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:

   Volunteers (Lead Carillonist
     position vacant from 1 Jan 2024)

   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
   2013-23 Lyn Fuller, Lead Carillonist

*Contact:

   Peter Bray, National Carillon
     Project Officer
   National Capitol Authority
   T: 61 262 712 820
   E: peter.bray@nca.gov.au

*Schedule:

   Sundays 1100-1200

*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 57 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  2 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 2022

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.  (Unfortunately it is behind a paywall.)

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 an event schedule as well as a description of the carillon and its history.  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
Summer Sunday Sessions Series
50th Anniversary
NCA page about the upgrades to the Façade
NCA page about the National Carillon Heritage Management Plan

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.

The Canberra visitor center's Webpage includes a live Webcam that overlooks Lake Burley Griffin.  Its automatic panning sometimes brings the carillon tower into view.

Christmas Carillon at the Canberra Centre

The Wikipedia article on this carillon has several photos.

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  3-Mar-25
   based on textual data last updated on 2025/01/02
   and on technical data last updated on 2025/01/02