Parliament House

Lonely Planet review

Opened in 1988, Parliament House was designed by Romaldo Giurgola of Mitchell, Giurgola & Thorp architects, winners of a design competition that attracted 329 entries from 28 countries. Its splendid interior incorporates different combinations of Australian timbers in each main section and more than 3000 original artworks.

The structure was built into the hillside and covered by grass to preserve the site's original landscape. Great swathes of neatly clipped lawn gently rise over the roof where a shiny metallic flagpole soars 81m to hoist a flag the size of a double-decker bus; a monumental, if unintentional, tribute to the Aussie backyard, the galvanised Hill's hoist and a beach towel.The main axis of Parliament House runs northeast-southwest in a direct line with Old Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial and Mt Ainslie, Burley Griffin's original 'land axis'. Two high, granite-faced walls curve out from the axis to the corners of the building; the House of Representatives (east of the walls) and the Senate (to the west) are linked to the centre by covered walkways. Enter the building across the 90,000-piece forecourt mosaic by Michael Nelson Tjakamarra - the theme of which is 'a meeting place', representing possum and wallaby Dreaming - and through the white marble Great Verandah at the northeastern end of the main axis. In the foyer, the grey-green marble columns symbolise a forest, and marquetry wall panels are inlaid with designs of Australian flora. The first floor overlooks the Great Hall and its 20m-long tapestry was inspired by the original Arthur Boyd painting of eucalypt forest hanging outside the hall. Beyond it is the Members' Hall. In the public gallery above the Great Hall is the 16m-long embroidery, created by more than 500 members of the Embroiders Guild of Australia. Both works make subtle references to European settlement. The Great Hall is the centre of the building, with the flagpole above it and passages to chambers on each side. One of only four known copies of the 1297 Magna Carta is on display here - so close you could almost touch it, if it wasn't for the gas-filled, glass casing. South of the Members' Hall are the committee rooms and ministers' offices; visitors are welcome to view committee rooms and attend some of the proceedings. Free 45-minute guided tours are available on nonsitting days and 20-minute tours on sitting days, but you're welcome to self-navigate and watch parliamentary proceedings from the public galleries. Tickets for question time ( 14:00 on sitting days) in the House of Representatives are free but must be booked through the Sergeant at Arms; tickets aren't required for the Senate Chamber