Views from Black Mountain Tower, Canberra

[BroadGauge]

Took these in December 2006, found them on my computer so thought I might as well upload them. Enjoy, look at how much of a fucking dump Canberra is, sorry for crap photos.

[CULWULLA]

i dont know if canberras a dump. its actually a great city.
good photos. canberra is so spread out. loads of potential

[Alphaville]

Your moronic. Why even post the photos if you are going to slag off your subject matter?

If you can't see the individuality and importance in the design of Canberra then I don't know why you are on a forum dedicated to Urban planning.

Canberra is unique and Australia is lucky to have one of the greatest planned cities as our capital.

[BroadGauge]

Originally Posted by Alphaville

Canberra is unique and Australia is lucky to have one of the greatest planned cities as our capital.

Sorry, but I just can't stop laughing!

[Alphaville]

Originally Posted by BroadGauge

Sorry, but I just can't stop laughing!

Like it or loathe it Canberra is regarded as an extremely fine example of what a planned city can/cannot be. It has its flaws, yes, but it set a precedent and a template for city planning that urban planners have studied for decades since Burley Griffin laid plans down near 100 years ago -- Abuja, Islamabad, Brasilia and New Delhi were all began with the success of Canberra in mind.


Maybe you should stick to gunzelling-- because your views on Canberra sound like a whinging child who doesn't understand -- especially considering you have not backed up your digs.

[BroadGauge]

Spoken like the true words of someone who has never left the Civic area and Parliamentary Triangle.

I don't care how it was planned - I still find it an awful city. My opinion, never said you have to agree.

[Homeroids]

Canberraphobic?

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. However, I have some affiliation with the place - I was born there . Cheers

[AndyGM]

It aint so bad if you are after somewhere quiet and pretty.

If you are after big city vibe then.... I think I need to move to Melbourne.

[CULWULLA]

Walter Burley Griffith is a bloody legend. the city plan is envied by other world cities.

[PerthCity]

The surrounding landscape is so brown and dry!

[Alphaville]

Originally Posted by PerthCity

The surrounding landscape is so brown and dry!

Most of the year Canberra is quite green and lush -- and most winters it gets a snowfall. The drought it just extending that summer dry period.

Like Melbourne -- it goes fairly green again quickly.

[Cristovão471]

Whats the difference to perth? lol

Canberra is usually abundant with greenery, more so than perth or melbourne in the recent years.

[isoboy]

Thanks for the pics! Although I disagree with your opinion of Canberra. And Canberra is not usually a "brown" city - it's actually one of greenest in Australia, thanks to (generally) decent rainfall, lots of parks and gardens, tree-lined streets and boulevards, and extensive bushland reserves.

[PerthCity]

Originally Posted by isoboy

. And Canberra is not usually a "brown" city - it's actually one of greenest in Australia, thanks to (generally) decent rainfall, lots of parks and gardens, tree-lined streets and boulevards, and extensive bushland reserves.

I was commenting on photos 4 and 5, which show what I assume are areas just outside of the city.

[tic]

I love Canberra - its a great national asset. I have always thought it was pretty dry, but this seems to be common with southern cities, including Melbourne Adelaide and Perth - where there are hot winds and very little rainfall during most of the summer. However that doesn't necessarily take away from Canberra's beauty and interesting landmarks, exhibits etc.

[AndyGM]

Since I have been in Canberra I have noted that it is quite brown compared to most of the other major cities. I think it is just a little too cold in winter and a little too dry in summer for grasses to grow well.

[Fabian]

Canberra illustrates how a city should be planned. I'm proud of it and it has made great progress as a city over recent years. The future is looking bright

It's disappointing that too many people undervalue the importance the city has to Australia.

[Homeroids]

My honest opinion about Canberra?

Ok, I lived there as a kid so that hardly means I have a well formed opinion, however: I went there for a visit when I was much older. As if performing a personal pilgrimage, I walked around my old suburb (Chiefley) and to the school I went to. Sadly, that school is now closed down. This is not unusual in other Australian cities, however in Canberra you get the feeling it happens more. Why? Because families move on, demographics change etc etc. In Canberra's case, it seemed more by design that similar age groups lived in the same area. Canberra was very much in it's growth phase when I was growing up there. I always remember visiting my grand parents in nearby Sydney and thinking as a young child how many old people there seemed to be in Sydney. Yes, maybe my views were distorted but were they? Many areas of Canberra have infrastructure for the young type family that are now closed, re-used as something completely different.

The other thing I noticed when I went back to Canberra was the seemingly lack of concentrated night entertainment spots. I would see a nightclub in the middle of a light industrial zone by itself. I observed that since Canberra is quite decentralised, there appeared to be no huge gathering spot for entertainment. This was some time ago now, so has this changed?

In conclusion, the city took on a "soulless" feel to it. I might be wrong now.

I am not saying it was all bad. It has the best war memorial/museum I have ever seen. There are a lot of art type things to see in Canberra. I remember fondly some of the nice picnic spots just outside Canberra like Cotter (prob spelt wrong) dam etc.

However, I still think Canberra was a bit too planned. I understand the idea of decentralisation but unless the hubs (eg Phillips) have a vibrant feel to them (do they today?) then decentralisation, to me, has inhibited any possibility of a soul for Canberra.

Does Canberra still have the highest suicide rate for teenagers? I ask that not to be a smartarse but because I always thought that teenagers have nothing to do there.

[Cristovão471]

I wouldn't be suprised If canberra had the highest suicide rate for teenagers.
Many teenagers in Canberra turn to drugs to fight boredom

[shaggers_jr]

Originally Posted by cristobal_underscore

I wouldn't be suprised If canberra had the highest suicide rate for teenagers.
Many teenagers in Canberra turn to drugs to fight boredom

Many teenagers everywhere turn to drugs.

Canberra's suicide rate is lower than the national average - the NT and Tasmania are still the worst.