SELECTING A CAPITAL THE DALGETY STORY

Building a nation, the Dalgety story, an account of a capital city that could have been
By Chris Barry

Image 1: The Snowy River and bridge at Buckleys Crossing

Dalgety, situated in the Monaro region of New South Wales, was a proposed site for the federal capital
of Australia in the period of 1903 to 1908 and was a popular candidate to be the site chosen.
Formerly known as Buckleys Crossing, the site is quietly nestled on the water metropolis of the
Snowy river and was the front-runner to be Australias bush capital.i At the time, there was a political
battle raging between the Victorian and New South Wales parliaments as to the whereabouts and
location of the future capital city.
Ultimately Canberra was selected and became Australias largest planned city. Dalgety on the other
hand, as a small rural hamlet with a population of less than 100, has wandered like similar
communities into rural obscurity. Today Dalgety, has one operating pub; one primary school with
roughly 13 students and has been predominantly lost in history. Eventually, Canberra got the nod as
the capital city, and like many country towns, Dalgety has faded off the historical record but how
easily the roles could have been reversed with this town on the Snowy being our federal unifier.
VIC

NSW

Federation
As historic a moment as Federation was, the problem turned to where the governance of a federal
country would be situated, under a capital city. This was a significant issue particularly given the fact
that the two biggest colonies, Victoria and New South Wales were engaged in a rivalry over
governance. Given the political angst between parliaments, both states were appeased by the
enactment of section 125 of the Commonwealth Constitution which stipulated that a new capital
should be in NSW, no less than 100 miles from Sydney, but in the meantime parliament shall sit at
Melbourne until it meet at the seat of Government.ii Therefore it was decided that a political planned

capital should be erected in Australia by following a similar method as planned cities such as
Washington and Ontario.iii
Buckleys Crossing Progress Committee
With the advent of looking for a capital, sites were nominated to Federal parliament. In Dalgetys case,
members of the Buckleys Crossing Progression Committee put forward their community to become
the site chosen. iv In considering sites, at the request of the Minister for state and home affairs, Sir John
Forrest, the site was enquired into its suitability as a site for a Federal Capital. Dalgety also had
prominent support from Minister for Federal Parliament Austin Chapman, who pushed the site to be
listed as the site was the best in his electorate.v As a result, Dalgety was put onto the possible sites list,
which included other sites such as Bombala, Lake George and Armidale, which were all reported upon
by the
Royal

Commission. Chapman, who successfully

contested the Eden-Monaro seat was determined
that the site should be in his electorate and his
choice was Dalgety as he proudly stated, the
capital is fixed at Dalgety and nothing but an earthquake will shift it.vi

Image 4: Letter written by Buckleys

Crossing Progress Committee

Image 5: Royal Commissions 1st page on Dalgety report

Geography and Federal Capitol Report

Charles Scrivenor was contracted as the chief surveyor of the Dalgety region, conducted his survey
during the winter months of 1904; which upon later consideration appeared to be a significant factor.
During his surveying, Scrivenor was immediately drawn to its geographical beauty. The views from
the site to the north east, and south east are extensive and picturesque, and from the hill on the
western boundary the view of up the valley of
the Snowy river, with Kosciusko and other
summits of the Australian Alps in the
background, is very grand.vii Scrivener spoke
extensively of the attraction of the site,
describing the view it possessed a
commanding position for a capital and had a
contour, which is favourable to a symmetrical
design of a modern city.viii Another major draw
point of the Dalgety site was the abundance of
water and the metropolis that the Snowy River
could support. This was the significant
advantage in which Dalgety had over the other
locations suggested, as the Snowy River could
provide enough water for a city with a
plentiful population.ix Water tended to be the
trend for Dalgety with Scrivener even
suggesting that the site could depend upon the waters of the Snowy River for the generation of power
for lighting and traction. He also reported that the site, could have a reservoir with a capacity of 5
billion cubic feet, from the Snowy River alone.x Scrivener also reported that the Crown lands in the
Territory is approximated to be 128 000 acres with a value of 96 000 pounds for distribution to the
Commonwealth, which was much cheaper than other possible sites such as Lyndhurst and Tumut. The
State of Victoria was also pleased with this site as it was significantly closer than other presented sites
and was made trade and transport through the Gippsland region of Victoria a highly viable option.

