The Canadian Flag Pole

As Tara mentioned in an earlier post we stumbled upon Floriade last weekend. We were really in search of the Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet and the Canadian Flag Pole. We have been able to see the water jet from all of the tourist places we have visited around the city. We thought it would be cool to see it up close. On the map I was looking at there was a spot marked as the Canadian Flag Pole near the water jet, so I wanted to investigate.

We have only been able to see the top of the jet on our other sight seeing adventures. I must admit I was expecting something a little more impressive than the square black block the water was shooting out of.

After seeing the water jet I was looking around for a Canadian Flag but there was none to be found. When they say Canadian Flag Pole that is what they really mean, only the pole is Canadian. I just assumed there would be a Canadian Flag on it, but I was wrong it was the Australian Flag at the top.

The pole was presented by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Timber Industry to Australia as a constant reminder of the ties which unite Australia and Canada. The pole, a single spar of Douglas Fir logged from a forest in British Columbia, is 128 feet in height although the first 10 feet are under ground. (I got that info from the plaque at the bottom.)

The flag pole is the third present we have found here in Canberra that Canada has given Australia. Does anybody know if they have given us any presents back?