Canberra - Old Parliament House

Old Parliament House looks down from King George Terrace along the spacious gardens of Canberra's main axis towards the Australian War Memorial on the other side of Lake Burley Griffin. Opened by the Duke of York (later KIng George VI) in 1927, it was occupied by the Australian Parliament until 1988. A permanent home for Parliament was to be built only after agreement had been reached on its site and architectural style.

In King's Hall, the entrance lobby, are busts and portraits of Australian prime ministers and an exhibition of important documents such as Queen Victoria's agreement on July 9th 1900 to the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia on January 1st 1901.

The chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate are modeled on the British House of Commons and House of Lords. The paneling and furnishings are of Australian woods and the wall hangings display Australian flora.