Father of Canberra John Gale
Hon. Sir Austin Chapman, MP declared:
“… if any man were entitled to be known as the Father of Canberra, it was veteran Queanbeyan journalist John Gale”.1
Charles Studdy Daley OBE, wrote:
“… John Gale lived to see his vision realized when he attended the opening of Parliament in Canberra in 1927, and was presented to Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York … who would wish to dispute his right to be acknowledged as the Father of Canberra”. 2
AK Murray, (ed) Federal Pioneer Magazine, 1927 wrote:
“… Canberra… Many are accredited wrongly with the initiation of the movement for its establishment; but they cannot deny the author … [John Gale] the title of ‘The Father of Canberra’. The late Sir Austin Chapman acknowledged that to me. 3
“… The late Sir John Forrest, representing Western Australia in those days opposed the choice of Canberra; but when chosen he wrote and acknowledged that it was mainly Mr Gale’s famous pamphlet on ‘Dalgety or Canberra Which?‘ a brochure published in 1907, and distributed to every member of the Commonwealth’s seven Parliaments, and amongst other prominent members of the communiy – that won the day for Canberra 4 .
“… Mr Gale is, first, the oldest living journalist in the English-speaking world; and secondly, by his persistent advocacy of Canberra as a site for a Capital City, has earned the title of “The Father of Canberra”, wrote AK Murray. 5
John Gales’ Naming of Canberra, 1855 Vision & Report, 1913:
“… The writer who contributes this record of the historic proceedings of Wednesday last is in a position to speak from personal knowledge of most of the recommended sites, and from an extensive knowledge of the interior of the majority to the Australian States, has no hesitation in averring that Canberra stands unrivalled in respect to all the desiderata of a great nation’s Capital City. Fifty-eight years ago he rode for the first time over the Canberra Plains. Approaching from the western slopes of the Black Mountain, and ascending the very site of Wednesday’s ceremonies, he well remembers reining in his horse, and (as it now appears) in a spirit of prophecy, gazing eastwards and southwards over the widespread undulating plains, intersected by the meandering Molonglo River, and having as a distant background the bold mountain outlines in the direction of Braidwood and Cooma, with the spurs of the Australian Alps westwards, exclaiming, “a magnificent site this for a great city in the future.” Little did he reckon that in little more than half a century thence the very hill on which he uttered his soiloquy would be the spot where the commencement column of Federated Australia’s Capital City would be reared. 6
Father of Canberra Memorial
In 1855 John Gale (1831-1929) sat on his horse on Capital (Kurrajong) Hill and imagined an inland city - Capital Hill is now the site of our present Parliament House. 7
Gale not only wrote about his vision but continually told others, including the Labour Prime Minister Christian Watson, when he visited Canberra during the search for the Federal Capital site.8
“The Father of Canberra Memorial commemorates John Gale and the Queanbeyan District community who lobbied for and helped build the City of Canberra”, said Reverend Kostakos at the Memorial dedication - 10 March 2001. 9
Melbourne based artist Peter Corlett who has created many of the spectacular Australian War Memorials 10 was commissioned by HAPI [Heritage-culture Arts Promotions Inc], which is a charitable institution, under the cultural sector. 11
The Memorial was unveiled by four students (two girls and two boys) from our two High Schools: Karabar and Queanbeyan High, as part of the Heritage-culture Arts Promotions Incorporated - Centenary of Federation Celebrationsis and is located at the Queanbeyan Courthouse on the corner of Farrer Place /Lowe and Monaro Streets, Queanbeyan.12
John Gale, born in England in 1831 was the ACT Coroner when he died in 1929 13 and at his death was in his 99th year. 14
END
Footnotes:
1. The Canberra Times 11/07/1964; [and} Charles S Daley, As I Recall, p 13.
2. The Canberra Times 11/07/1964; [and] Charles S Daley, As I Recall, p 14.
3. John Gale, Canberra – History and Legends, 1927, p x.
4. John Gale, Canberra – History and Legends, 1927 p x.
5. John Gale, Canberra – History and Legends, 1927 p xi.
6. The Queanbeyan Age, 15 March, 1913.
7. John Gale, Canberra – History and Legends, 1927 p 4-5.
8. (Need to find Newspaper Gale telling Watson & others about his vision in 1855)
9. Reverend Kostakos is the Parish Priest from St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, and Chairman of the HAPI City of Sculpture (COS) Project, PO Box 987, Queanbeyan, 2620.
10. Go to Artist page - see Peter Corlett
11. HAPI Records. HAPI Heritage-culture Arts Promotions Inc., PO Box 987 Queanbeyan 2620.
12. Connee-Colleen. John Gale CV ©1996 (first version)
13. Susan Mary Woolcock Withycombe. Gale Force – John Gale and the siting of the National Capital. 2001.
14. The Queanbeyan Age, John Gale, obituary (death 15 July, 1929).
Connee-Colleen, compiled John Gale CV, 1998 (latest revision 2008)
HAPI Records. HAPI Heritage-culture Arts Promotions Inc., PO Box 987 Queanbeyan 2620.
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