The Canberra Lake Springtime Sixty-four

Made by The Commonwealth Film Unit 1965. Directed by Neil Howe. Canberra, the National Capital of Australia, has a man-made lake in the centre of the city. We see a working model of the lake, dam, flood-gates, various transport routes and bridges. The lake, designed by Walter Burley Griffin, was opened at the end of 1964. The film shows the official opening by then Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies and the use of the lake for water sports.

[@hawkeman007]

Great to see PM Menzies in quality living colour. Thanks.

[@mariazorzi9723]

Tantissimi ricordi io arrivai a Canberra Gennaio 1960 mi sposai 1963 il mio primo Figlio nacque 1964 ,quando arrivai non c’era il lago ,mio marito ha lavorato nella costruzione della dama ,sono stati i migliori anni ,con tanti sacrifici ,ma tanti cari ricordi ,indimenticabili ,grazie mille per il video che mi riporta a quegli anni ,grazie 🤗🌹🌻❤️🕊🌴🌈🌞🌏🙋‍♀️👋👋👋

[@smellylorenny]

I've walked around that lake tripping on acid. Great job Burley-Griffin!

[@AggregateUser]

Canberra is definitely a place for admiration. I lay on the grass of this lake down from the war memorial on acid, at dusk. An amazing sight to see hundreds of bats moving from Commonwealth park toward Fyshwick. The noises they were making were like power lines in the wind.

[@marleyvonhoffstein3193]

I grew up in Canberra from 1961 and remember swimming in the lake and fishing for trout. We also caught yabbies with a piece of meat on the end of a string - they made good eating! Later I did a lot of sailing on the lake in my Mirror dinghy. Those were the days!

[@Prieze868]

Great cinematography at always catches the mood of the day in the fashion even the colours are amazing

[@MaccasWell76]

It's amazing how the landscape of Canberra was influenced by Lake Burley Griffin. Not only that but Canberra's road system was also heavily influenced by the lake. Like King's and Commonwealth Avenue bridges, Lady Denman Drive (part of it over Scrivener dam) Parkes Way and Monaro Highway (over the Molongolo River end of the Lake). I'm still looking for road maps or street directories of Canberra's early road system without an archive dive (it's expensive, I hear).

[@thomaselliott573]

This is a gem. An integral part of Australian development. The idea of creating Canberra is open to discussion, but this film is priceless. Thank you.

[@NFSAFilms]

Thank you.

[@danrobinson572]

NFSA Films thanks for the videos yesterday. I’m from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and love your country.

[@hannotn]

I always thought Ming was supposed to be a skilled orator. That inauguration speech was about as uninspiring as it could possibly be.

[@margaretmatthews4872]

Life was simply lovely then

[@DonzLockz]

Awesome video. I've been here all my life and haven't seen many videos of Canberra construction. 👍😎🇦🇺

[@NFSAFilms]

Thanks 👍. Here's our Canberra playlist just in case you haven't seen any of these: kzbin.info/aero/PLYjU0Xph-Gj6RwCY8RY4vNpXzn0ERhmg_

[@Mike-ds7mu]

I love Canberra and everything in it. This is a amazing film. We moved to Canberra from oversea in 2018. Merry Christmas 🎄🎄🎄 Canberra!

[@lynnedaquino2774]

I love this film. I love Canberra and everything in it even the Carp! Love Christmas Love Canberra at Christmas. We are truly blessed to live in such a wonderful place.

[@JaceTan-90]

So the lake is only 50 years old? Now I appreciate Canberra more!

[@newCanberran]

Our family migrated to Canberra seven years ago. Love the city and especially Lake Burley Griffin. It is a very lovely recreational area, a stunning centrepiece for a very beautiful city. So enjoyed this film.

[@scottclements78]

Now that lake is full of carp

[@buda3d2007]

*crap

[@piccadilyroad66]

or Crab 🙊*oops

[@jamiemckeon4278]

this is amazing

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

golden age

[@mattyo30]

great upload thx

[@ecologistanuclear3732]

great documentary, lots of 60s reminiscences - I don't know if there are any papers/articles about the beneficial effects of Burley Griffin on the local climate...Greetings from Chile

[@wellitsmelbell]

I thought the lake was always naturally there, but it's actually manmade. The more you know.

[@johnmyviews3761]

Now they are filling the best part in for townhouses and profits

[@davemustaki134]

Good the things a waste of space they go on about not enough land and housing crisis they might as well fill it in or half of it and build on it gets bugger all use anyway

[@kylewaddington1983]

anyone on this you tube channle live in Canberra

[@yowodup6094]

Yes

[@jaynedavis3655]

Unfortunately I do , I have died several times of boredom, and most of the people make ya teeth itch , and ya piss boil

[@26TptCoy]

6:33 the five dollar shovel from bunnings .. lol wonder what the tree looks like today?

[@khanSherKhan]

Wow

[@fellowcitizen]

Why no underwater observatory, though?

[@Vonbare]

even back then people wouldn't drive in the left-hand lane! (2:06)

[@thepsychologist8159]

Depends on the speed limit. I agree it's annoying when people drive slow in the right lane, but technically it's not breaking the law at 80km or under.

[@janevanbalen1451]

Wonderful little film. I believe the narrator is Alastair Duncan (1926-2005) (although not apparently credited). www.imdb.com/name/nm0241892/

[@NFSAFilms]

Hi Jane, yes you are correct. It is indeed Alastair. Good pick up. What tipped you off?

[@janevanbalen1451]

I came across it via Facebook i think... I used to work at NFSA years ago and I just recognised his voice - brought back memories and my work with the radio collection there. Thanks for your reply (I only just found it!)

[@NFSAFilms]

NFSA collection certainly imprinted in your ears then.

[@pauljamieson4210]

👍👍

[@ringoze]

Anyone recognise the opening titles music?

[@davemustaki134]

It's off an old show or something it sounds familiar

[@Prieze868]

The true British Australian culture that a lot of we've opened our doors to a lot of different nationalities and many of them up my friends but they sometimes say we don't have any culture but yes we have it and understated Noble natural ability but you know after some multiple generations of unemployment the language is dropped and that the standards of drop that we did have and mostly do have standards the Anglo australasians

[@bh5817]

You couldn’t be more right and we’ve certainly lost our British cultural identity

[@joytotheworld6804]

Princess who?

[@bonnypop5764]

how did they factor in queanbeyans poo?

[@zorbalight3933]

They used science.

[@godisourfather9376]

Canberra was a great place to grow up in , & then politicians destroyed it now it's a hole

[@davemustaki134]

Just like everywhere really but I know what you mean

[@2partiesnotpreferred226]

Canberra translates to breast in the local language.

[@jonathanm9436]

I think you'll be surprised to learn that it means "meeting place" in the Ngunnawal language.

[@2partiesnotpreferred226]

@@jonathanm9436 can bearer

[@yowodup6094]

The breast of Australia.