The National Carillon

*Location:

   Queen Elizabeth II Island
   (was Aspen Island)
   Lake Burley Griffin
   near Kings Avenue bridge
   Canberra,
     Australian Capitol Territory, Australia
   LL: S 35.29848, E 149.14172

Site locator map
City locator maps and gazetteer page

*Carillonist:

   Lyn Fuller, Lead Carillonist
   54 Tempe Crescent
   Googong  NSW 2620
   C: 4044 600 23
   E: fulfam@aapt.net.au

   1970-88 John Douglas Gordon,
     Canberra Carillonist   (d.1991)
   1974-83 John Barrett,
     Deputy Canberra Carillonist
   1983-91 George Howe,
     Deputy Canberra Carillonist
   1991-94 Joan Chia,
     Canberra School of Music
   1995-97 Suzanne Magassy, Carillon
     Concert Presentations / ArtSound
   1997-2000 ArtSound (a tender from NCA)
   2001-12 Timothy Hurd,
     National Carillon Director

*Contact:

   Ros Hull, National Capital Authority
   E: roslyn.hull@nca.gov.au

*Schedule:

   (Played informally during remediation
   work)

*Remarks:

   Original bells cast in 1969; pedalboard
   had dummy bass G# footrest.
   Was the largest carillon in southern
   hemisphere until Wellington expansion.
   Totally rebuilt in 1986 by Olympic;
   additional work in 1992 and 1998
   before 2003 enlargement; original
   practice clavier retained.
   Most of the old trebles are now in
   PERTH - SC/3.
   Major rebuilding in 2019-20 included
   new radial top frame, new playing and
   practice keyboards (with space for up
   to 6 additional trebles), & G# bass
   semitone.
   Jan.2022: Aspen Island to be renamed
   in June 2022 to celebrate the 70th
   anniversary of Her Majesty's reign.

*Technical data:

   Traditional carillon of 56 bells
   Pitch of heaviest bell is F# in the bass octave
   Keyboard range:     F#D   /    F#C 31
   Transposition is nil (concert pitch)
   There are no missing bass semitones
   There is an identical practice console
   The instrument was enlarged in 2020
     with  1 bells made by Taylor       
   Prior history:
     In 2003, the instrument was enlarged to 55 bells
       by Taylor      
       (30 bells were added in and/or remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     G C   /    G A#27
       Transposition was down 1 semitone(s), i.e., from C to B 
       There was one missing bass semitone
     In 1970, the instrument was begun with 53 bells
       by Taylor      
       (25 bells remain from that work.)
       Keyboard range was:     G C   /    G --  
   Auxiliary mechanisms: EIQ   
   Tower details not available
   Year of latest technical information source is 2020

An undated article from Taylor, seen Feb'20 but probably originally from early 2019, is about the casting of a new bass semitone bell for Canberra; after tuning to weigh more than 5 tons.  Updates to the article include a photo of the finished bell, dated 2020 and described as the heaviest bell cast in Britain in 25 years.  There is a very long gallery of photos.
A parallel article describes the whole project.
With an extensive photo gallery including not only some of the current work but also historic photos of the original bells at the foundry; the chap with the pipe is the late Paul Taylor.
Photo of the outer bell case
Photo of the outer bell case at an early stage of preparation
Photo of the new bell in the foundry, before shipment.
Photo of the new bell at Canberra, on the ground before being hoisted into the tower

Photo of a new clavier in the shop; it's not clear whether this is the playing keyboard or the practice keyboard.

News article (Aug'19) on forthcoming closure of Canberra carillon for 7 months, to add "a G bell weighing more than 5 tonne and an almost miniature D bell, in time for the carillon's 50th anniversary in April."  With photos of the tower and playing room.

The Website of the National Capital Authority of the Australian Government opens with two dramatic large photos in which the carillon tower is clearly visible.
There is a page about the carillon, which has a detailed description of the tower.  The tallest of the three angular columns of the structure contains a passenger elevator, while the next contains a steel stairway.
Another interesting photo is here.
NCA page about the project to upgrade the carillon

The Canberra government has a page about the carillon as a tourist attraction (with recital schedules and photos).  Another page tells what the carillon is.

The former playing keyboard is on display in the Canberra Centre, with added sensors and sound generator to mimic the carillon; with photo of keys.

Historic photos related to the carillon:

• within the belfry
• Tuning of the largest of bell at the John Taylor & Co. foundry (1969)
• Some of the 53 bells as they arrived prior to installation (1970)
• John Barrett, then Deputy Carillonist, being visited by Lyall Gillespie, City Manager (1980)
• John Gordon, carillonist, feels the vibrations from the largest bell as it strikes the hour (1983)
• Sue Magassy beneath the bass bell (1987)
• Gordon Slater beneath a bass bell
• demonstration of the mechanics of the National Carillon (#1 of 2)
• demonstration of the mechanics of the National Carillon (#2 of 2)

The Wikipedia article on this carillon has several photos.

A White Hat photo of the tower

A Google Earth streetview allows viewing the tower from many points along Wendouree Drive.

Where the initial phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Taylor bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the second phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Taylor bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.
Where the final phase of this work lies in the sequence of output of the Taylor bellfoundry, in this region and in the world.

Ranking among all Asian & Pacific Rim traditional carillons by pitch (weight).
Ranking among all Asian & Pacific Rim traditional carillons by size (number of bells).
Ranking among all Asian & Pacific Rim traditional carillons by year of completion.

Where the bass bell of this carillon ranks among all great bells in the Pacific Rim region.
Where the second bell of this carillon ranks among all great bells in the Pacific Rim region.

Index to all traditional carillons in Australia.

Index to all tower bell instruments in Australia.

   This page was built from the database on 14-Oct-24
   based on textual data last updated on 2022/10/25
   and on technical data last updated on 2020/02/29