Walter Burley Griffin 1876 - 1937
Marion Mahoney Griffin 1871 - 1961
Architects
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Australia has a long history of petty-minded (and often embittered) bureaucrats blocking and interfering with the plans of creative architects. Juan Utzon was to experience this with the Sydney Opera House. Recently in a smaller way, the Victorian Government has denatured the design of Federation Square. But Walter Burley Griffin spent a significant part of his life attempting to have his prize-winning plans for Canberra carried out. In the end, the bureaucrats won and they have the city they deserve rather than the one they could have had.
Some of the best examples of the Griffins' work to be found in Melbourne are the Capitol Theatre and Newman College at the University of Melbourne.
