The early history of the Griffin drawings subsequent to the
competition has been pieced together from files kept by the
Department of Home Affairs. In late 1912 they were moved to the
site of Canberra for use by the Federal Capital Commission. They
were returned to Melbourne in early 1913 where they were stored
in the basement of Government House. At around this time the
Griffin drawings were removed from their original stretchers,
rolled up and placed in galvanised cylinders for storage. In
late 1913 Mr George Taylor, Honorary Secretary of the Town
Planning Association, borrowed the drawings for an exhibition on
town planning to be held in Sydney. Approval for the loan was
given by the Prime Minister Joseph Cook himself and the
following memorandum was sent by the Land and Property Office to
The Director of Commonwealth Lands and Surveys: I am forwarding
herewith for your information copy of a letter…received from the
Honorary Secretary, Town Planning Association of Australia,
together with copy of the Minis