ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collection

HMSS 0449 Freedom of the City of Canberra Scrolls

Scope and Content Notes

Freedom of the City of Canberra was first presented to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base, Fairbairn. The RAAF had operations in Canberra for some time and the Fairbairn Base was formerly established in 1941. The RAAF Base Fairbairn received the award on the 26 January 1981 as part of the Australia Day celebrations, forty years after the base began.

The Canberra Times reported that during the parade of RAAF Fairbairn, the unit was formerly challenged by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Sir Colin Woods. Acting in the capacity of City Marshall Sir Colin stood before the assembled unit on London Circuit and said, "Halt – who comes here?", to which came the reply from parade commander, Wing Commander N.J. Stroud; “RAAF Fairbairn, exercising its right and privilege to pass through the City of Canberra with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, band playing and colours flying.” Sir Colin then allowed them to pass into the heart of the city.

Several months later, as part of the Canberra Day festivities on 14 March, the 3 Battalion of the Royal New South Wales Regiment was also granted Freedom of the City. The 3 Battalion are a highly regarded unit with a long history of service during many major conflicts. Many members had come from the region, including Canberra, Queanbeyan, Goulbourn, Wagga Wagga, and Griffith. During the parade Sir Colin issued the same formal challenge and received the same response. Both parades were attended by crowds in the tens of thousands.

The collection contains several scrolls (posters) formally bestowing Freedom of the City of Canberra to several military units. They are signed by Michael Hodgman, the Minister of State for the Capital Territory, on behalf of the citizens of the city of Canberra, and bear the coat of arms of the ACT and the official colours of the units.

The granting of Freedom of the City is an ancient ceremonial honour originating in Classical Rome, and which is still enacted in many Commonwealth countries today. In those times, the boundaries of a city were considered sacrosanct and soldiers and their weapons were forbidden from entering. Exceptions were granted by the city for victory celebrations when military personnel were permitted to enter for a single day.

Similar laws were upheld in the Middle Ages to protect the security and rights of a city’s population. Freedom of the City was granted only when a military unit had earned the trust of the local community, and entitles the unit, both then and now, to parade through the city on ceremonial occasions with ‘swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying,’ as the scrolls say. It is an affirmation of the relationship between the military unit and the city, as well as recognition of their long service.

Our research shows that a number of military units associated with Canberra and the region have been awarded Freedom of the City of Canberra. This list is not complete but includes:

RAAF Fairbairn Base, 26 January 1981
3 Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment, 14 March 1981
HMAS Canberra, 10 March 1990
Royal Military College Duntroon, 10 June 2001