What a capital idea - a quick Canberra visit

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First stop - the National Arboretum Home - National Arboretum

One day this place will be spectacular, from the air. It is one of the last pieces of the plan of Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin. I didn't actually understand either the purpose, or the competition winning design, but then my Built Environment degree is in Interior Design, not Landscape Architecture. Huge groves of lots of non-native trees. I read the reason behind this but why not seed banks? It is on odd site to plant introduced species considering how windy it apparently is. The only natives out in the paddocks that we saw were a weird paddock of grass trees, planted in lush grass.

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At least the buildings on the site were something special and

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we loved the bonsai pavilion

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Breakfast at Teddy Picker's Teddy Picker's

It was suggested you ordered via their app. What a pain. I should have just walked up. I would have avoided somehow ordering two serves of the spectacularly delicious french toast ;)

Cold pressed juices. The beetroot was a gift that kept on giving

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I missed a picture of the bacon and egg roll but here is the very good eggs benedict with the extra french toast in the background

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War Memorial was our next destination. I'd suggested to niecy when we sat down for breakfast that we book but she was very millennial and was, like you know, why? I went online and showed her why - you must book a timeslot and that's what I did.

We spent three hours and I think we could have spent at least a couple more. I've read a little about the redevelopment plan and I'm not a fan.

On the recreated bridge of the HMAS Brisbane

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a gorgeous rosella trying to score some orange from a crow

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HMAS Brisbane bridge from the outside

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we finished the afternoon at the very busy Capital Brewing Company at Fyshwick Capital Brewing Co. | Good Natured Brews

If only I wasn't driving...

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and that's about it. We both had a laugh when we 'filled' the car up. It took $8.74! I've already posted about the lounge and flight - lounge hot, super socially distanced that cut down on the available seating. Boarding of the 717 we flew home on was strictly by row with no priority boarding. Lovely crew. Same crackers and salsa as we'd been offered on the flight down with the added bonus of free alcoholic beverages. We didn't, but even a second could be had. To finish up a great weekend a lovely sunset as we came back across the border.

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Thanks once again - I really do enjoy Canberra and not sure why people are so disparaging about it (probably the same people that bag Adelaide)

Where next?
Tasmania by campervan for a couple of weeks leading up to Easter then an Intrepid overland from Broome to Darwin July into early August
 
I’ve only been to Canberra once, but loved it. So much to do and see. It’s definitely somewhere I’ll return to one day
 
Thanks once again - I really do enjoy Canberra and not sure why people are so disparaging about it (probably the same people that bag Adelaide)

Where next?

Where's next update - spur of the moment decision yesterday to go up to Port Douglas for five nights over New Years. Might be wet, will be humid. There will be cold beer, cold wine, and a pool.
 
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Where's next update - spur of the moment decision yesterday to go up to Port Douglas for five nights over New Years. Might be wet, will be humid. There will be cold beer, cold wine, and a pool.
In the UK Times crossword yesterday the clue was what Australians call a beer and the answer was sherbert - really?? It's just a cold beer, stubby or a tinnie

Enjoy - I'm a bit concerned with SA outbreak we might be hunkered down for a while
 
The Academy of Science building roof, (now called the Shine Dome, designed by architect Roy Grounds), roof was very badly damaged in the hail storm early this year. They are covering over the old copper roof with a new thicker copper. So, it will be wonderfully coppery shiny as it was when first built. It will be partially covered toward the end of this year and finished next year.

Great photos of my home town and very enjoyable TR thanks again.

Between coughtails and dinner I wandered across the road to have a look at the Academy of Science building. I remember this as my favourite building from the Canberra visits of my childhood and teen years. What a great building. It's good to see it being restored. I understand it's going to be a function centre of some kind.

Here's some copies of slides from a family visit before I was born

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and how it looks today

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look at those wonderful steps!!!

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The hotel is only two levels, built into what I presume to be an old government building. It's the red roofed building in this picture. Multiple wings leading off the modern entry lobby



now for some native flowers
 
PS, if in the vicinity of the Shine Dome turn around to look at the beaut Art Deco building now called the National Film and Sound Archive. A spot of history of the building:

NFSA BUILDING HISTORY: IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

FRI 4 DEC | 10.30AM | 45 mins | Theatrette | Free (Bookings Essential)

Zoo. Institute of Anatomy. Morgue. Cutting-edge preservation facility. Discover the many lives of the NFSA building in this 45-minute presentation.

As the former Australian Institute of Anatomy, our building had an interesting (and sometimes disturbing) history before its current role in preserving Australia's audiovisual heritage.

Learn about the Institute's establishment and the building's construction and unique Art Deco design as we reveal the secrets that make this building a rare and wonderful, heritage-listed landmark.

After the talk, grab a map and take a 15-minute, self-guided walk and see highlighted features up close.
 
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PS, if in the vicinity of the Shine Dome turn around to look at the beaut Art Deco building now called the National Film and Sound Archive. A spot of history of the building:

NFSA BUILDING HISTORY: IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

FRI 4 DEC | 10.30AM | 45 mins | Theatrette | Free (Bookings Essential)

Zoo. Institute of Anatomy. Morgue. Cutting-edge preservation facility. Discover the many lives of the NFSA building in this 45-minute presentation.

As the former Australian Institute of Anatomy, our building had an interesting (and sometimes disturbing) history before its current role in preserving Australia's audiovisual heritage.

Learn about the Institute's establishment and the building's construction and unique Art Deco design as we reveal the secrets that make this building a rare and wonderful, heritage-listed landmark.

After the talk, grab a map and take a 15-minute, self-guided walk and see highlighted features up close.

If we'd had time the NFSA was getting a visit. I did see it up behind the dome. Next time :)
 
Hopefully they will stay where they are and not inflict their small-mindedness upon us. 😬

Thanks once again - I really do enjoy Canberra and not sure why people are so disparaging about it .... “

Where next?
 
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I'd take Canberra over Adelaide any day! Sorry, crow-eaters!
Explained

 
CBR also has a forward thinking approach to electric vehicles. There are incentives for people to switch to electric vehicles. (To pay for this potential lack of revenue a view is that there should be a higher tax on petrol).
 
Hopefully they will stay where they are and not inflict their small-mindedness upon us. 😬
When I first arrived in Canberra 5 years ago, I soon realised that those that disparage it probably have not spent any time there. Just like those QLD'ers who call Aussie Rules "aerial ping pong" and those Vics who call NRL "thugby", they don't have a damn clue what they're talking about.
 
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