Old Parliament House

Came here on new year's eve and was surprised at how nicely the place is built. There was so much to see and could easily take few hours of your day. The place was well maintained with a lot of information in every corner. The people at reception were quite good. Overall it was a great experience coming here and will be back next time hopefully with more time.

Beautiful façade, enormous space to visit. We didn't allow enough time for it. Great to see the chambers and the apartments. Very interesting quizzes about democracy. Should be compulsory for school trips ! Lovely staff

This place is absolutely brilliant. Artwork displayed in the middle that is topical to the moment, and then surrounding that the incredible 70s - as i personally recall them too - brought to life, and of course before and after that decade. The tupewriters, the cabinet room, the offices, the furniture - and ashtrays of course! Those were the days. Its superb. So worth seeing. And the gift shop is lovely with the nicest gentleman, we had s great chat. Such a great place!

Was in town visiting my daughter for a couple of days, decided to come and do the Dismissal tour. It did not disappoint, presented in a non-biased context, although I may have had some of my own entering the building already. Great tour, beautifully maintained historic building and items on display.

Visiting Old Parliament House is like stepping back in time. The 1920's architecture is stunning and walking through the prime ministers' offices feels incredibly personal. It is much more intimate than the new building. The Museum of Australian Democracy exhibits are engaging and clear. Don't miss the garden outside. It is a must-see for history buffs in Canberra.

After many years I finally came to have a look and was amazed, The house is frozen in time from when the greats walked the hallways and chambers. You are able to walk through majority of the house however when we were there some construction was happening. Being able to sit in the chambers and walk through the old offices was brilliant.

My visit to Old Parliament House in Canberra on Saturday, October 11th, was a truly fantastic and immersive journey into the heart of Australian political history. The fact that such a significant national landmark is free to enter made the experience all the more welcoming and accessible. Stepping into the building felt like traveling back in time. The preserved interiors, from the grand King’s Hall with its striking marble columns to the meticulously maintained parliamentary chambers, are incredibly evocative. I was particularly impressed by the House of Representatives chamber, where you can almost feel the echoes of passionate debates that shaped the nation. Standing in the very rooms where prime ministers like Menzies and Whitlam once walked was a powerful and tangible connection to the past. The authenticity is remarkable. I spent time in the old Prime Minister’s Office, sat in the historic press conference room, and examined the countless artifacts and photographs that line the corridors. Each item tells a story, offering a glimpse into the workings of government from 1927 to 1988. The staff and volunteers were knowledgeable and added greatly to the experience, sharing anecdotes that brought the static displays to life. For anyone interested in history, politics, or simply understanding Australia’s story, Old Parliament House is an absolute must-see. Its manageable size makes it a perfect half-day excursion, allowing for a detailed exploration without feeling overwhelming. My visit on Saturday was not just educational, but a genuinely great experience. The combination of rich history, superb preservation, and free admission makes it one of the most rewarding and essential attractions in the nation’s capital.

Did not have time to visit inside as spent too long outside viewing and visiting the Rose garden! This is one of the best rose gardens I have experienced and if you appreciate gardens must see.

Wanna get married like a rock star in a building with immense historical value that was once the seat of power in this great country? So did my cousin, and man, Old Parliament House is a super speccy venue to get irrevocably hitched to your life partner of choice (unless you're a homosexual couple in which case this great country doesn't yet afford you the privilege of getting married, a ruling as archaic and ridiculous as it is profoundly selfish, at least in the opinion of the more progressive amongst us). Anyway. The wedding area is a hidden paradise tucked away in the heart of the whitewashed complex, where sun streams in and birds sing and it feels for all the world like you're getting married in an ancient Greek capital to someone important, perhaps a minor deity of some kind. The reception area is right there, too, so there's no schlepping around in cars between venues, just pop up the stairs and there's a big banquet hall with a dance floor and bay doors that open up to a view of new parliament house running away up the hill, it's really quite splendid. PRO TIP: befriend the bartenders. They'll look out for you with a brilliantly cheeky drinks / shot service when everyone is three sheets to the wind. Crucial.

Having been to Canberra a number of times before, I remarked to my husband that I had never been to the old Parliament House. We set off after breakfast and being aware of the possible issues of parking in what is called the parliamentary circle, we originally opted to park in one of the nearby parking spots. After finding that these were ALL allocated to nearby government workers, I suggested we try to find a park closer to old Parliament House and were pleasantly surprised to find ample parking spots right in the grounds. The pay spots accept coins or card (who carries around about $20 in coins) and are 4 hour spots only. We parked the car and climbed the historic front steps, pausing to enjoy the sight of the Australian War Memorial way down the other end and across the lake. Now home to the museum of democracy, for $2 an adult and $1 for kids the entry fees are really quite reasonable. After speaking with the friendly staff and getting maps and offered tours (free) we were in the door. If you only have an hour or so to spend, take one of the tours to get the most our of your time. If you have longer there are many, many different areas and exhibits to check out. The current Menzies exhibit is interesting and the Does your vote count gives an interesting and interactive view or what different generations find important. Well worth the effort and a great way to learn a little about politics in Australia.

It is very nostalgic returning to our nations former Parliament House. So much history, if you lived before 1988, it will bring back memories. Seeing inside, you understand why the Australian Government moved to new premises. Defiantly a must see for tourists visiting Canberra.

Wow this place was amazing! Especially the old prime ministers office and houses of representatives rooms. Definitely visit if in Canberra and check out the Aboriginal embassy out front.

The Old Parliament House houses the Museum of Australian Democracy. So it's like two museums in one. You can see the old offices of the Prime Minister and other officials and the old House of Representatives and Senate rooms. Then you can stroll through the galleries and learn about Australia's history in becoming a federation. Very interesting and educational. Only costs $2 per person. And the staff is very helpful and informative. They also have tours at various times during the days (call ahead for the times, no need to book).

I really enjoyed our visit as you get to see so much more than in the current Parliament House. You are allowed to go in and out of all of the offices as well as into the PM's old office! Definitely take a look when you visit Canberra.