Construction commenced on the hostel known to early Canberra as Gorman House in 1924. Originally known as 'Hostel No. 3', or the 'Hotel Ainslie', the hostel was renamed 'Gorman House' in 1927, after Clarence Gorman, an early Federal Capital Commissioner, who had died suddenly earlier that year. Gorman House was designed primarily to accommodate lower paid public servants.
A well-known landmark of inner Canberra, Gorman House operated as a hostel until the 1970s. It has subsequently become a popular centre for theatre and the creative arts.
Records relating to Gorman House
The National Archives office in Canberra holds a considerable range of records including files, photographs, architectural plans and drawings which relate to the design, construction and subsequent maintenance of Gorman House. Samples of these are listed below.
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel for lower paid officials – Gorman House, Ainslie Avenue | 1923–24 | A414, 12 part 3 |
| Gorman House | 1925–29 | CT86/1, 51 |
| Gorman House – tenders for additions to superstructure | 1927 | A6269, E1/27/2508 |
| Proposed tennis courts at Gorman House | 1930–31 | A430, G116 |
| Gorman House – dogs – housing of | 1933 | A1, 1933/5186 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Mildenhall photographs of early Canberra | 1913–45 | A3560 |
| Gorman House – almost complete | 1926 | A3560, 207 |
| Part of Gorman House under construction | 1926 | A3560, 208 |
| Part of Gorman House under construction | 1926 | A3560, 209 |
| Part of Gorman House under construction | 1926 | A3560, 210 |
| Gorman House – front gardens | 1926 | A3560, 211 |
| Gorman House – dining room | 1926 | A3560, 223 |
| Gorman House kitchen | 1926 | A3560, 224 |
| Dining room | 1926 | A3560, 1618 |
| View from City Hill up Ainslie Avenue showing Gorman House and Braddon area | 1926 | A3560, 2108 |
| View from City Hill up Ainslie Avenue showing Gorman House and Braddon area | 1926 | A3560, 2115 |
| Civic Centre and Gorman House from Mt Ainslie | 1926 | A3560, 2634 |
| Reid, Gorman House and Hotel Ainslie from Civic Centre | 1928 | A3560, 3257 |
| Gorman House from the north | 1929 | A3560, 5110 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Aperture cards for ACT architectural plans and drawings | 1921–59 | A9663 |
| Gorman House – ground floor plan | undated | A9663, AF124 |
| Gorman House – Centre Administration block – pavilion for single and married couples | undated | A9663, A608A |
| Gorman House – elevations and sections | undated | A9663, A669 |
| Gorman House – additions to ground floor –west and north elevations | undated | A9663, 9991 |
| Gorman House – plan of alterations and additions to kitchen | undated | A9663, 21904 |
| Gorman House – alterations and renovations to the kitchen | undated | A9663, 22789 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Amended designs for pavilion 4, Hostel No.3 (AC592) | 1925–31 | A2503, folder 3 |
| Amended design for kitchen block, Hostel No. 3 (AC596) | 1925–31 | A2503, folder 3 |
| Gorman House – ground floor plan | 1925–30 | A2505, AF124 |
| 1 ½ inch scale detail of fireplace – sitting room, Pavilion No 1. Hostel No 3 | 1926–30 | A2504, AD34 |