Historic and contemporary images used throughout this site have been drawn from the Old Parliament House collection and reproduced courtesy of a variety of individuals and collecting institutions, including the National Archives of Australia and the National Library of Australia. Full attribution details are provided below.
Home page
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‘All those years ago and we did all the typing’, 1966 or 1967.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Janet Pearson.
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‘Old Parliament House in 1967’, Autumn 1967.
Photographer – R Jancek.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Irene Jancek.
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Former Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and John Gorton at the re-opening of Old Parliament House in 1992.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Architectural detail in the House of Representatives chamber.
Photographer – Leigh Atkinson.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Front view of Old Parliament House.
Photographer – Steve Keogh.
Old Parliament House collection.
The House
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The rear of Old Parliament House at night.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Interactive Timeline
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‘Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister’, 18 October 1973.
Photographer – Christina Motz.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Christina Motz.
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Gwen Pinner presents a bouquet to the Duchess of York. 9 May 1927.
Photographer – William Mildenhall.
Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
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Prime Minister R G Menzies broadcasting the news that Australia is at war. 3 September 1939.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Prime Minister John Curtin.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
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Ben Chifley’s coffin lies in state in King’s Hall. 13 June 1951.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Prime Minister Menzies accompanies Queen Elizabeth II to the State Banquet. 3 February 1954.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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A dramatic moment in the Petrov Affair. 13 April 1954.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of Newspix.
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The ALP split. 15 March 1955.
Cartoon by John Frith.
Courtesy of Jeffrey Frith and Jacqueline Milne.
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Prime Minister R G Menzies celebrates victory. 1963 federal election.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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A 1967 Aboriginal referendum poster. 27 May 1967.
Poster issued by the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.
Courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Senator Neville Bonner becomes the first Aborigine in Federal Parliament. 24 May 1971.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Gough Whitlam in Sydney the day before the 1972 election. 1 December 1972.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of Newspix.
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A scene during the aftermath of the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor Government. 11 November 1975.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Senator Janine Haines becomes leader of the Australian Democrats. 18 August 1986.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Gough Whitlam and John Gorton at the re-opening of Old Parliament House in 1992.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Old Parliament House and new Parliament House.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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75th Birthday celebration at Old Parliament House. 9 May 2002.
Photographer – Seventy Eight Commercial Photography.
Old Parliament House collection.
The History of the House
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‘Old Parliament House Sunrise’, 1974.
Photographer – Barbara Smith.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Barbara Smith.
The Birth of the House
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House of Representatives under construction, c1925.
Photographer – John McColl.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Christina Motz.
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Preparing for planting in front of the newly built Parliament House, 1920s.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Jane Edlington.
The Opening
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Panorama of the opening of Old Parliament House. 9 May 1927.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Matthew Platt.
Last Days
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The last sitting of the House of Representatives at Old Parliament House. 3 June 1988.
Photographer – Robert McFarlane.
Image courtesy of the Department of the House of Representatives.
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‘Senate Protocol’, 3 June 1988.
Photographer – Trevor Fowler.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Trevor Fowler.
To Demolish Or Not To Demolish
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‘The New and the Old Parliament Houses’, 28 April 1991.
Photographer – T G Ryan.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of T G Ryan.
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Architectural detail.
Photographer – David Reid.
Old Parliament House collection.
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People Who Worked Here
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Hansard staff at work, 1960s.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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‘Old Parliament House Bowls (Who wins?)’, November 1987.
Photographer – Peter Milton MP.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Peter Milton MP.
Prime Ministers
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Prime Minister R G Menzies celebrates victory. 1963 federal election.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Prime Minister R J L Hawke in his office. 1980s.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the Department of the House of Representatives.
The Running of the House
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‘Feast for a Queen’, 8 March 1977.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Peter Frey.
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The Parliamentary barber trims Ben Chifley’s hair. 1940s.
Photographer – L J Dwyer.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Norma Scully.
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The Press
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The Press. 1980s.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the Department of the House of Representatives.
The Building
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John Smith Murdoch, architect of Old Parliament House. 1920s.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Front facade of Old Parliament House. About 1970s.
Author – Commonwealth Government.
Drawing courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
King’s Hall
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King’s Hall.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House Collection.
House of Representatives Chamber
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A sitting of the House of Representatives. 1980s.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the Department of the House of Representatives.
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The Speakers Chair in the House of Representatives.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Senate Chamber
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The Senate Chamber.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Prime Minister’s Suite
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Prime Minister Gough Whitlam pictured in his new office, 1974.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of The Canberra Times.
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Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser’s office in 1982.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
Australian Federation Centre
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Senator Dorothy Tangney in her office. 1943.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
Visiting
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A tour group in the Senate Opposition Party Room.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Children’s Activities
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Children dressing up in House Play.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Daily Tours
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Tour group in King’s Hall.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Facilities
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Inside the Cafe in the House.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of Ginger Catering.
Old Parliament House Shop
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Inside the National Trust gift shop at Old Parliament House.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
The Cafe in the House
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Cafe patrons in the House of Representatives courtyard.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of Ginger Catering.
Exhibitions
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An old fashioned typewriter. Part of the exhibition A Tradition of Service.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Notice: Strictly Private. A sign from Seats, Suites and Suits.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Andrew Peacock (detail).
Cartoon by Geoff Pryor.
Courtesy of The Canberra Times.
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Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser’s office in 1982.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
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Senator Dorothy Tangney in her office. 1943.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Pierre Trudeau.
Photographer – Peter Bregg.
Image courtesy of The Canadian Press.
Tours and Events
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A scene from the Sound and Light Show.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Architectural detail.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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A key graphic from the Women’s Way self guided tour.
Old Parliament House graphic design.
Old Parliament House collection.
Education
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School students in historical dress as part of House Play.
Photographer – Heide Smith.
Old Parliament House collection.
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A queue of people entering Old Parliament House, c1960.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
One Hour Key Programs
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School student in historical dress. From House Play.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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School student in historical dress. From House Play.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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School students in historical dress. From the Historic Debate program.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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School student in historical dress. From the Dismissed! 1975 program.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Half Hour Focus Programs
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A school group enjoys the Secrets of the House tour.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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A student participates in the Senate Stories focus program.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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A scene from the Sound and Light Show.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Special Programs for Groups
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A group embarks on the Press Gallery tour.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Planning Your Group Visit
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Senator Dorothy Tangney and Dame Enid Lyons.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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A tour guide leads a group into King’s Hall.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Our Role
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Old Parliament House under a cloudy sky.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
Heritage
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A conservator undertakes repairs on a curtain.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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Opposition Leader Ben Chifley Lies in State in King’s Hall. 13 June 1951.
Photographer – unknown.
Image courtesy of the National Library of Australia.
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Working at OPH
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‘Waitresses cleaning silver.’
Photographer – unknown. Mrs B Hall collection.
Image courtesy of the National Museum of Australia.
Copyright & Privacy
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Staff delivering books for the Parliamentary library in the 1920s.
Photographer – William Mildenhall.
Image courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.
Venue & Tour Bookings
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The Parliamentary dining room.
Photographer – unknown.
Old Parliament House collection.
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‘A Special Place To Be Married (My Best Friend’s Wedding)’, 23 March 2002.
Photographer – Senator Meg Lees.
Old Parliament House collection. Courtesy of Kerrie Thornton.
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