Introduction
The National Gallery of Australia is located by Lake Burley-Griffin in Canberra. There is plenty of free parking and the several busses go past from Civic, but a fun way to visit is by bicycle. One scenic route is from the National Museum of Australia along the shore of Lake Burley-Griffin.
National Museum of Australia
National Museum of Australia
When seeing the National Museum of Australia building for the first time it can be difficult to work out exactly what you are seeing. The building looks a bit like a fun fare ride from the front, with a "loop the loop" playful circle in its awning. Neither the NMA nor the nearby Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) building seem to have any vertical walls in them (AIATSIS is worth a visit while visiting the museum). All the walls lean in, out, curve or bulge oddly. Both buildings seem to have been not so much designed, as assembled, by cutting up a catalog of 20th century modern buildings and pasting the bits together at random.
Lake Burley-Griffin
Lake Burley-Griffin
From the Museum, head east along the shore of Lake Burley-Griffin and over the Commonwealth Avenue bridge. The lake was only created in 1963. It forms the central part of Walter Burley Griffin's plan for the city. Head for the National Library of Australia, which is the large white classical looking building on the east side of bridge.
National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
Between Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and the library, just on the edge of the lake is the Australian of the Year Walk. This is 100 bent concrete pillars, each with the details of an Australian of the Year.
There is a bicycle rack on the south east corner of the National Library of Australia. The security desk in the foyer will look after your bicycle helmet and coat for free. On the left in the foyer is a very good book-shop, with books by Australian authors, posters and gifts. On the right is an excellent cafe. The cafe has an outdoor area, overlooking the lake with glass walls to protect it in Canberra's cold winter.
Library Windows
The foyer is occasionally used for musical performances. A feature of the space are the stained glass windows. Further in is an exhibition space, with (usually) free displays of historical items. Further on is the reading room. This is open to the public. You can browse magazines and new books, or use the free web terminals. You can register to be a "reader" for free and use the wireless Internet access, and request books from the "stacks". You can research, write and publish a book without leaving the building.
Reconciliation Place
Reconciliation Place
Half way between the National; Library and National Gallery, is Reconciliation Place. This includes Aboriginal sandstone carvings, as well as glass and steel sculptures. There is a walk down a deep cut in the ground to the lake. Exactly what this symbolizes, I am not sure, but it is impressive.
National Gallery of Australia
Head east from the Library, past the National Science and Technology Centre (better known Questacon). If you have kids along, you can't not go to Questacon. Adults might like to drop into the Questacon gift shop, which has science puzzles and books.
Past the High Court of Australia, is a bridge to the front door of the National Gallery of Australia (bicycle parking is down at street level). Entry is free, but there is a charge for some special exhibitions and events. The exhibitions in the Children's Gallery, can be enjoyable for adults as well.
Often there are free talks and performances in the theater. There is the shop straight in from to the door, with an excellent collection of art and design books, and gifts. The jewelry makes good gifts. There is a cafe downstairs, but if you are a member of another gallery with reciprocal membership, the don't miss the member's lounge upstairs, with its views across the lake.
Don't miss the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art (just to the left of the front desk) and the sculpture garden between the gallery and the lake.
Department of the Environment and Heritage
John Gorton Building
Opposite the National Gallery is the John Gorton Building, housing the Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage. Don't be intimidated by the 1930s Fascist architecture or the security in the foyer: the public is welcome in. There is a coffee shop on the side facing the National Gallery. You can walk through to the bookstore which has some free publications, posters and fridge magnets, featuring native plants animals (even dinosaurs), as well as more technical reports for sale. Next to the bookstore is the library.
John Gorton Building Light Well
If you walk out the main door of the building, you will notice what look like air vents in the ground. These are light wells for the offices located under the car park of the building. During the cold war this was a bunker for Australian spies. The bunker has a display of old equipment used for encoding secret government communications and now contains a theatre, but this is only available by invitation (I gave a talk there once).
Old Bus Depot Markets
Old Bus Depot Markets
Continue south east along the shore of the lake and you will reach the Old Bus Depot Markets. If you wondered what public servants did on their day off, they buy and sell knickknacks and home made produce at the markets. Car parking can be a problem at busy times, but there is a bicycle rack outside the front door.
The brick building next to the markets is the Kingston Power Station. This is being turned into a art center, as a part of the Kingston Foreshore Redevelopment.
