Duke and Duchess of York
opened Parliament House May 1927.
Parliament House was designed by Scottish John Smith Murdoch (1862–1945), the first Commonwealth Government architect in Australia, and a team of assistants from the Dept of Works & Railways. The building wasn't intended to be permanent or elaborate; rather a provisional building to serve Parliament for 50 years max. It would be a classical building like the Parthenon, but without all the ornate details. And it was to look out over Lake Burley Griffin.
Murdoch’s provisional parliament building was to be modest & functional. It was designed on a basic square, which provided the building with regular proportions. It was a 3 storey brick building with the principal floor on the middle level. The functional aspect was reflected in all the design, extending to the interior fittings & furnishings. The façade originally included a grid of recessed openings and balconies, with four bays having arched bronze windows and stepped parapets. The building’s front façade had strong horizontal lines, displaying only 2 storeys, with higher massed elements behind the façade, indicating the location of the debating chambers. The lower mass in the centre was where King’s Hall was. As a result, with its now enclosed verandas and colonnades, and strong horizontal lines, the building was not as some people expected a proper Parliament House to be.
Murdoch’s provisional parliament building was to be modest & functional. It was designed on a basic square, which provided the building with regular proportions. It was a 3 storey brick building with the principal floor on the middle level. The functional aspect was reflected in all the design, extending to the interior fittings & furnishings. The façade originally included a grid of recessed openings and balconies, with four bays having arched bronze windows and stepped parapets. The building’s front façade had strong horizontal lines, displaying only 2 storeys, with higher massed elements behind the façade, indicating the location of the debating chambers. The lower mass in the centre was where King’s Hall was. As a result, with its now enclosed verandas and colonnades, and strong horizontal lines, the building was not as some people expected a proper Parliament House to be.
Front entrance
It didn't include classical architectural elements like columns or pediments, but did have the necessary symmetry. In the end, he had designed what is now considered a significant, nationally-listed heritage building with fine classical simplicity, order & proportion. And the design extended from the building to include its gardens, décor and furnishings.
Murdoch designed both the exterior of the building AND the interiors. He had to integrate all the spaces required of a parliament including: chambers, King’s Hall, party rooms, library, offices, members’ dining rooms and kitchens. And he designed a distinctive set of furniture that shared the architecture’s design language.
Everything was pre-planned. Old Parliament House was designed in the Stripped Classical Style, commonly used for most Australian government buildings built in Canberra in the 1920s-30s. It was also recognisable in Murdoch’s other Canberra buildings eg Hyatt Hotel Canberra and Hotel Kurrajong.
Parliament House and Old Parliament House are the most significant features in the area covered by the National Triangle. Other buildings key to the design and symmetry of the Triangle are the High Court and the National Gallery near Lake Burley Griffin, and the National Library.
Note that some of the integrity of Canberran architecture came after John Murdoch persuaded architect Walter Burley Griffin to come to Australia from the USA. He was very busy.
Old Parliament House was the seat of the Parliament of Australia from 1927-88. In the 63 years that the building served, there were changes in the size and nature of the Federal Parliament. During those years, the House of Representatives grew from 76 to 148 members and the Senate from 36 to 76 members. In 1927, only the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Prime Minister, Leader of the Government in the Senate and ministers had their own offices. But in the next 60 years, great changes took place in Australian social and political life, and democracy matured.
In 1927 the bush landscape in Canberra stood in stark contrast to the established lush gardens of Parliament House in Melbourne. So throughout the 1930s, gardens were established to the east and west of Old Parliament House, patterned rose and annuals display beds, set in lawns and trees. Located on either side of Old Parliament House today are the rebuilt House of Representatives Garden and the Senate Garden so that when Parliament moved, the old gardens could be opened to the public.
By the 1980s, the building had exceeded its capacity with 3,000 people crowded into a building intended for a few hundred. Members and senators had tiny, overcrowded offices. In June 1988, members sat for the last time after 61 years in the old building, as Parliament transferred to the completed New Parliament House on Capital Hill.
So the significance of Old Parliament House today lies in its historical value. In May 2008 King’s Hall became the Museum of Australian Democracy. It tells the heritage of the building and the story of Australia’s democracy. During its life as a working parliament, the building was the setting for many of Australia’s major political events. Debates that influenced the future of the nation took place here, key decisions were taken, political careers were made and ended.
Murdoch designed both the exterior of the building AND the interiors. He had to integrate all the spaces required of a parliament including: chambers, King’s Hall, party rooms, library, offices, members’ dining rooms and kitchens. And he designed a distinctive set of furniture that shared the architecture’s design language.
Everything was pre-planned. Old Parliament House was designed in the Stripped Classical Style, commonly used for most Australian government buildings built in Canberra in the 1920s-30s. It was also recognisable in Murdoch’s other Canberra buildings eg Hyatt Hotel Canberra and Hotel Kurrajong.
Parliament House and Old Parliament House are the most significant features in the area covered by the National Triangle. Other buildings key to the design and symmetry of the Triangle are the High Court and the National Gallery near Lake Burley Griffin, and the National Library.
Note that some of the integrity of Canberran architecture came after John Murdoch persuaded architect Walter Burley Griffin to come to Australia from the USA. He was very busy.
Old Parliament House was the seat of the Parliament of Australia from 1927-88. In the 63 years that the building served, there were changes in the size and nature of the Federal Parliament. During those years, the House of Representatives grew from 76 to 148 members and the Senate from 36 to 76 members. In 1927, only the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Prime Minister, Leader of the Government in the Senate and ministers had their own offices. But in the next 60 years, great changes took place in Australian social and political life, and democracy matured.
In 1927 the bush landscape in Canberra stood in stark contrast to the established lush gardens of Parliament House in Melbourne. So throughout the 1930s, gardens were established to the east and west of Old Parliament House, patterned rose and annuals display beds, set in lawns and trees. Located on either side of Old Parliament House today are the rebuilt House of Representatives Garden and the Senate Garden so that when Parliament moved, the old gardens could be opened to the public.
By the 1980s, the building had exceeded its capacity with 3,000 people crowded into a building intended for a few hundred. Members and senators had tiny, overcrowded offices. In June 1988, members sat for the last time after 61 years in the old building, as Parliament transferred to the completed New Parliament House on Capital Hill.
Senate chamber
House of Reps chamber
Was King's Hall,
now Museum of Australian Democracy
The Museum of Australian Democracy displays Australia’s political heritage. Old Parliament House is open daily, for either a guided tour or a self-tour where we can visit nearly all areas of the Old Parliament. See, for example, Kings Hall, House of Representatives Chamber, Prime Ministers Office, Cabinet Room and Senate Chamber.
In 1998 Old Parliament House became home to The National Portrait Gallery which holds a range of changing exhibitions. And it serves as a venue for lectures and concerts.
In 1998 Old Parliament House became home to The National Portrait Gallery which holds a range of changing exhibitions. And it serves as a venue for lectures and concerts.
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