Canberra, Australia Travel Photos
August 25, 2002
Parliament House is a surprisingly worthwhile visit in Canberra. The building was opened in 1988 (it is just behind Old Parliament House, built in 1927). It was designed by Romaldo Giurgola in a style different from any other parliament - it is essentially buried underneath a grassy hill, with only the main entrance way open, and topped by an enormous spire flying the Australian flag (81m high, the flag alone is 12.8m by 6.4m, the flagpole weighs 220 tonnes).
Pre-John Howard and the Australian-assisted Iraq invasion visitors were free to wander onto the grassy hill above Parliament sitting, now this is blocked by ugly crash barriers, but the site is still nice to wander around. The entire city of Canberra is designed with Parliament House the hub of a wheel, so the flagpole of Parliament House is the best place to see the layout of Canberra, allowing you to look down long parades to such icons as the Australian War Memorial.
Inside Parliament House the public is welcome to watch question time and to see the political history of Australia. One of the highlights is a copy of the Magna Carta written in 1297.
Pre-John Howard and the Australian-assisted Iraq invasion visitors were free to wander onto the grassy hill above Parliament sitting, now this is blocked by ugly crash barriers, but the site is still nice to wander around. The entire city of Canberra is designed with Parliament House the hub of a wheel, so the flagpole of Parliament House is the best place to see the layout of Canberra, allowing you to look down long parades to such icons as the Australian War Memorial.
Inside Parliament House the public is welcome to watch question time and to see the political history of Australia. One of the highlights is a copy of the Magna Carta written in 1297.
