Junk for Code : Canberra snaps: city

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August 13, 2007

This is the hazy view of Kingston I have when I'm waking up in Canberra. There is a touch of spring in the air at the moment. I'm sure the fog and the cold will return.

Gary Sauer-Thompson, bedroom view, Canberra, 2007

I'm tired of walking around Kingston and Manuka. There is little there to see. However, I don't have any transport and Canberra is a classic car based city. Public transport is rarely used, and the bus stops are hard to find. Since it is the only transport option I have, I caught the big orange bus bus from Kingston to the city--CBD.

I had decided to do a 'from the bus series' of photos. I'd just buy a days ticket, go where the bus took me and jump off when something caught my eye, walk around taking photos, and then catch the bus again. A nomadic existence.

Gary Sauer-Thompson, Canberra bus, 2007

The bus trip was quite interesting. The bus wandered all over the place on the way to the city. It was so much better than catching a cab and a lovely way to see the city between Kingston and the CBD. The bus stopped outside Harry Seidler's old (1970-74) but elegant Trade Group Office, which is now heritage listed:

Gary Sauer-Thompson, Edmund Barton Building, 2007

The journey indicated how much Canberra is dominated by the commonwealth bureaucracy. What do the bureaucrats do on the weekend I wondered. Dash off to Sydney to shop? Go to Bateman's Bay? Hanging out in the independent galleries? Sitting at home watching the big TV. Chatting with friends in the local cafes?

| Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at 07:29 AM | Permalink

| Comments (4)

Comments

In my imagination Canberra is the perfect bicycle city. No?

Posted by: Francis Xavier Holden | August 13, 2007 02:07 PM

FXH,
yes , I agree especially around the Lake Burley Griffin area. Lots of people bike around this area often at great speeds. However, they do consider those walking on the same pathway, unlike Adelaide.

I am considering buying a bike in Canberra, though not to explore the suburbs. Until I do the bus will suffice.

Posted by: Gary Sauer-Thompson | August 13, 2007 04:19 PM

Canberra is a great place to ride ones bike. The air is clear, the roads are wide, its easy to avoid hills if you like it flat and the views are spectacular if you don't..

I sympathise with Gary.. my partner and I wandered around Civic (canberra's cbd) this weekend, looking for some semblance of subculture, but the occassional hippy student, nice poster or random grafitti just doesn't cut it..

not sure if you'd be looking for company gary, but drop me an email if you're interested in coffee and conversation.. it would be a pleasure to share our interests in philosophy, politics and the sense of lack in canberra..

Posted by: kez | August 13, 2007 06:06 PM

Kez,
yes I wandered around Civic on the Sunday.The mall was pretty empty apart from Christian rock band playing to punks and the odd couple walking around.

I found all the crowds were shopping at the Canberra Centre. Shopping appears to be a number one leisure activity.

As for the subculture I suspected that it exists---the student art scene-- but people I meet sharing a taxi from the airport tell me that there is no subculture in Canberra.

Posted by: Gary Sauer-Thompson | August 13, 2007 06:59 PM