30 May 2009

Images of Canberra - The Suffrage Gardens

| johnboy
Join the conversation
22

[First filed: May 29, 2009 @ 10:19]

Red_dog has sent in what I imagine will surprise many to learn is a local scene. It came with this note:

    Attached is a A long exposure of the Centenary of Australian women’s suffrage commemorative artwork and fountain. It’s one of those many hidden gems that Canberra has to offer. There’s a bit of a blurb about the monument I ‘borrowed’ from Stateline.

    Located on the parliamentary axis (Constitution Place through Old Parliament House to Magna Carta Place), this artwork celebrates the centenary of Australian women’s suffrage. With the passage of the Commonwealth Franchise Act, 1902, women were able to vote and, a world first, to stand for parliament, which they did in the election of 1903.

    The artwork comprises a fountain and timeline, both of which feature a glass mosaic inspired by wisteria in flower, in the women’s movement colours of green, purple and white. The timeline records the milestones and significant achievements of Australian women in Federal Parliament.

Got an image of Canberra to share with the world? Email it to images@the-riotact.com

Join the conversation

22
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Hi and a big thank you to everybody who has commented on my photo. I really didn’t expect such a response 🙂

The photo was shot at the last full moon … one of the reasons the sky is so light.

Some details for the technically minded;

Nikon D80
Sigma 10-20mm @10mm
383secs (say 6 minutes!) @ f/14
ISO 100, Exposure compensation -1.0

It was a little breezy that night so there’s a little blur around the greenery extremities. It’s a lovely spot and really one of Canberra’s hidden gems.

Oh and the gate wasn’t locked that night … mind you it was cold and windy … tends to keep most people away anyways.

Thanks again and cheers.

Incidentally, I think the “suffrage” refers to the conference of the vote on anyone who didn’t previously have it, as in the mosaic there’s a few mentions of Aboriginals getting the vote also. Most of the mentions on teh signage etc are about women, lots of famous or trail-blazing female parliamentarians, but in the mosaic it commemorates Aboriginals getting the vote in various jurisdictions.

The tiles on the mosaic are lovely.

Pommy bastard11:17 am 31 May 09

Superb, any chance of efx details?

Granny said :

I don’t think I’ve ever been in the walled gardens. I’ve walked past at night and been curious about them, but I think they must lock them at night because we’ve never been able to see how to get in.

The gates are supposed to be locked from about 5pm, but sometimes they aren’t.

GardeningGirl7:44 pm 29 May 09

Wonderful photo!

wow! Amazing. I’ve never been there. Should check it out soon….

Magical!!

This is the sort of photography I aspire to!

Well done.

Top pic Red_dog, you made my day that little bit better!

I can not see the focus issues, its sharp as a tack in the full image…

Maybe you are mistaking the clouds moving through the frame of a long exposure.

Steady Eddie5:13 pm 29 May 09

at least it’s better than that hideous red fan they originally wanted to put up in front of OPH.

Don’t lean on me man, ’cause you can’t afford a ticket,
Back to suffraget cityyyyy
It’s alright
It’s outasight
It’s in Canberraaaaa

Apologies to David Bowie.

Good work Red_Dog! Good composition and lighting, drawing the eye in. Obvious sensitivity to subject matter. Slight focus issues but otherwise a beautiful image.

I wonder if anyone ever goes in there to read Anne Summers or Germaine Greer…
Lovely photo, lovely gardens.

I think they lock the gates of both gardens at night, because of the idiot issue. You can book the gardens for use… I’ve been to several weddings in those gardens, although all the ones I’ve been to are in the old Senate gardens, on the other side (the King George Statue side). That one has more open space in it. This one in the picture has more “things” in it… the women mosaic, fountain, portico, some tennis courts, the croquet lawn, a gardener’s shed, and tons of roses! It’s my favourite of the two. I go in there quite a lot. You often see people reading in there at lunchtime.

I got married in that point where the horizon converges in the picture, a beautiful spot – and I remember seeing the fountain duringthe planning and execution of our wedding and thinking I gotta get back…Take some pics. Do they not lock the gates after dark anymore ?

Gungahlin Al11:42 am 29 May 09

Top shot!
There is just SO much to love about this town…

I don’t think I’ve ever been in the walled gardens. I’ve walked past at night and been curious about them, but I think they must lock them at night because we’ve never been able to see how to get in.

ant is absolutely right, the photo really elevates the scene. And after his directions, I realise that I have been there for a wedding, but I must say it looks so much better in what I assume is twilight in the photo, than in the hot summer afternoon that I saw it in.

And as OzChick says, great for a wedding spot.

I often wander through that garden, but that picture REALLY elevates the scene! The mosaic is rather nice, and the mad fountain that does random squirts (in a pattern), and teh columns… the rose garden still has some good ones left too.

It’s in the OPH walled gardens, this is in the old House of Reps garden, if you’re standing facing OPH, it’s the one on the left. There’s a croquet lawn in there too, and the lavender is flowering currently and smells very nice.

Looks like a nice wedding spot. Great pic.

You’re right, Johnboy, surprised this is a local feature. Like Feathergirl, I’m going to have to find this place.

Red_Dog this is a beautiful photo. Thanks for sharing.

Wow, what a beauty of a picture. I am going to have to find this spot out as I was surprised to know it’s local. Looks fantastic!

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.