Now the Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House was the seat of government and home to the Australian Federal Parliament from 1927 to 1988. This iconic building now displays exhibits detailing Australia’s democratic ancestry and the role of the government in that history.
The structure’s modest neoclassical exterior and classic interior make the building an architectural point of interest and a fitting place to house a museum about the nation’s political and social history. Opened by then Duke and Duchess of York (later to be King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) in March of 1927, the striking white structure sits impressively at the base of Capitol Hill.
The museum houses a permanent collection of items that were used during the time when the building was home to the federal government. Many fascinating temporary exhibits travel through the museum as well.
Old Parliament House sits majestically at the north end of Federation Mall, facing its modern successor the Parliament House of today at the opposite end of the Mall. To reach Old Parliament House, public transport is available on ACTION bus routes 1, 2 and 3.
