Hidden Canberra

History of Canberra


Click  to view and or read a piece of history on Canberra.



Button Wrinklewort
Big name, little flower - yellow - endangered species - grows on Stirling Ridge and a couple of other places in Australia


Howie’s & Westlake [Stirling Park Yarralumla]


One of Canberra's famous Scarred Trees
Has spiritual significance to the Aboriginal people.


Dumps STIRLING PARK, former Westlake

Couple of dump photographs - the broken bottle is in the area of the Tradesmen'as Camp - 1919

THE EVIDENCE OF HUMAN HABITATION IN STIRLING PARK, YARRALUMLA
Gura Bung Dhaura Hills & former Westlake
 
Because I lived at 27 Westlake I know the sites of the cottages in The Gap, but did not know the sites of Howie's Settlement and the camps.  Forunately I met with people who had lived at Westlake in the 1920s.  They identified the sites of all with the exception of No 1 Labourers Camp which was on Capital Hill, Westlake. This site is now known.   In all the areas of settlement including Capital Hill evidence of their stay remains in the form of numerous rubbish dumps and disturbance of the earth where buildings and tents stood and chanels dug to remove waste water. I have photographed sites and the rubbish - now artifacts - found and dated most. I have also photographed stone arrangements and scarred trees.  Part of this information is in the section above and is available in the National Library of Australia on cd and hard copy.  
 
The area defined as Stirling Park, Yarralumla - former Westlake and part of the Gura Bung Dhaura Hills is not public parkland. It has, following the removal of the camps and cottages, been used for that purpose for over fifty years and a section of this area is marked on the 1920s maps as Stirling Park.  With the exception of Block 2, Section 128 this is Commonwealth land 'looked after' by the National Capital Authority (NCA).  Block 2 is ACT land is probably the area originally proposed to be used for Darwin Avenue - now a road that conects Perth Avenue with Forster Crescent Yarralumla.
 
The eastern side of the park is Section 128 Stirling Park, Yarralumla and was divided into four blocks (now further subdivided)  Block 1 near Flynn Drive is now under development.  It has stone arrangements identified by Mr Don Bell as significant to Ngunawal people.  Block 3 (big block opposite Lotus Bay) has been set aside for possible development and has recently been further sub-divided; Block 4 is an undeveloped road that is now defined by yellow posts (ACTEWAGL gas line).  The western side of the Park is Section 22 and it along with Attunga Point have been set aside as possible sites for a new Prime Minister's Lodge.  Where ever one walks in Stirling Park one can see the signs of the houses and camps in the old roads and tracks, the drainage systems, water pipes, concrete slabs and the rubbish they left behind.
 
The evidence of Ngunawal 'use' of the land is found throughout the park particularly on Stirling Ridge and on the eastern side of the park there are many scarred trees and stone arrangements have survived.  Mr Don Bell and his wife, Ruth - Ngunawal elders - have walked with me on this land and told me the stories of the dream time and the significance of this area to their people.
 


Close up of one of the Scarred Trees on Stirling Ridge, Yarralumla.  It is well over 200 years of age.  One was identified by Mr Bell as being around 500 years old. 

Canberra 1921-1922 Brick Cottages

Canberra's Hotels & Boarding Houses


Westlake

NB: WESTLAKE WALK BROCHURE in front of Stirling Park Yarralumla (Westlake Cottage Area) - also found reference to Westlake and our signs in the following:
 
 
No 1 Labourers Camp 1924, Capital Hill, Hawke
 
Canberra Times newspaper cutting - Westlake cottages being removed - mid 1950s
 

THE CANBERRA LOCALS - EARLY YEARS

 

  • *Drafts for A STORY OF CAPITAL HILL  - section ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    ACT Electoral Rolls - 1928, 1935 - & scroll down for 1949.

Westlake hawk steam tractor engine - in background, tents of No 3 Sewer Camp & Westlake Cottages - courtesy of Hawke family.



True Stories


Miscellaneous

ACTON FILES

 MOLONGLO & RUSSELL HILL



Westlake Septics

Mervyn Haines circa 1952 - 39 Westlake in background.

1943 Electoral Rolls

1943 Electoral Rolls - Acton & Ainslie

1943 Electoral Rolls - Barton, Braddon, Belconnen, Harman, Duntroon & RAAF

1943 Electoral Rolls - Canberra, Civic, Causeway, Camps & Deakin

1943 Electoral Rolls - Forrest & Griffith

1943 Electoral Rolls - Hostels, Flats & Hotels

1943 Electoral Rolls - Jervis Bay

1943 Electoral Rolls - Kingston, Manuka & Molonglo

1943 Electoral Rolls - Oaks Estate & Outside Canberra

1943 Electoral Rolls - Red Hill, Mugga, Reid & Russell Hill

1943 Electoral Rolls - Turner

1943 Electoral Rolls - Westlake & Westridge

 

Mrs Bellchambers, Bobby and Eva 52 Westlake circa 1938 - courtesy Bellchambers family

