Tim The Yowie Man and the secrets of Surveyors Hut

The Canberra Times

Tim the Yowie Man leads us into the seemingly unassuming yellow-ochre bagged-concrete building nestled between Capital and State Circles in Canberra, revealing its history dating back to its construction around 1910 or 1911.

Transcript

00:00 Plastered in graffiti and perched beside a busy road here in the Parliamentary Triangle,

00:06 many passers-by believe that this building is actually a public toilet or perhaps an electrical

00:12 substation. However, it's neither. It's an historic building that dates back to the planning days for

00:20 the Federal Capital. In fact, it's recognised as the earliest still-standing building constructed

00:27 specifically for the Federal Capital. Between 1910 and 1912, a government surveying camp

00:37 was set up around here and they soon realised they needed somewhere safe to store their plans,

00:43 their equipment from vermin, water and fire. And so, this concrete stronghold was built.

00:51 It survived all the other tents and temporary structures in the camp and is now the most

00:56 tangible reminder of that historic surveyor's camp. So, what's inside now? The National Capital

01:05 Authority, who are current custodians of the building, recently allowed me a peek inside.

01:10 Now, far from holding any precious documents today, it's filled with cobwebs, a broom in one

01:15 corner and a rudimentary bench in the other with a few props that I'm advised aren't original from

01:21 the site. There are also indications there was once a fire inside, possibly the result of vandalism

01:27 several decades ago. So, although there may not be much inside it now, it's fascinating to know

01:34 that this modest structure once held the blueprint for the Canberra we love today.

01:40 Another little-known secret of the Parliamentary Triangle.

01:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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