Here is my vision for the future of Canberra.
On Red Hill, on the axis with both Old and New Parliament House, I imagine a Windsor-like castle. Presently the area is bushland, an army base and a golf course. They symbolism of the Crown as a distant and elevated building is what attracted me at first. The idea of giving us a history as if the Australian Crown had existed since time immemorial. Of course it would have to be in keeping with Aboriginal traditions for the area, about which I am currently ignorant. Probably by coincidence, Walter Burly Griffin hit an echo with Aboriginal Cultures when he let the plan for the city grow out of the topology of the Country. Melbourne Avenue leads directly up the hill, to stop at bushland. A ceremonial entrance into the mediaeval keep, or between it and on the other side an inter-denominational chapel for national ceremonies that are presently held in the Sydney Opera House. Besides the usual accommodation it could be a living museum like other castles with exhibition space and be a major tourist attraction in its own right.
We are about to see unprecedented popularity for Their Royal Highnesses,
the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. My dream is for Her Majesty,
the Queen of Australia to make Canberra a Duchy, and make TRHs Dukes
and Duchess of Canberra while in Australia, and of C&C elsewhere.
The ACT has no "head of state" and legislation receives assent by being
published, and this should not change, but there is presently no one to
represent Canberra at ceremonial occasions.
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