Old Parliament House (Museum of Australian Democracy)
Old Parliament House
Canberra's temporary parliament from 1927 to 1988. The white building keeps its original chambers and prime minister's office and is now a democracy museum.
Old Parliament House served as the temporary seat of Australia's parliament for 61 years. The House of Representatives and Senate chambers, the prime minister's office, and the press gallery are preserved as they were. The exhibitions tell the story of Australian democracy and its elections, and the interactive displays are good for families. Adult admission is about AUD 2, a nominal fee, and it is open roughly 9:00 to 17:00. On the lawn out front stands the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, set up in 1972. It is an important site of social activism. The old building faces the new Parliament House across an axis of lawn, and you can walk between them.
Opening hours
Daily 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Nearby sights
- Questacon
- National Portrait Gallery
- National Library of Australia
- High Court of Australia
- National Gallery of Australia
- Parliament House, Canberra
- Captain Cook Memorial Jet
- National Carillon