PM Transcripts

\ 9 ER'Sr
FOR PRESS " 1 PM. No. 18/ 1968
COMPETITION TO WSELECT NATIONAL GALLERY DESIGNER
Statement by the Prime Minister, Mr John Gorton
A competition will be held to select an architect to design
Australia's National Gallery in Canberra.
It is intended that the competition will be among architects
practising In Australia including some of the younger men In the profession.
The entries will be assessed by:
1. Eminent architect and specialist in creative arts, Mr Robin Boyd
2. Chairman of the National Capital Planning Committee, Sir John
Overall.
3. Vice President of the R. A. 1. Mr J. H. McCon nell.
The aim of the Government and the Assessors is to obtain a
vigorous and Imaginative architect with a touch of adventure. It is very
Important that the design of the Gallery should reflect the most modern thinking
of the present day, that it should be particular to Australia and be an
expression of the national character.
The limited competition Is for a design approach. The winqer
will be commissioned to submit the actual design of the Gallery.
A site has been nominated for the purposes of the competition,
but the final site for the building is still to be determined by the Government.
The services of a Gallery Director of world standing will be
sought to assist in the preparation of the final brief for the appointed architect.
The competition should enable the designer of the National
Gallery to be chosen by June this year.
By that time, the governing body of the Gallery should have been
appointed and be available for the necessary consultations to enable the
detailed design work to proceed.
Planning for the project is directed towards having the building
completed early In the 19701s.
CANBERRA, 6 February, 1968