Frank McTaggart
Past resident of Acton Workers’ Cottages no. 11
Born: 1929 in Molonglo (Fyshwick)
Interview: With wife Sheila McTaggart, December 2013
“My name is Frank McTaggart - or Francis Edward McTaggart. I was born in July 1929 at Fyshwick, or Molonglo at the time. I’m not quite sure whether I was born at home - that's in Fyshwick - or the first Canberra Hospital - I was too young to remember! I don’t recall how old I was when we left Fyshwick and moved to Acton - I know I was very young. I went to Canberra High, and my brother and sister (Joyce) went to Telopea Park.
My mother at the time was a housewife and a waitress at Hotel Canberra, and my father was a gardener at Beauchamp House. They looked after us well under the conditions as they were. I remained there until I turned 17 and I joined the navy in 1946. When I was discharged from the navy I lived at home for quite some time before I got married (to my first wife) and moved to Ainslie. I met my second wife Sheilah in 1968.”
Video
In this extended compilation, past Acton residents and Canberra locals share their feelings on how the area has changed since the construction of Lake Burley Griffin. There were many varied responses, ranging from opinions on how the lake has directly impacted on Acton, to its influence on Canberra more broadly. Read more