Hec McMillan grew up in Canberra from 1926. In this excerpt from an interview recorded in 1996 he recalls the national capital in the mid-1920s. ‘Limestone plains stretching in every direction with very little on them’. He describes the opening ceremony of the Provisional Parliament House in May 1927, which he attended as a seven year old. He recalls Nellie Melba singing at the ceremony but cutting her song short. Listen to the excerpt to find out why…

Hec McMillan oral history audio transcript (MS Word)

Hec McMillan was recorded for the Oral History program by Ken Begg in 1996. The full interview is not currently available online but can be listened to in the Australian Prime Ministers Centre. Please contact the Centre prior to your visit and quote the reference number OHI 2.