Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

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.

Sailing past Parliament House ⛵ Have you ever sailed on Lake Burley Griffin? 📸 Parliament House with yachts sailing on ...
17/09/2026

Sailing past Parliament House ⛵
Have you ever sailed on Lake Burley Griffin?

📸 Parliament House with yachts sailing on Lake Burley Griffin, 1969. Courtesy National Archives of Australia A1500, K19947

Join us for craft, outdoor painting, a hat-making workshop, and Open Air PlayUP this spring school holidays. 🎨 Book the ...
16/09/2026

Join us for craft, outdoor painting, a hat-making workshop, and Open Air PlayUP this spring school holidays. 🎨 Book the workshops via the link: https://bit.ly/4gGTMl0

Australia’s democracy starter pack. It may not be perfect and it’s a work in progress, but it needs YOU because democrac...
15/09/2026

Australia’s democracy starter pack. It may not be perfect and it’s a work in progress, but it needs YOU because democracy works best when we all get involved. 🫶

13/09/2026

We’ve all done it ✨

Got time for some reading? We’re open every day 9am to 5pm

10/09/2026

A little taste of what’s to come 🌸 😍

You can see a replica of the mace on display in our House of Representatives Chamber. 📸 Lyn Simons Serjeant-at-Arms and ...
09/09/2026

You can see a replica of the mace on display in our House of Representatives Chamber.

📸 Lyn Simons Serjeant-at-Arms and Speaker Joan Child, 1988. Photograph by Robert McFarlane, Department of the House of Representatives. Museum of Australian Democracy collection

📸 Coronation Procession of Charles II Through London, 1662.

📸 Trumpeters and a mace bearer at the coronation of King James II of England in 1685.

📸 Serjeant-at-Arms carrying the mace, 1953. Photographs by R. Donaldson. Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.

📸 House of Representatives of the 24th Federal Parliament in session, 1962. Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.

📸 Mace in the Speaker’s Suite, Museum of Australian Democracy.

📸 The House of Representatives in session for the opening of the 12th Parliament, 1929. Courtesy National Archives of Australia A3560, 6187

📸 The mace, a gift to the Australian Parliament, in the House of Representatives Chamber, 1983. Courtesy National Archives of Australia A6135 K18/7/83/31

See you at Friday Night Drinks in our iconic Members’ Bar 🥂 Choose from our curated selection of wines, seasonal cocktai...
07/09/2026

See you at Friday Night Drinks in our iconic Members’ Bar 🥂 Choose from our curated selection of wines, seasonal cocktails, charcuterie platters and more.

📍The Members’ Bar (Please access via the white footbridges at the rear of Old Parliament House on Queen Victoria Terrace)

📆 Friday 11 September | 4pm to 9pm

No bookings required. Walk-ins only.

06/09/2026

These are the ballot papers used by members of the Labor caucus when Paul Keating launched leadership challenges against Bob Hawke in 1991.

A little slice of Canberra and Parliament House, circa 1962. 📸 Aerial of Parliament House, Canberra, 1962. Courtesy Nati...
03/09/2026

A little slice of Canberra and Parliament House, circa 1962.

📸 Aerial of Parliament House, Canberra, 1962. Courtesy National Archives of Australia A1500, K8163

Lilian Fowler made history as the first Australian woman to serve as a mayor. 📸 An official Portrait of Lilian Fowler ta...
02/09/2026

Lilian Fowler made history as the first Australian woman to serve as a mayor.

📸 An official Portrait of Lilian Fowler taken by Sidney Riley Studio. Courtesy City of Sydney Archives

📸 Portrait of a young Lilian Fowler. Courtesy City of Sydney Archives

📸 Municipality of Newtown map, 1931. Courtesy State Library of New South Wales

📸 Mrs Fowler, Mayor of Newtown,1938. Courtesy State Library of New South Wales

📸 Council meeting, Pix Magazine, Vol. 1 No. 13 (23 April 1938). Courtesy National Library of Australia

📸 Mrs Lilian Fowler and her daughter Ena. Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. - 1872 - 1947), Thursday 9 December 1937, page 14. Courtesy National Library of Australia

📸 Mrs Lilian Fowler / Lemaire Studios. C1938. Courtesy State Library Victoria

📸 Article from the Sun (Sydney, NSW1910 - 1954), Wednesday 13 December 1939, page 6. Courtesy National Library of Australia

📸 Lilian Fowler and aldermen. Courtesy City of Sydney Archives

📸 Lilian Fowler and her granddaughter Pat, fixing a car. Courtesy City of Sydney Archives

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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