Australia's old Parliament House, which was officially opened on 9 May 1927, was only ever intended to be a temporary residence for Parliament to sit. It was large enough for parliament at the time, but as the nation grew, extra functions and responsibilities of the government meant a much larger venue was required. Nonetheless, it served Australian Parliament for the next sixty years.
canberra
New Parliament House was built on Capital Hill in Canberra, Australia.
The final cost of the new Parliament House in Canberra was over $1,000 million, making Parliament House the most expensive building in Australian history.
it opened in 1989
Construction of the New Parliament House in Canberra began in 1981, and the House was finally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988, the anniversary of the opening of both the first Federal Parliament in Melbourne (9 May 1901), and of the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra (9 May 1927).
Australia's new Parliament House was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988, the anniversary of the opening of both the first Federal Parliament in Melbourne (9 May 1901), and of the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra (9 May 1927).
In May 1927, Australia's Parliament moved into the Parliament House in Canberra for the first time. Although Canberra was set down as Australia's capital soon after Federation, the only city with a building large enough to house the parliament was Melbourne. However, Melbourne was not the nation's capital.On 9 May 1927, Parliament moved to the new national capital at Canberra, where it met in what is now called Old Parliament House (the new Parliament House having been finished in 1988).
The new Parliament House was built because Australia's original Parliament House was only ever intended to be a temporary residence for parliament. However, for a variety of reasons, it served as the Federal Parliament building for over 60 years, while it was originally intended to serve for a maximum of 50 years. There was always the intention to build a new Parliament House. Old Parliament House had exceeded its capacity by the 1970s. Construction of the New Parliament House in Canberra began in 1981, and the House was finally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988, the anniversary of the opening of both the first Federal Parliament in Melbourne (9 May 1901), and of the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra (9 May 1927).
Both the Old and New Parliament Houses are in Canberra, Australia's national capital.
Construction of the New Parliament House in Canberra began in 1981. The House was finally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988, the anniversary of the opening of both the first Federal Parliament in Melbourne (9 May 1901), and of the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra (9 May 1927).
Parliament House has only ever been in Canberra, but Parliament has not only ever met in Canberra. At Federation, on 1 January 1901, Canberra did not exist as a city or even a town, and it was only surveyed in 1913. The first Australian Parliament following Federation of the states met on 9 May 1901 in the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne. From 1901 to 1927, Parliament met in Parliament House, Melbourne, which it borrowed from the parliament of the state of Victoria, which in turn sat in the Exhibition Building. On 9 May 1927, Parliament moved to the new national capital at Canberra, where it met in what is now called Old Parliament House.
The new parliament is located in Canberra.