Where the birds don't fly, back in the day

I was told that the soil on which the embassy is built was imported from the States.

johnboy said :

US diplomatic facilities are often referred to as “where the birds do not fly” due to their security.

Unless of course the prez is in town!

Pork Hunt said :

I don’t get the headline. Is there an emu in the photo somewhere?

No but thunderbirds are go!

I don’t get the headline. Is there an emu in the photo somewhere?

Obviously weren’t as anal about security theatre back then. In the middle of the worst war the planet has ever seen.

I agree looks like the US embassy to me to. No idea of time.

johnboy said :

When has me intrigued though.

The Google says construction started on the US Embassy on July 4, 1942. The US Embassy website says construction was completed in ’43, and that it was the first embassy in Canberra.

If it is the US Embassy, you’d have to think the photo was from the mid-late 40s, early 50s at a stretch.

My guess is ’50s to early ’60s taken from Adelaide Ave directly across from the PM’s residence.

Mid 1940s maybe?

Apparently the building was completed in late 1943.

Actually, more like the Embassy of the Philippines site, perhaps?

http://goo.gl/maps/1WbjO