Walter Burley Griffin is dead. Long live Walter Burley Griffin's planning ideals!

Abstract

In 2010 the ACT Government commenced a major public consultation exercise called ‘Time to Talk – Canberra 2030’ on Canberra’s long term future as part of developing a new strategy plan for Canberra. In this context, the then ACT Planning Minister, Andrew Barr MLA, published a short article on his personal website proclaiming that Walter Burley Griffin is dead. According to Barr, Griffin has not had any involvement in the planning and development of Canberra since 1920 and that his plans for the city were never really implemented. Barr stated Griffin’s ideals should not be ‘re-interpreted’ and we ‘should not be casting back a century for answers to Canberra’s contemporary challenges’ because ‘Griffin could never have foreseen the changes in lifestyles that technology has delivered and that climate change will require’. Barr bemoaned the fact that Griffin’s legacy continues to dominate debate about the future of Canberra and that Griffin is still held in high regard in Canberra planning circles. Barr argued therefore, that it was time to move beyond Griffin’s planning legacy. Despite the fact that no planner can ever clearly foresee the changes the future brings, there are several good reasons why Griffin’s planning ideals continue to pervade Canberra’s planning. This article explores two of Griffin’s planning ideals for Canberra and how they have endured in the development of two of Canberra’s strategic plans. The paper argues that these planning ideals still have currency today and will continue to have currency well into the future.