Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

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Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House Celebrating the spirit of Australian democracy and the power of your voice within it. https://www.moadoph.gov.au/about/online-house-rules/

We’re all about celebrating the spirit of Australian democracy and the power of your voice. That means we love having conversations about history, politics, social change and rights – meaningful, though sometimes prickly, topics. It’s important we provide a safe space for these tricky conversations, so we have some house rules for online participation to ensure we’re all on the same page. These rules cover participation on our website and across all our social media communities.

Did you know sheep once outnumbered human residents in Canberra? At one point, around 200,000 sheep grazed across the Ca...
15/10/2026

Did you know sheep once outnumbered human residents in Canberra? At one point, around 200,000 sheep grazed across the Canberra region.

This meant that when Parliament House officially opened in 1927, it had to function as a parliament as well as a place to relax and socialise for the politicians and staff who travelled to Canberra for work. Inside, it was like a small town, including a library, a post office, a barber shop and a carpentry workshop.

📸 Parliament House with sheep in foreground, 1942. Courtesy State Library of NSW

The Greig sisters were pioneering Australian professionals who broke barriers in medicine and law. 📸 The Greig sisters, ...
13/10/2026

The Greig sisters were pioneering Australian professionals who broke barriers in medicine and law.

📸 The Greig sisters, left to right Jean, Flos and Jenny Greig.
📸 Students outside the Law Faculty building at the University of Melbourne c1900. Courtesy University of Melbourne Archives
📸 University of Melbourne results, Argus (Melbourne, Vic), Thursday 12 March 1896, page 3. Courtesy National Library of Australia
📸 Portrait of Jean Greig, Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic), Thursday 14 December 1899, page 5. Courtesy National Library of Australia
📸 Portrait of Jenny Greig, Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic), Friday 8 December 1899, page 20. Courtesy National Library of Australia
📸 Portrait of Grata Flos Greig. Leader (Melbourne, Vic), Saturday 4 April 1903, page 36. Courtesy National Library of Australia
📸 The Supreme Court of Victoria where Flos Greig was admitted to practice, c.1905. Courtesy State Library of Victoria
📸 Group of female students posed near the Law School building. Part of the Doris McKellar Collection. Courtesy University of Melbourne Archives

11/10/2026

The Speaker’s Chair turns 100 🎂🥳

Formally presented to the Australian Parliament on 11 October 1926, this intricately carved neo-gothic chair was a gift from the United Kingdom Branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association.

An almost exact replica of the United Kingdom's own Speaker's Chair in the Palace of Westminster, it has been a centrepiece of the House of Representatives Chamber in Old Parliament House for a century.

09/10/2026

If you’re looking for a little hidden gem for all things Australian politics, we just know the place 😉📖
Come see us in person or shop online: https://bit.ly/4APHksB
Open every single day (except Christmas) 9am – 5pm.

Join us on a tour and hear stories about Ben Chifley’s time in office. Then trace the steps he made daily between Old Pa...
08/10/2026

Join us on a tour and hear stories about Ben Chifley’s time in office. Then trace the steps he made daily between Old Parliament House and Hotel Kurrajong by taking the self-guided walking trail.

The Chifley’s Tour is delivered in partnership with Hotel Kurrajong Canberra and complimentary for guests of Hotel Kurrajong Canberra.

Follow the link to book your spot: https://bit.ly/4jKlT5N

📸 John Curtin and Ben Chifley walking between the Hotel Kurrajong and Parliament House, Canberra - circa 1945. Photographer, Don Stephens. Courtesy the National Archives of Australia A1200, L26035.

📸 The Hotel Kurrajong at Barton, Canberra, ACT, 1959. Courtesy the National Archives of Australia A1200, L30803

📸 Mr J B Chifley reading a novel called Dangerous Lady, 1949. Courtesy the National Archives of Australia A462, 778/03

Janine Haines was the first woman to lead a political party in the Australian Parliament. Her achievements in the role l...
07/10/2026

Janine Haines was the first woman to lead a political party in the Australian Parliament. Her achievements in the role led the way for future female leaders.

📸 Senator Janine Haines, who was elected parliamentary leader of the Australian Democrats on August 17, 1986. Courtesy National Archives of Australia, A6180, 12/6/86/1
📸 Janine Haines, 1990. Courtesy State Library South Australia
📸 Janine Haines in the press gallery, Museum of Australian Democracy Collection.
📸 Australian Democrats vote Janine Haines for the Senate, 1980. Courtesy State Library South Australia
📸 Women members of parliament (l-r) Senators Janine Haines, Janet Powell and Jean Jenkins with 1908 Women's banner at Parliament House, 1988. Courtesy National Archives of Australia A6180, 28/3/88/5
📸 Office of the Leader of the Democrats, Janine Haines, 1988. Robert MacFarlane, Department of the House of Representatives, Museum of Australian Democracy Collection.
📸 Janine Haines, Democrat Leader, c1980s. Courtesy Michael Macklin, Museum of Australian Democracy Collection.
📸 Janine Haines book launch greeting Governor General Bill Hayden, 1992. Courtesy National Archives of Australia, A13966, 890220

A little look at our Courtyard Café. Did you know all of our pastry is freshly baked in-house? Come and try it for yours...
04/10/2026

A little look at our Courtyard Café. Did you know all of our pastry is freshly baked in-house? Come and try it for yourself.
Open every day 🫶
☕ Monday to Friday 8am – 4:30pm
☕ Saturday to Sunday 9:30am – 4pm

Australia's longest and shortest-serving prime ministers.📸 Dr Thacker with Prime Minister, Mr Robert Menzies in Canberra...
01/10/2026

Australia's longest and shortest-serving prime ministers.

📸 Dr Thacker with Prime Minister, Mr Robert Menzies in Canberra, 1956. Courtesy National Archives of Australia, A1501, A421/2
📸 Sir Robert Menzies. Courtesy National Library of Australia obj-137011002
📸 Opening day of the first Antarctic Treaty Consultative meeting – Prime Minister Robert Menzies and John Gorton, 1961. Courtesy National Archives of Australia, A1681, AT1
📸 Francis Michael Forde. Courtesy National Museum of Australia
📸 Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Frank Forde, signing the UN Charter at a ceremony held at the Veterans’ War Memorial Building in San Francisco, 1945. Courtesy National Museum of Australia

30/09/2026

Wisteria season is in full bloom ✨ come wander beneath the flowers and soak up a little of this magic while it lasts 💜
📍Old Parliament House Gardens

Address

18 King George Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT
2600

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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