How did Australian politicians of the nineteenth century campaign, in the days before today’s pervasive electronic media? They went to where people gathered in their daily lives, and held political meetings in gathering places such as pubs, Mechanic’s Institutes, and open air venues such as a local park or even under a particular tree. These weren’t always mass meetings. Many, possibly the majority, were of small groups of people. The museum has recently acquired a rare picture of one such meeting in a pub, by the artist William Wadham.
The work shows two men addressing a small group of onlookers – all apparently men - and is set within a…
The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House recently acquired a collection of images by the notable Australian artist Tom Thompson. Approached by his local member of parliament, Murray Sainsbury, in October 1982, Thompson ventured from his home in nearby Braidwood to depict proceedings of the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. A number of eminent Australian politicians of the era are depicted in the sketches, including Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, John Howard, and Billy Snedden. The images capture glimpses of the final months of Malcom Fraser’s Liberal Government prior to the ascension of the Labor government…
Uncensored Conversations is a speaker series that could only take place in a true democracy. In May and June 2010, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House will host a forum that will see well-known Australians share their thoughts on the hottest topics shaping our democracy. The topics are:
Immigration, asylum seekers and refugees: What is the real impact? (11 May)
Involvement or intrusion: Where is the line for our Government? (27 May)
Freedom of speech and censorship: How free are we? (15 June)
Seats are limited: reserve your free tickets now by email
The Uncensored Conversations forums are free events and registration…
On 9 May 1927 His Royal Highness the Duke of York opened Australia’s first purpose-built federal parliament building, now known as Old Parliament House. There was no national capital city when the Australian federation was formed in 1901 so, for the first 26 years as a nation, the federal parliament met in the Victorian state parliament in Melbourne. However, provision had been made in the Constitution for a seat of Government of the Commonwealth, to be located within Commonwealth territory in the state of New South Wales but not less than 100 miles from Sydney. The site for the national capital was finally announced in 1911, and an inauguration…
Just as visitors to museums may develop an attachment to certain objects, so too do curators. Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House curator Corinne Perkins loves the Cromwell coin, which dates back to the period of the English Civil Wars (1642-52). The English Civil Wars were a series of armed conflicts and political clashes within and between the kingdoms of England, Ireland and Scotland, and concerned the nature and limits of royal power, the nature and extent of religious liberty for Protestants and Catholics, and the relationship between the peoples of Britain and Ireland. At the heart was a fundamental debate about the…
A recent addition to our collection is this photo, taken in 1911, of the Bathurst Football Club rugby union team, including future prime minister of Australia J. B. Chifley. Chifley appears in the middle row at right of picture. The photo was recently scanned from the family collection of Lynne Pearson for the museum, by a family member aware of our particular interest in prime ministers. Sam Malloy, Coordinator of the Chifley Home at Bathurst, has commented that it is the best he has yet seen of Chifley in his rugby days.
Born in Bathurst on 22 September, 1885, Chifley was 26 when this photo was taken. He attended Patrician Brothers’ High…
Update: Congratulations to Ethan from Dunlop ACT, aged 7, who won our January promotion of a $500 voucher to Toys R Us from the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Congratulations Ethan!
In 25 words or less, Ethan described what democracy means to him: “Having a say in what the rules are in my year two class and at home. My vote is worth the same as everyone else.”
Visit the museum during January to go into the draw to win a $500 Toys‘R’Us voucher, by exploring the family-friendly Hands-on-Democracy exhibition.
Simply complete the form when you visit the exhibition and in 25 words or less tell us ‘what democracy means to…
