The Old Parliament House at Canberra

The Old Parliament House at Canberra

The Old Parliament House (OPH) at Canberra, was the centre of the

nation’s political life from 1927 to 1988 when it was functioning. It

is where the elected politicians pass laws, or legislation, where

members discuss urgent motions or matters of public importance.

Members can move motions of censure against the government or against

individual ministers. During Question Time Members and Senators

address questions to ministers and they can also present petitions

from their constituents.

The World War I postponed the move of Australia’s parliament from

Melbourne. After the war, the Government decided that it would erect a

provisional Parliament building. The OPH (then Parliament House) was

opened by the Duke of York. He unveiled a statue of his father, King

George V in the King’s Hall. The Duke then opened the first federal

parliamentary session in Canberra. Britain was then very much the

mother country of Australia. History records that only two indigenous

Australians were present.

The OPH was replaced by a new Parliament House in 1988 as the old one

could not accommodate the politicians, press etc comfortably. When

built it was meant to serve Australian politics up to 1977. The OPH

is now conserved. It tells the story of Australian nationhood,

democracy and achievement. It symbolises Australia’s constitutional,

political and cultural heritage. It bears witness to Australia’s

growth from an Imperial Dominion to a nation in its own right. In

1992 the building was re-opened. Various spaces in the building are

currently used for exhibitions. There are daily tours of the ‘living

museum of...

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...ion prevented the Senate from functioning. The

Governor-General (until then, a largely decorative representative of

the Crown overseeing Australian affairs) dismissed the government – a

move that shocked many into questioning the validity of Britain’s

ultimate hold on Australia.

Needless to say, the Old Parliament House and its exhibits bear

witness to the development of Australia’s political history.

Bibliography

http://www.oph.gov.au/exhibitions.asp

http://www.act.nationaltrust.org.au/places/oph.html

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Parliament_of_Australia

National Archives of Australia: Guide number 6 in the series of

Research Guides published by the National Archives, “Parliament House

1927 – Records relating to the design, construction and opening of the

Provisional Parliament House.”