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Peter Harrison interviewed by James Weirick [sound recording]
Bib ID 1984234
Format AudioAudio
Author Harrison, Peter, 1918-1990
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 1990. 
14 sound tape reels ; 7 in. 
Summary

Harrison, a townplanner and architect, talks about the beginnings of professional planning in Australia in 1940s and his transition from a career in architecture to involvement in planning. He then discusses the Cumberland Plan of the Cumberland County Council; Vernon Memorial Lectures at University of Sydney; his enrollment in graduate diploma course in town planning at University of Sydney under Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme in 1949 and appointment in 1951 as senior lecturer in Faculty of Architecture. He then talks about his involvement with Federal Congress on Regional and Town Planning held in Canberra in Aug. 1951. Harrison then discusses decentralisation; housing needs throughout Australia; Walter Burley Griffin and his plans for Canberra; involvement in 1955 in Senate Committee into Future of Canberra; establishment of National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) and appointment as Chief Town Planner in 1959.

He then describes some of the major building projects of the Commision such as Russell Offices and National Library. Harrison then talks about some of the personalities in the early NCDC. He then describes his trip to USA in 1965; principles of Wye plan for transportation; background to construction of Telecom Tower on Black Mountain and appearance before Joint Parliamentary Committee on issue of the freehold land inquiry into ACT in Oct. 1967. Harrison then talks about his position as Senior Research Fellow in the Urban Research Unit at ANU from 1967; involvement of Dept of Urban and Regional Development in south-west corridor study in Sydney; abolition of land rent in 1971; views on development in Civic and his views on Canberra today.

Notes

Recorded Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 1990 in Reid, A.C.T.

Index/Finding Aid Note Transcript available (typescript, 124 leaves) 
Subjects Harrison, Peter, - 1918-1990 - Interviews.  |  Australia. - National Capital Development Commission.  |  Architects - Australia - Interviews.  |  City planners - Australia - Interviews.  |  City planning - Australian Capital Territory.
Occupation Architects.  |  Town planners.
Other Authors Weirick, James M

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