Marion Mahony Griffin was the unsung hero of the 1912 winning entry in the Federal Capital Design Competition. While the plans were submitted by her business partner and husband, Walter Burley Griffin, many critics believe it was the beauty of Marion’s designs that won over the judges.

Unlike most of the other entrants, the Griffins generated their designs to complement and work with the natural landforms of the area, instead of viewing the area as a blank canvas.

Marion’s drawings used colours natural to the Australian landscape: browns, reds and yellows, as well as sepia tones.

To this day, Marion Mahony Griffin’s drawings are admired by architects and others around the world.