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Heritage Register
John Gorton Building,
Parkes, ACT (formerly
known as the
Administrative Building)
Finance ID
Number
Commonwealth
Heritage List
Place ID Number
Ownership
DFD-61008
19128
Owned by
Finance on
behalf of the
Commonwealth
The John Gorton Building facade is constructed from red and pink
granite and dressed sandstone ashlar blocks. Source: Department of
Finance, date unknown.
Location
.
John Gorton Building occupies the corner block of King
Edward Terrace and Parkes Place, Parkes, ACT.
Landscape Setting
John Gorton Building is located in the
northern corner of the Parliamentary
Triangle and plays a significant role
along with the Treasury Building in
balancing the land axis as design by
Walter Burley Griffin. The John
Gorton Building also contributes to
the heritage values of the Parliament
House Vista.
Aerial of the Barton Offices (foreground)
Administrative Building (centre) and High
Court beside Lake, Canberra, 1993.
Source: National Archives of Australia
11652571
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Description of the Place
John Gorton Building is a Commonwealth Administrative Building located at King Edward Terrace,
Canberra ACT. The property is located in the suburb of Parkes, three kilometres south of the
Canberra City Centre. Parkes is a suburb of Canberra, featuring residential and commercial
development.
John Gorton Building lies within the Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra’s ceremonial precinct featuring
some of Australia’s most culturally significant buildings. These buildings include Parliament House,
Old Parliament House, Defence Headquarters, Treasury Building, National Library and High Court of
Australia.
John Gorton Building comprises a ground floor, six upper floors, a basement and a sub-basement.
The building was designed with the intention of influencing the design of other structures in the
Parliamentary Triangle. It was designed for and has only ever been used as a Commonwealth
Administration Building.
Physical Characteristics
The building is considered to be an example of the inter-war Stripped Classical style and was
designed to match the aesthetics of existing buildings in the Parliamentary precinct. The exterior has
been left largely untouched since the building’s construction. The interior has been refurbished
several times although original finishes have been retained in all public areas.
John Gorton building comprises a large central rectangular block with eight wings. It consists of a
ground floor, six upper floors, basement, sub-basement and a communications centre (see separate
Heritage Register entry).
Construction of the building is of reinforced concrete beam and slab, with the façade made up of
polished red granite and sandstone blocks. The façade is largely simplistic, though the western
entrance comprises an exterior stone staircase and a colonnaded entrance.
The building takes up the majority of the block of land, and is complemented by the manicured
gardens and water fountains leading up to the eastern entrance.
The Kind Edward Terrace entrance to
the John Gorton Building. Source:
Finance date unknown.
John Gorton Building along with
the Treasury Building balances the
land axis. Source: Finance date
unknown.
John Gorton Building is an example of
the inter-war stripped classical style.
Source: Australian Heritage
Photographic Library Barcode
number: rt60288
History and Summary of Uses of the Place
John Gorton building was the first building to be constructed in the Parliamentary triangle. The
design was to influence other buildings in the area and for this reason was considered a key project
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at the time. In the 1920s many Government Departments moved their operations from Melbourne,
which was at the time the seat of the Commonwealth Government.
In 1924, architect G Jones won a competition to design the building, which was to house eight
Federal departments. Although work begun in 1927, work stopped and was further delayed in 1928
due to the Depression and later World War Two.
Construction recommenced in 1947 although Commonwealth architects redesigned the building to
accommodate a larger design. Since 1956, John Gorton building has housed a number of
Government Departments and is managed by the Commonwealth.
John Gorton Building under
construction, 1953. Source:
John Gorton Building under
Construction, 1953. Source:
John Gorton Building showing the
concrete form, 1953. Source:
ACT Heritage Library Image
Number009510
ACT Heritage Library image
number 001522
ACT Heritage Library Image
Number 009509
Statutory Heritage Values
Commonwealth Heritage List
John Gorton Building formerly known as the
Administrative Building, has continually
provided office accommodation for key
Government departments since completed
in 1955. Source: National Library of
Australia, 1990 nla.pic-vn3749000
Criterion D
Characteristic
John Gorton Building is a Commonwealth Heritage place and
is protected under the Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Statement of significance
Planned in 1924, designed in 1946 and completed in 1956,
the Administrative Building is significant as a good Canberra
example of the inter-war Stripped Classical style. Key
features of this style displayed by the building include: the
symmetrical facades; the division of the elevations into
vertical bays; the occasional use of correct Classical details;
the use of a basic Classical column form; the expressed
portico; the simple surface treatments; and subdued
spandrels between the storeys which emphasise verticality.
Design elements which retain a high level of integrity include
the exterior, foyers, lift lobbies and central corridors. The
Administrative Building is also part of the significant cultural
landscape of the Parliamentary triangle. It occupies a
prominent and strategic location flanking the land axis in
accordance with the 1916 Griffin plan. Together with the
later Treasury Building balancing its mass across the central
lawns of the land axis, the Administrative Building
contributes to the planned aesthetic qualities of the
Parliamentary triangle
Gazetted Commonwealth Heritage values
Planned in 1924, designed in 1946 and completed in 1956,
the Administrative Building is significant as a good Canberra
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Drawing; Perspective view of proposed
Government Printing Office and
Department,( Administrative Building),
Canberra, 1929. Source:
National Archives of Australia 3152411
Criterion E
Aesthetic
example of the inter-war Stripped Classical style. Key
features of this style displayed by the building include: the
symmetrical facades; the division of the elevations into
vertical bays; the occasional use of correct Classical details;
the use of a basic Classical column form; the expressed
portico; the simple surface treatments; and subdued
spandrels between the storeys which emphasise verticality.
Design elements which retain a high level of integrity include
the exterior, foyers, lift lobbies and central corridors.
Gazetted Commonwealth Heritage values
The Administrative Building is also part of the significant
cultural landscape of the Parliamentary triangle. It occupies
a prominent and strategic location flanking the land axis in
accordance with the 1916 Griffin plan. Together with the
later Treasury Building balancing its mass across the central
lawns of the land axis, the Administrative Building
contributes to the planned aesthetic qualities of the
Parliamentary triangle.
Canberra - The central administrative area of
Parkes in Canberra, the National Capital of
Australia - In the background is the
Administrative Block, the largest building in
Canberra housing Government departments,
1961. Source:
National Archives of Australia Barcode:
11250261
Non-Statutory Heritage Listings
National Trust Register of Significant
Places
Register of the National Estate
ACT Register of Significant Twentieth
Century Architecture Register
ACT Heritage Register
John Gorton Building is an Interim Place on the National
Trust Register of Significant Places.
John Gorton Building was included in the Register of the
National Estate in 1987. In February 2012, the RNE became
a non-statutory archive.
John Gorton Building has been identified as an example
significant Twentieth Century architecture in the ACT.
John Gorton Building was nominated for inclusion on the
ACT Heritage Register. However, as the John Gorton Building
is located on Commonwealth and already listed on the CHL,
the ACT Heritage Council decided not to include the John
Gorton Building on the ACT Heritage Register (April 2013) as
it would provide no additional protection to the heritage
values of the place. .
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Property or Information Access
Restrictions or Requirements if any
Conservation Documents or
References
John Gorton Building is a secure government office building.
The building is not open to the public.
Garnett, Rodney and Hyndes, Danielle, The Heritage of the
Australian Capital Territory, National Trust of Australia (et
al), Canberra, 1992.
Philip, Cox, Richardson, Taylor and Partners, Pty Ltd,
Administrative Building, Conservation Plan for Australian
Estate Management, Canberra, 1992.
Record Last Updated
30 October 2013