ANU

Australian National University (ANU)

by Murray Dow

Time: 1-2 hours Distance: 4km

Maps: Available outside University Public relations in Balmain Crescent. Street directories also have a small map of the area.

Take with you: Bread to feed the ducks. Stout shoes may be needed for the sometimes muddy and slippery paths.

Access: The walk starts at Acton Jetty opposite the visitor parking at the old Royal Canberra Hospital. There are parking restrictions in the ANU during the week.

You can also get here by ACTION bus 434.

The Australian National University dates from 1946. Before that it was Canberra University College. The campus is noted for its many fine old trees, and buildings dating from 1914. Start along the bike path heading north west around the lake. From here you can see the jetty on Springbank island, and in the distance Mt Tidbinbilla. On your right are apple box, blue gum and yellow box.

On the lakeshores we saw black duck, coot and purple swamphen. After 500m ignore a track coming in on your right.

Continue to the Parkes way bridge over Sullivans creek. Go under this bridge and head NE along the creek on a gravel track past blue gums and a cyclone wire fence. Here we saw white plumed honey- eater, a willie wagtail and magpies. Cross Ward road and the bridge then immediately head north along the gravel track through casuarinas and Nicholi gums.

Follow Daley road then right up Linnaeus Way. Of interest here are the old timber jinkers in the courtyard by the Forestry building, the acacia iteaphylla which has sweetly scented flowers, and an angophora outside the Botany building (it looks like a gum tree but the leaves have no eucalypt smell).

Continue to the end of the Way past the Faculties Teaching centre then turn right down University Avenue, lined by poplars and old Blakely's red gums. Do not cross the bridge but go up North road, past the sports centre and the false-acacias, then turn right around the south end of Willows oval past the hakea and grevillea hedge.

Provided that Sullivan's creek is not in flood, cross it on the large stepping stones, and follow the red gravel track upstream. When it ends just before Barry Drive turn right around Toad hall (named because of the Willows along the creek). From here you can see the large green sign across Kingsley street, advertising the Environment Centre and Bogong book/gift shop, open weekdays and Saturday morning 10-1pm.

Continue right (south) through the car park parallel with Kingsley street. The University Drill Hall gallery is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday noon to 5pm. Go up the stairs through the archway of the economics and commerce building, across the courtyard and under the next arch.

Turn right at the red brick paving. This is University avenue again, lined with white poplars. Go down the steps outside the union and turn left into the large courtyard. At weekends this is a quiet place with only the co-op bookshop and perhaps Acton Supermarket open, but during the week you can sit in a coffee shop and student-watch.

Pass below the satellite dishes onto a gravel path that crosses to the creek.

Head south along the left bank of the creek, past poplars and the Fellows oval on your left. Cross Fellows road, and continue till you reach the barbecues. Leave the track here and go past tennis courts and South oval.

Cross Garran road past a huge old red gum and walk up the broad grassy gully on the left of Eggleston road. Cross Balmain cr. and turn right past the creche.

From here down Mills Road you can see what was the Canberra Hospital, 1914-1943. There is a plaque on the rocks outside to this effect, and many fine trees down the hill here.

Go back to Balmain crescent and continue downhill past the archives of business and labour sign. Where the road curves into Acton Underhill go up the foot path on the right over Parkes way.

Cross the bike path at the 'Body curl' exercise and follow the wheel tracks through the grass and trees. On your left is Old Canberra House built in 1914 for the administrator of the Federal Capital Territory. Continue south and east across this rather neglected area until you reach your starting point. If you have another fifteen minutes, you can continue round the lake shore and do a loop around the old hospital. Look for the Canary Island pines on Hospital point.