full report - Australian Academy of Science

The Shine Dome and Ian Potter House
The year 2008 marked the 50th anniversary
since construction of the Academy’s domeshaped
building commenced in March 1958.
The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister
Robert Menzies on 2 May 1958, coinciding with
the Academy’s Annual General Meeting and
symposium. The dome, previously called Becker
House but now known as the Shine Dome, has
been a Canberra landmark since then.
A variety of functions and events were held at the Shine
Dome throughout the year. The Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry held divisional briefing sessions,
the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
held a four day workshop on investigation skills and
the Embassy of France held a conference on affordable
Photo: Stephanie Kafkaris
low-emission energy and water. We welcomed back
the Catholic Education Office who held their in-service
days through the year. The Royal Australian Institute of
Architects held the launch of their Bienniale Travelling
Student Exhibition. Events were held by Australian and
New Zealand Systems of Government (ANZSOG) with their
regular public lectures, and the Academy of the Social
Sciences in Australia held their Annual General Meeting,
Cunningham Lecture and symposium at the dome. Many
THE SHINE DOME AND IAN POTTER HOUSE
one-day events were held, by the Australian Corporate
Lawyers Association, the Australian Phenomics Facility,
Australian Associated Press and the Conservation Council
among others.
The Academy’s public lecture series Australia’s renewable
energy future has been one of the major attractions at the
Shine Dome this year attracting near capacity audiences.
The Open Day held on 2 October also proved popular with
a number of local and interstate visitors. The Open Day
gave people a chance to explore the architecture of the
building, with the help of local architects Pip Giovanelli
and Eric Martin, and to learn more about the Academy.
The Australian Government Department of the Environment,
Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) placed a plaque on the
exterior of the Shine Dome, citing the values for which the
dome was included in the National Heritage List. DEWHA also
provided brochures that explain the heritage values of the
Shine Dome for distribution to the public.
Tour groups gather to discover architectural merits of the
dome
Plaque citing values for which the dome was placed on the
National Heritage List
Photo: Richard Bray
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THE AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE