Old Parliament House, Events & Exhibitions Calendar

Exhibitions

Billy Hughes at War
Beyond Reasonable Drought
The Australian Prime
Ministers Centre
The Press Gallery:
Leaks, Scoops and Scandals

Billy Hughes at War

Opens 13 June

Image—‘With the diggers’ Billy Hughes

Discover one of Australia’s most extraordinary characters in Billy Hughes at War. The exhibition explores William Morris (Billy) Hughes’s journey to becoming prime minister and his leadership during the First World War.

A complex and controversial figure, he was known as a man of extremes, inspiring admiration and provoking hatred in equal measure. His attempts to introduce conscription caused huge rifts in political parties and the nation. Hughes supported the British Empire but also stood up for Australian interests against other Allied leaders at the negotiations for the treaty of peace at Versailles in France. Hughes often disregarded social and political conventions, yet won support with his eloquence and wit. He was shrewd and wily, and became known, for his championing of the Australian troops, as ‘The Little Digger’.

Beyond Reasonable Drought

Opens 5 July

Image—Andrew Chapman, The Melon Grower, Dutton, South Australia, 2007.

Beyond Reasonable Drought features 80 extraordinary photographs, showing the harshness and beauty of the Australian landscape in drought, as well as the impact the drought has had on people in rural and urban communities around the country.

The images were selected from the 1,500 photographed submitted by some of Australia’s most notable photographers. Featured photographers include Rodney Dekker who won the Roving Eye ‘Expose Your World’ competition 2007 with his drought series, and Ian Kenins who was awarded ‘Best Reporting of an Issue’ by the Australian Sports Commission media awards for his reporting of the effect of the drought on sport.

Beyond Reasonable Drought is an Old Parliament House travelling exhibition in association with the Many Australian Photographers (MAP) Group.

The Australian
Prime Ministers Centre

Now open

Image—dispatch box used by Sir Edmund Barton
Old Parliament House collection

Do you know which former prime minister was present at the hanging of Ned Kelly? Or which one used to work as a miner before he was prime minister? Or which one was nicknamed ‘Tosspot Toby’ by The Bulletin because of his love of good food and wine?

Visit the Australian Prime Ministers Centre to discover these and many more quirky facts about our former prime ministers. Interactive displays and personal objects will give you a look into the fascinating lives of these 26 men.

The Press Gallery:
Leaks, Scoops
and Scandals

Now open

Image—courtesy Barrie Cassidy

Walk through the offices and corridors where Australian political events, leaks, scoops and scandals were reported.

Interview a politician in a real recording booth and discover how for more than 60 years, the press interacted with politicians to inform Australians about political issues.

Events

June

Photo of Library courtyard steps taken in 1926

The House that Jack Built—tour

Monday 9 June

Explore the remarkable history of Old Parliament House as told through the story of John Smith Murdoch, the chief architect and designer of this iconic building.

Monday 9 June
2.00pm–3.00pm
Meet in King’s Hall
Bookings recommended info@oph.gov.au
Free after entry

Library courtyard steps completed ca.1926 taken from North East. Mildenhall 3427. Courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.

Hansard reporters and typists having fun

The Humour of Hansard—talk

Sunday 15 June

Former Chief Hansard Reporter, Bernie Harris, reflects on the humour, incidents and characters from 1964 to 1988.

Sunday 15 June
2.00pm–3.00pm
House of Representatives
Bookings recommended info@oph.gov.au
Free after entry

Hansard reporters and typists having fun.

Sneak preview—the House in Motion

Saturday 28 June

Take a journey through the past, present and future of democracy in an experimental new dance work created by QL2 Centre for Youth Dance.

28 June
11.30am & 1.30pm
Meet on the front steps
Bookings required info@oph.gov.au
Free after entry

Old Parliament House collection

July

At a Crossroads—perfomances

Saturday 5, 12 & 19 July

Would you vote for or against conscription? Step into the Billy Hughes at War exhibition to see a live performance about a young man faced with the dilemma of how to vote in the 1917 referendum. Hear the arguments that divided the nation and cast your vote.

Saturday 5, 12 & 19 July
Hourly, 11.00am–2.00pm
The House Gallery
Free after entry

Beyond Reasonable Drought—Artists’ talk

Saturday 5 & Wednesday 9 July

Join the artists from The Many Australian Photographers Group, as they discuss the process of creating Beyond Reasonable Drought—a visually stunning exhibition that records the impact of the drought on the land, people and the psyche of the nation over the last 10 years.

Saturday 5 July
10.00am–11.30am

Wednesday 9 July
5.30pm–7.00pm
House of Representatives
Bookings required info@oph.gov.au
Free after entry

Andrew Chapman, Spirit and Resilience, Johnburg, SA, 2007.

Billywogs and Billy Books—craft activities

Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 July

Make your own ‘home-made’ toy and learn about toys made around the time of the First World War as part of the Billy Hughes at War exhibition.

Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 July
10.30am & 11.30am
Bookings required info@oph.gov.au
Free after entry

Old Parliament House collection

August

At a Crossroads—perfomances

Saturday 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 August

Would you vote for or against conscription? Step into the Billy Hughes at War exhibition, to see a live performance about a young man faced with the dilemma of how to vote in the 1917 referendum. Hear the arguments that divided the nation and cast your vote.

Saturday 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 August
Hourly, 11.00am–2.00pm
The House Gallery
Free after entry

Old Parliament House collection

Image of Billy Hughes and David Lloyd George

Billy Hughes at War—Curator’s talk

Thursday 14 August

Join curator Laura Back as she reveals the making of the Billy Hughes at War exhibition, followed by a walk through of the exhibition.

Thursday 14 August
5.30pm–6.30pm
House of Representatives
Bookings required info@oph.gov.au
Free after entry

Two Great Welshmen, W.M. Hughes and Lloyd George in Wales 1916.