Owner Operator Neil Hermes shares some great stories and information about the Australian Parliament House. Call 0408 483 770 to book tours and trips in Canberra and other destinations in Australia.
Parliament House in Canberra is home to the Australian Parliament. Architects Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp have created a building that is a meeting place for members of parliament and a symbol of Australia’s democracy. It is a place where decisions that shape the nation are made, a site for celebration, memorials, and sometimes protests, and above all, a building for the people. The Canberra Guided Tours draw upon decades of combined experience in Canberra to guide our clients through traveling and tours. Discover why the Australian Parliament House must be included in your Australia travel itinerary.
Australian Parliament House
Parliament House is located on Capital Hill, Canberra. Prior to the arrival of Europeans in Australia, this region had a range of important ceremonial sites for local Aboriginal peoples. In Walter Burley Griffin’s plan for Australia’s national capital, this hill was the most prominent location.
In Canberra Guided Tours always include the Australian Parliament House in Australia travel itinerary because of its importance in the history of Australia.
How did the Parliament House Come About in the Early 1970s in Canberra?
The Australian Parliament House in 1901 was in Melbourne until such time when they moved the Parliament House to the old building in Canberra in 1927. This building was always meant to be a temporary residence only.
From 1927 through to the 1970s, the Parliament sat in a building that was fine at the beginning until it became too small for the parliamentary process and the outdated technology worsen it.
By the 1970s, it was decided that a new building is needed. In 1978 then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser unveiled plans to build a new Parliament House to be opened in 1988, the bicentennial year of European colonisation.
The new Parliament House has 6 times the floor space of the temporary building, now known as Old Parliament House, and is designed to last at least 200 years. On a sitting day, it accommodates about 5000 people.
The Parliament House’s Conceptual Design
New York-based Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp Architects had been chosen to design the building.
The building was designed with the intent that the building is made for Australians, and not for politicians. One of the great features of the Australian Parliament House is that a hill was decided as the location. The Parliament House ‘could not be built on top of the hill as this would symbolise government imposed upon the people. The building should nest with the hill, symbolically rise out of the Australian landscape, as true democracy rises from the state of things.’
People are always above the government. This is Australia’s democracy.
Recommended Time Of The Year To Visit The Parliament House
The recommended day to visit The Parliament House is on a parliamentary sitting day. It is a very different and fabulous experience and a must-see show. Sitting days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays and there are about 14 weeks in a year.
It is worth noting that during those times, accommodation prices go up.
The Operational Side Of The Parliament House’s Building
In the middle of the building lies the Great Hall where major functions are held, whether it’s a private or public event. One of the events that happen in the facility is the Midsummer Ball, which is the equivalent of the American White House Correspondents Dinner.
The Leading Canberra Tours and Trips Business | Canberra Guided Tours: Our Tour Guide for Full Day Canberra Tours, Half Day Canberra Tours, and Wine Tours
If you need assistance with day trips, wine tours, and other trips, the tour guides at Canberra Guided Tours are passionate about helping people enjoy and get the best of Canberra. Life’s too short to not enjoy fascinating destinations in Australia. Call us at 0408 483 770 or complete our online form today to book your favourite Canberra Tours. At Canberra Guided Tours, we take care of the best Canberra tours of a lifetime.
Copyright© 2022. Canberra Guided Tours. All rights reserved.
Canberra Guided Tours
0408 483 770
https://canberraguidedtours.com.au
