Australia's Parliament House, Canberra

The highest office of the country is located in Canberra, Australia. My previous post showcased the Old Parliament House, which has since been turned into a living museum. This post contains images of the new Parliament House. It has been in use since 1988. While I knew Australia's parliament house is more modest than many around the world (America's Capitol and United Kingdom's Palace of Westminster come to mind), I was still impressed by the building and design. It is simple, elegant and symbolic.

While I knew Australia's parliament house is more modest than many around the world (America's Capitol and United Kingdom's Palace of Westminster come to mind), I was still impressed by the building and design. It is simple, elegant and symbolic. When we were there, we joined one of the free public tours of the building. On walking into the main foyer, you are greeted with an open space with marble staircases to the side and a door way to the Great Hall. The Great Hall has on display a very large and beautiful tapestry, apparently one of the largest in the world.

The tour also took us to the viewing deck for the House of Representatives (Green room) and the Senate (Red room). Unfortunately parliament was not in session on the day we visited. It would have been interesting to get a glimpse into some live debates that are frequently shown on TV.

Visitor security and access to the building was certainly nowhere near as strict as when I went to visit the Capitol building in Washington DC some years ago. One of the best things about Australia is certainly the laid back and open culture. The fact that visitors are given access to Parliament House's roof top garden is representative of that culture. As they say, it is the people's house.

Listening to the history and stories during the tour, walking through the halls and spaces, made me feel a sense of gratitude. I would highly recommend a visit to Parliament House if you are ever in Canberra. Thanks for stopping by today.

J.