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.
In October 1982, the artist Tom Thompson ventured from his home in Braidwood to depict proceedings of the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House recently acquired the collection of sketches.
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. In the accompanying audio from our oral history collection, Therese O’Neill recalls the long trip into Canberra from Yass as a 10 year old, and the thrill of being amongst the crowd to witness the Duke and Duchess of York at the opening.
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).
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.
The last prime minister to serve in the House - the Hon RJL Hawke AC - in the exhibition Australian Democracy - More than 2000 Years in the Making.
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!
The awards for the winners of the 2009 National History Challenge were presented on 24 November, 2009. The Australian Prime Ministers Centre at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House sponsored a special category in this year’s challenge: ‘Australian Prime Ministers: Triumph over Adversity’.
Now available for free download, Getting it Together: From Colonies to Federation, is a resource for students to actively discover and explore the story of Federation: the social and political journey that led the people of six separate colonies to agree on a Constitution which brought the nation of Australia and its federal parliament into being in 1901.
On 15 November, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House will be holding the second of our interactive role playing tours, reconstructing the final hours of the Whitlam government by retracing the steps of the key players.
On 13 October 2009 Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister of State, announced the recipients of 9 Australian Prime Ministers Centre Fellowships for 2009-2010. Now in its third year, the APMC Research and Scholarship Program is proving to be a valuable—and popular—initiative.
The idea of a Museum of Australian Democracy was one which was developed over more than 20 years and many people had a hand in bringing the idea of such an institution to fruition.
As Australia went onto a war footing, seventy years ago the Australian Parliament readied itself for action. Today, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House remembers the beginning of the Second World War.
The museum has lost a significant contributor to its recent history. Fred Brenchley, who died Saturday 29 August, joined the Governing Council of what was then known as Old Parliament House, in 2005.
We’ve recently acquired an important item for our collection. The photo album, ‘Views of Sydney’, is a handsome leather-bound volume of photographs, largely of Federation arches, taken in Sydney and Melbourne in 1901.
Democracy isn’t something we have, it’s something we do. This is the premise behind the new exhibition Living Democracy: The Power of the People.
The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House opened on the weekend of 9 May 2009.
Steve Cannane, Tracey Spicer, Jeffery Robertson and Bianca Dye will be debating Does ‘work/life balance’ exist for Australians today?
The official opening of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House will be from 11.00am – 11.30am on 9 May on the front steps of Old Parliament House.