How close Dalgety came to being selected

put it into context of how close Dalgety came to being
preferred site chosen, it was written into the

To
the
Image 6: Dalgety written into Federal Law

Image 7: Charles Scrivener, one of the key

surveyors of Dalgety is seated far right

Commonwealth legislation by the Seat of Government

Act, as
the site that would be the Federal capital.xi This was
due to
the fact that the site received an overwhelming
majority of the votes of the representatives of the
States
with the exception of New South Wales.xii Prominent
Federal Ministers were also very happy with Dalgety as the site chosen as proved by strong support
indicated by Sir John Forrest who was the Federal Minister for Home Affairs at the time. In his eyes it
fulfilled all his requirements and surpassed the others as regards water supply, water frontages and
surrounding scenery. It was by far the most picturesque and would attract visitors and tourists the
summer by reason of its climate and the attractions of the snowy mountains.xiii However New South
Wales wouldnt relinquish that territory and cede Dalgety to be the Federal capital. As it played out,
Charles Wade was appointed as premier in 1907 and wanted the matter over the site selection settled
quickly in the hope of improving relations between the Commonwealth and the State, by this stage
Yass-Canberra was gaining supporters and impressed both Federal and State politicians who visited
the area.xiv

Image 8: Dalgetys Position comparative today

Why Dalgety isnt

our Federal
Capital
Dalgety ultimately
wasnt picked for a variety of reasons but the major reason being that the decision to legislate for it as
the Federal capital never had the backing of the New South Wales Parliament. The NSW government,
which alone had the constitutional authority to surrender land for the capital, was not consulted and
accordingly did not accept the Federal Parliaments choice.xv As the New South Wales Government
failed to adequately back in Dalgety, they wouldnt relinquish the area required for a Commonwealth
territory and consequently the sites legitimacy came to a standstill. The longer the standstill, the
stronger the argument came from Yass-Canberra as a contender to challenge Dalgety. This push for
the current Canberra site, was supported strongly on the back of the delay and was put into writing by
journalist John Gale. In his very argumentative piece of journalism entitled, The Federal Capital,
Dalgety or Canberra which? Gale outlined the concerns over Dalgety and presented Canberra as the
practical solution. In this paper, which was mass distributed to all members of parliament, Gale
heavily criticized Chapman and Forrest by outlining what they are asking the public for is illogical
absurdity.xvi
Gale issued advantageous factors, which he believed the Canberra site had superior over Dalgety and

had them lettered. The major factors, which drew particular attention to the federal public, were
Factor C the climate of Dalgety; and Factor D, Rail accessibility.xvii The climate of Dalgety was
excessively harsher than the Canberra site due significantly to its comparative altitude above sea
level, with Dalgety commanding a position of 2650 feet above sea level to Canberras lesser 1890
feet.xviii Likewise Scrivener who surveyed Dalgety in the winter was concerned with the climate of the
site, with frosts and snow being not an uncommon occurrence. Gales other strong counter argument
to Dalgety was the awkwardness involved around its location relative to Melbourne and Sydney.
According to the opinions of the Railway Commissioners, both of New South Wales and Victoria, the
line by Gippsland could not compete as a through route between Sydney and Melbourne, with the
existing one via Albury.xix Geographically, Canberra being positioned 118 miles closer to Melbourne
and 74 miles to Sydney proved a decisive factor in the decision. Ultimately a ballot was cast in 1908
and Canberra was voted in with 39 votes to 33.xx This was the final straw and Dalgety as a capital died
officially with the repeal of the 1904 Seat of Government Acts replacement to the 1908 version.

Image 9: Dalgety Distances to Cities via Rail

Image 10: The Age 10th October 1908 page 13

A city that could have been

Major planners for the Federal capital had ambitious plans of Australias planned city, similar to the
vein in which Washington DC has become the hub for the United States. Its hard not to think of what
could have been a sprawling metropolis with plentiful water supply by being positioned next to the
idyllic Snowy River. So much so that even depictions of what this planned city would have looked like
are preserved through artists interpretations, specifically Lionel Lindsays interpretation of the
Federal Capital Dalgety.xxi Location being the epicenter of what the Federal Government requested as
a site, the Snowy River could have been as synonymous to the Commonwealth as the Yarra and
Parramatta rivers are for Melbourne and Sydney.

Image 11: Lionel Lindsays Dalgety

Image 12: Buckleys Crossing Hotel today

Relevance to today
As is the case with much of history, the winners are remembered and those who were runners up
often fall into obscurity and are lost by history. The Dalgety tale reaches out to much of the make up of
rural towns particularly those that were primarily used as stop offs on stock routes and trade. Today
as transport and industry allows greater distances to be travelled and has removed key businesses,
this has negative effects over population in similar towns. The rise of industrial capitalism, with
manufacturing replacing agriculture as the main generator of wealth has seen an increase of
population living in towns and cities, this is a term known as urbanization.xxii Increased farm sizes and
agricultural improvements have resulted in smaller populations living in farming areas and
consequently affected the size of towns in which it services. This is clearly identifiable in Dalgetys
situation as the town formerly had two pubs, with the Horse and Jockey Inn site being still preserved
of a by gone colonial era.xxiii
Even with this possibility of what could have been, Dalgety still has a prominent makeup of how
Federalism occurred and how the States managed to finally come to a resolution over the important
decision of their national capital. It is undeniable that country towns such as Dalgety have a presence
on our makeup as a country by showing the decisions parliaments and individuals make and their
implications over wider population. Likewise the process of creating a planned city reflects how
modern cities are now thought of in terms of planning and development globally, with Canberra being
a resonation of global influences and ideas.xxiv
Although Dalgety isnt our national capital, Dalgetys dismissal gives us an insight into the colonial
rivalry during the early 20th century and how far we have come as a nation to collaborate on matters
Federally.

