The flagpole at Regatta Point is no more.
After more than 60 years the Canadian Flagpole came down on Friday morning.
The National Capital Authority had planned to put the flagpole back up but this will not be possible as it has to be cut into segments.
The flagpole was gifted to Australia in 1955 from the Canadian government, it came from a Douglas fir tree.
After standing proud for 63 years the Canadian Flag Pole at Regatta Point has been felled by the NCA. Thanks for the memories. pic.twitter.com/KnLBg6fe3J
— Tim the Yowie Man (@TimYowie) November 12, 2020
High Commissioner of Canada to Australia Mark Glauser said it was the end of an era.
"It's been a landmark for generations and it's a real symbol of the depth of the relationship between Canada and Australia," he said.
"We were hoping it would be able to come down and be repaired and then go back up again but that is just not the reality we were dealing with.
"It was sad to know we would be marking the end of an era but you know it's an era we have taken great pride in."
Mr Glauser was at Regatta Point on Friday when the flagpole came down, along with a group of Canadians and Australians.
National Capital Authority chief executive Sally Barnes said there were tears among those gathered.
"We've got a lot of people here to make sure it happened safely but when it came down and then when we heard the thud I have to say there was some tears among all of us," she said
The flagpole had been damaged and was in need of maintenance. Originally, the plan was to lift the flagpole by crane, wrap it in plastic and float it down Lake Burley Griffin to specially-made compound on the Action peninsula.
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But disaster struck on Thursday after workers started to remove the metal base that held the flagpole and discovered there wasn't enough strength in the pole to lift it up.
Instead, the flagpole had to be felled like a tree. When it fell down it had to be cut into segments.
The segments will be preserved Ms Barnes said and the Canadian High Commission and the Australian government would work to create a new symbol.
"While the flagpole might be down the connection with Canada and the friendship is still as strong as ever," she said.
The path around Regatta Point will remained closed for most of Friday. Ms Barnes said they aimed to clear the area and make it safe.
