Australia's Parliament House: A History

Australia's Parliament House: A History

Exploring the story of our nation's democratic heart From Old Parliament House to the new building on Capital Hill

What is Parliament House?

The home of Australia's federal government Where our elected representatives meet to make laws Houses both the House of Representatives and the Senate A symbol of Australian democracy

Before Parliament House: The Early Days

Australia became a nation in 1901 through Federation The first Parliament met in Melbourne Melbourne was the temporary capital city Politicians needed a permanent home for government

Choosing Canberra as the Capital

Sydney and Melbourne both wanted to be the capital A compromise was reached to create a new city Canberra was chosen as a location between the two cities The Australian Capital Territory was established in 1911

Old Parliament House: 1927-1988

Life in Old Parliament House

Opened in 1927 as a 'temporary' building Much smaller than today's Parliament House Politicians and staff worked in cramped conditions Important decisions were made here for over 60 years

Design Challenge: Planning a New Parliament

Imagine you're an architect in the 1970s Australia needs a bigger Parliament House What features would you include? Think about: size, location, special rooms, and symbols

Building the New Parliament House

Construction began in 1981 Took 7 years to build Cost $1.1 billion Designed by American architects Mitchell, Giurgola and Thorp

Special Features of New Parliament House

Built into Capital Hill - you can walk on the roof! The flagpole is 81 metres tall Contains over 4,500 rooms Features Australian art, timber, and stone throughout

Parliament House Today

"This building belongs to the people of Australia. It is a place where democracy lives and breathes, and where the future of our nation is shaped."