seriously depleted by over grazing of stock, ringbarking of trees and the destruction wrought by a plague of rabbits, droughts and bushfires.
Reafforestation was a first priority when the Federal Capital Territory was established on 1 January 1911 and extensive planting of native trees and shrubs was carried out even before development was undertaken. Later the planting of Monterey Pine was begun at Stromlo to stabilise soil erosion on the adjacent hills and ridges and to give the Territory its own forest industry.
The city center nestled among the trees.
It was a challenging task to establish trees on a site with an average rainfall of 580cm (23 inches), a mean temperature in the coldest month of approximately 1 degree C. (34.1 F), dry summers and relatively poor soils.
The origin of today's landscape is in the prize winning plan for the city prepared by Walter Burley Griffin in 1911. From a landscape viewpoint, one of Griffin's most important insights was his use of topographic elements to form and structure the city. Griffin recognised particularly the importance of the surrounding and distant hills and the Molonglo River landscapes as features capable of providing a basis for the design of the City and a starting point for modifications to the landscape that urban development would bring.
Griffin planned an area of 20 square kilometres and the 'city beautiful' approach he employed called for integral landscapes treatment to complement the axes and the formal spaces of his central basins of his scheme were part of an overall landscape design combining water features, buildings. avenues and the backdrop of hills which enclosed the central area of the city.
The official landscaping of Canberra was begun on 5 May 1913 when Thomas Weston took up his appointment as chief afforestation officer and horticulturalist. Weston carefully selected suitable plant species both native and exotic, devised the planting techniques and established the Yarralumla Nursery which is still in use today. He firmly established Canberra's landscape character by revegetating the surrounding hills - Mt Majura, Mt Mugga, Mt Pleasant and Black mountain - with native species. Weston also established a number of the inner city parks, such as Telopea Park, Haig Park, Collins Park and City Hall and established Westbourne Woods as an arboretum for different tree species.
Although construction was hampered by lack of funds, Weston planted both native and exotic trees and shrubs to reinforce avenues, streets and open spaces indicated in Griffin's plan for the city.
Subsequent development of Canberra, particularly during the past 30 years when the urban area spread beyond the confines of the original Griffin Plan, into the valleys of the north and south of the inner city, maintained a garden city within a largely natural setting. This was achieved by limiting urban development to the valley floors and separating the new towns by hills and ridges maintained in their natural state. A system of linked open space, street tree planting, protection of river corridors and drainage easements complemented by householders' own gardens has created an urban amenity of great beauty.
This urban space in turn is linked to the National Capital Open Space System which incorporates nature reserves, forests, rural land, water catchments and bushland extending out to the Namadgi National Park.
The great success of Canberra's urban development - the construction of a city with a current population of 285,000 - is that it positively transformed and enhanced the setting for the city by the planting of millions of trees and shrubs.
today and beyond.
There's always a ride Goin' HOME?