1949 Electoral Roll

1949 Electoral Roll - Acton

1949 Electoral Roll - Ainslie

1949 Electoral Roll - Barton

1949 Electoral Roll - Braddon

1949 Electoral Roll - Canberra & Civic

1949 Electoral Roll - Causeway

1949 Electoral Roll - Deakin & Duntroon

1949 Electoral Roll - Forrest

1949 Electoral Roll - Griffith

1949 Electoral Roll - Hostels

1949 Electoral Roll - Hotels

1949 Electoral Roll - Jervis Bay, Wreck Bay & Sussex Inlet

1949 Electoral Roll - Kingston

1949 Electoral Roll - Manuka

1949 Electoral Roll - Molonglo

1949 Electoral Roll - Narrabundah

1949 Electoral Roll - Oaks Estate

1949 Electoral Roll - Navy at Belconnen, Harman & RAAF

1949 Electoral Roll - O’Connor

1949 Electoral Roll - Outside Canberra

1949 Electoral Roll - Red Hill, Mugga Way

1949 Electoral Roll - Reid

1949 Electoral Roll - Russell Hill, Girls Grammar

1949 Electoral Roll - Turner

1949 Electoral Roll - Westlake

1949 Electoral Roll - Westridge

Westlake  children outside the hall - 39 Westlake in background 1952

1955 Electoral Rolls

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL ACTON & AINSLIE

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL BARTON & BRADDON

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL CAUSEWAY, CIVIC, CANBERRA, CONVENTS

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL, DEAKIN, DICKSON, FORREST & FYSHWICK

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL DUNTROON & RAAF

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL, GRIFFITH, HOTELS, HOUSES, HOSTEL & CAMPS

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL JERVIS BAY, WRECK BAY, SUSSEX INLET & KINGSTON

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL MANUKA, MOLONGLO & MOUNT STROMLO

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL NARRABUNDAH & NAVY (HARMAN & BELCONNEN)

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL OAKS ESTATE, O'CONNOR & OUTSIDE CANBERRA

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL RED HILL, REID & RUSSELL HILL

1955 ELECTORAL ROLL TURNER, WESTLAKE & WESTRIDGE

1967 Electoral Rolls etc

                                       

1967 Electoral Roll - Cover

1967 Electoral Roll - Introduction to Electoral Rolls 1928 - 1967

1967 Electoral Roll - Acton

1967 Electoral Roll - Ainslie

1967 Electoral Roll - Barton

1967 Electoral Roll - Braddon

1967 Electoral Roll - Campbell

1967 Electoral Roll - Causeway

1967 Electoral Roll - Chifley

1967 Electoral Roll - Civic

1967 Electoral Roll - Curtain

1967 Electoral Roll - Deakin

1967 Electoral Roll -Dickson

1967 Electoral Roll - Downer

1967 Electoral Roll - Farrar

1967 Electoral Roll - Flats

1967 Electoral Roll - Forrest

1967 Electoral Roll - Garran

1967 Electoral Roll - Griffith

1967 Electoral Roll - Hackett

1967 Electoral Roll - Hall

1967 Electoral Roll - Hostels & Hotels

1967 Electoral Roll - Hotels

1967 Electoral Roll - Hughes

1967 Electoral Roll - Kingston

1967 Electoral Roll - Lyneham

1967 Electoral Roll - Lyons

1967 Electoral Roll - Manuka

1967 Electoral Roll - Mawson

1967 Electoral Roll - Narrabundah

1967 Electoral Roll - Navy

1967 Electoral Roll - Oaks Estate

1967 Electoral Roll - O’Connor

1967 Electoral Roll - Outside Canberra

1967 Electoral Roll - Pearce

1967 Electoral Roll - RAAF Station

1967 Electoral Roll - Reid

1967 Electoral Roll - Religious

1967 Electoral Roll - RMC Duntroon

1967 Electoral Roll - Torrens

1967 Electoral Roll - Tourist Park

1967 Electoral Roll - Turner

1967 Electoral Roll - Westlake

1967 Electoral Roll - Yarralumla

1959 Electoral Rolls

1959 Electoral Rolls - Acton

1959 Electoral Rolls - Acton Hospital etc

1959 Electoral Rolls - Ainslie

1959 Electoral Rolls - Barton

1959 Electoral Rolls - Braddon

1959 Electoral Rolls - Campbell

1959 Electoral Rolls - Capital Hill & Hillside Hostels

1959 Electoral Rolls - Causeway

1959 Electoral Rolls - Civic Centre & Canberra

1959 Electoral Rolls - Deakin

1959 Electoral Rolls - Duntroon

1959 Electoral Rolls - Forrest

1959 Electoral Rolls - Griffith

1959 Electoral Rolls - Hotel Kingston etc

1959 Electoral Rolls - Hotels Kurrajong

1959 Electoral Rolls - Jervis Bay

1959 Electoral Rolls - Kingston Guest House

1959 Electoral Rolls - Lyneham

1959 Electoral Rolls - Manuka

1959 Electoral Rolls - Mulwala House

1959 Electoral Rolls - Narellan House

1959 Electoral Rolls - Narrabundah

1959 Electoral Rolls - Naval Stations

1959 Electoral Rolls - Northbourne Flats

1959 Electoral Rolls - Oaks Estate & O’Connor

1959 Electoral Rolls - Outlying Areas

1959 Electoral Rolls - RAAF

1959 Electoral Rolls - Red Hill

1959 Electoral Rolls - Reid

1959 Electoral Rolls - Turner

1959 Electoral Rolls - University House Acton

1959 Electoral Rolls - Westlake

1959 Electoral Rolls - Westridge - Yarralumla.