Contour Survey Map of the ‘Canberra’ site

This map was part of a set of information and maps issued to competitors in the Australian Federal Capital Design Competition to assist in the preparation of their designs. An international competition to select a design for the new capital city of Canberra had been announced by the Department of Home Affairs in April 1911.

Competitors were each issued with a wooden box containing information and maps for guidance in the preparation of their designs. These boxes contained the following material:

· a booklet of information about the competition, its rules and local Canberra conditions

· reports on the geology of the capital site by the New South Wales Government Geologist, EF Pittman, with survey map

· a report on the climate of the Yass–Canberra district by the Commonwealth Meteorologist, HA Hunt, with rainfall and temperature map

· a contour map of the capital site with a scale of 20 chains to an inch

· two copies of a four-part contour map of the capital site with a scale of 400 feet to an inch (one copy was to be submitted with the proposed city design drawn on it)

· a topographical map of the Federal Capital Territory, with a scale of 6000 feet to an inch

· a map of New South Wales

· a map of the south-eastern portion of New South Wales, showing the location of the Federal Capital Territory

· two hand-painted cycloramic (360 degree) sketches of the capital site – one showing the view from Camp Hill; the other from Mount Vernon.

By the close of the competition in early 1912, 137 entries had been received. On 23 May 1912, the design submitted by Walter Burley Griffin of Chicago was announced as the winning entry.