Secondary Sources:
Crowley, Frank Sir John Forrest, A founding father of the Commonwealth of Australia University of
Western Australia Press 2000
Pegrum, Roger The Bush Capital, How Australia chose Canberra as the Capital City 1983 SLV
Gale, John The Federal Capital, Dalgety or Canberra : Which? Hackett Publishers 1907 SLV
Gillespie, Lyall Canberra 1820 1913 AGPS Press publication
Gordon, David Planning Twentieth Century Capital Cities London Routledge 2006
Fitzgerald, Alan Canberra in two centuries, a pictorial history Clareville Press 1987
Foster, Clive Australian Cities Oxford University Press 1995
Rawson, D Politics in the Eden-Monaro Donald William 1958
Taylor, Griffith The Evolution of a capital, a physiographic study of the foundation of Canberra,
Australia The Geographic Journal Vol 43 No 4 1914 page 386
Primary Sources
Commonwealth Constitution 1901 Section 125
The Age Newspaper per Trove; 10th October 1908 page 12; The Federal Capital Question 13th July
1904 page 6; 15th October 1904 Why Dalgety is preferable
The Argus 7th July 1904
The Bulletin 6th February 1908
Legislative Assembly New South Wales Ordered Report on Proposed Federal Capital Site at Dalgety
15th November 1904
Lionel Lindsay painting on Dalgety 1st April 1908 courtesy of the National Library of Australia
National Advocate Bathurst Newspaper, Canberra the Conqueror, the downfall of Dalgety Friday 9th
October
Report on a proposed Site for the federal capital at Dalgety; 27th October 1904 NRS 333 5/7744.2
Seat of Government Act 1904 Commonwealth ;Courtesy of Federal Register of Legislation
Queanbeyan observer, 26th August 1906

Images:
1) Buckleys Crossing Bridge built in 1888, was the original way over the Snowy River. Image per
http://www.snowyriverholidaypark.com.au
2) Victorian State Coat of Arms
3) New South Wales State Coat of Arms
4) Letter Written by Buckleys Crossing Progress Committee 1899, offering their community as a site
to be listed NRS 1460 2/833.2
5) Royal Commission Report on a proposed site for the Federal Capital at Dalgety page 2
6) Seat of Government Act 1904, which was later repealed by the 1908 amendment; Courtesy of
Federal Register of Legislation
7) Charles Scrivener; National Library of Australia
8) Google Maps, view of where Dalgety is relative to Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and the proposed
trade route through Gippsland.
9) Page 2 of Royal Commission Report on a proposed site for the Federal Capital NRS 333 5/7744.2
10) The Age 10th October 1908 page 13 per Trove
11) Lindsay, Lionel drawing on Federal Capital Dalgety, 1st April 1908 National Library of Australia,
12) Buckleys Crossing Hotel; photo courtesy of Suzanne Upton, State Records Authority of New South
Wales

ENDNOTES
Pegrum, Roger The Bush Capital, How Australia chose Canberra as the Capital City 1983
Commonwealth Constitution 1901 Section 125
iii Gordon, David Planning Twentieth Century Capital Cities London Routledge 2006 Chapter 1
iv Letter to Land Appraisal Court Sydney, 28 December 1899; NRS 1460 2/833.2
v Fitzgerald, Alan Canberra in two centuries, a pictorial history Clareville Press 1987 page 21 Federation
vi Queanbeyan observer, 26th August 1906
vii Royal Commission Report on a Proposed site for a Federal Capital at Dalgety page 1 NRS 333 5/7744.2
viii The Argus 7th July 1904
ix The Bulletin 6th February 1908 this trickle of water;
x The Age Scrivener 15th October 1904 Why Dalgety is preferable page 12
xi Seat of Government Act (Cth) 1904
xii Pegrum, Roger The Bush Capital, How Australia chose Canberra as the Capital City Hale and Irenmoger 1983 The New
capital of Australia, Description of Dalgety
xiii Crowley, F K Sir John Forrest Francis Keble 1924 Page 344
xiv Pegrum, Roger The Bush Capital Hale and Irenmoger, Sydney 1983 page 132
xv Fitzgerald Allen, Canberra and the new parliament house Lansdown Press 1983 page 21
xvi Gale, John The Federal Capital, Dalgety or Canberra: which? 24th July 1907 SLV 994.71 page 6
xvii Ibid page
xviii Royal Commission Report on a proposed site for the Federal Capital page 2 NRS 333 5/7744.2
xix Ibid page 7
xx National Advocate Bathurst Newspaper, Canberra the Conqueror, the downfall of Dalgety Friday 9th October page 2
xxi Lionel Lindsay painting on Dalgety 1st April 1908 courtesy of the National Library of Australia
xxii Foster, Clive Australian Cities Oxford University Press 1995 page 6
xxiii Horse and Jockey : Dalgety Conservation Area
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2410222
xxiv Gordon, David Planning Twentieth Century Capital Cities London Routledge 2006 Chapter 11
i

ii