Our collection
The House
Old Parliament House opened in 1927 and served as the home of Federal Parliament until 1988. In Canberra’s early years the House was the social, geographic and political heart of the new Australian capital. Over time, this impressive building became synonymous with some of the country’s most important moments including Australia’s declaration of war against Japan in 1941 and the dismissal of Gough Whitlam’s Labor Government in 1975.
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Collection
The legacy of the building does not just lie in the events that took place here, or in the names of the people who walked its lobbies. Every part of this building tells a story. Explore the building, its objects and its stories.
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Heritage
The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is recognised as a nationally significant cultural and heritage site and a living museum of Australia’s social and political history. The staff and management of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, together with a large number of trained volunteers, are responsible for the conservation of the building, its heritage collection and for communicating the significance of this place to generations of Australians and its visitors.’
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