Architecture and Art
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Architecture
Visitors experience the magnificent architecture and design of the building
such as the 81-metre high flagmast, which is one of the world's largest
stainless steel structures and is recognised as a national icon.
Opened 9 May 1988 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Parliament House
is the home of Australia's Federal Parliament and one of the world's most
acclaimed buildings.
Designed by Mitchell/Giurgola and Thorp architects, following a design
competition that attracted 329 entries from 28 countries, it is one of
the largest buildings in the southern hemisphere.
Parliament House welcomes around 1 million visitors from Australia and
overseas each year, making it one of Canberra's most popular attractions.
Features
The Forecourt Mosaic is based on a Central Desert dot-style painting
by Michael Nelson Tjakamarra, a leading Aboriginal artist from the Papunya
community of the Northern Territory. The mosaic is made up of approximately
90,000 hand-guillotined granite pieces in seven different colours and
represents a Possum and Wallaby Dreaming.
The marquetry panels panels in the main Foyer are inlaid with
designs of Australian flora. The 20 panels were designed by Adelaide artist
Tony Bishop and fabricated with Sydney craftsman Michael Retter. Some
panels feature traditional Aboriginal food sources and others feature
botanical specimens documented by Sir Joseph Banks when he landed on the
East Coast of Australia with Captain Cook in 1770.
The Great Hall Tapestry is based on a painting by Australian artist
Arthur Boyd, AC, OBE. It features a eucalyptus forest in the Shoalhaven
area of New South Wales. Measuring 20 x 9 metres, it is one of the largest
tapestries in the world. A team of 13 weavers from the Victorian Tapestry
Workshop took just two and a half years to complete the work.
The Embroidery was a Bicentennial gift to the nation from the
Embroiders' Guilds of Australia. Adelaide artist Kay Lawrence designed
the work, which then took over 500 members of the Embroiders' Guilds of
Australia more than 12,000 hours to stitch. It is made from cotton, linen
and wool, with some synthetic fibre.
Static displays in the Members' Hall include some of Australia's
most important historical documents such as the original Commonwealth
of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (UK) and one of only four surviving
1297 issues of Magna Carta.
The Tom Roberts' Painting hanging in the foyer of the Main Committee
Room shows the opening of the first Australian Parliament, in Melbourne's
Exhibition Building on 9 May 1901, by the Duke of Cornwall and York.
Red Ochre Cove, a dramatic painting by Canberra artist Mandy Martin,
can be found in the Main Committee Room.
The roof of Parliament House provides spectacular views of Canberra.
Visitors are welcome to walk on the grass ramps covering the building.
The lift to the roof is marked on the floor plan in the Visitor Guide
which can be obtained from the Information Desk on your arrival at Parliament
House.
The 81-metre high stainless steel flagpole can be viewed from
the roof of the building. The flag, measuring 12.8 x 6.4 metres, is approximately
the size of the side of a double-decker bus.
Art
The integration of commissioned art works into the built fabric of Parliament
House was central to the architect's concept for the building. Also central
was the idea of developing a contemporary collection which would reflect
society back to the decision makers of the nation. As such, the art is
a critical element of the experience for visitors to Parliament House.
The Parliament House Art Collection is a significant national collection
that currently comprises over 5,000 works of art and heritage objects.
The Collection includes notable works by most major Australian artists,
represents almost all media forms and includes major architectural commissions
such as the Forecourt mosaic, Possum and Wallaby Dreaming by Michael Nelson
Jakamarra, and The Great Hall Tapestry. One of the largest tapestries
in the world, it was made by the Victorian Tapestry Workshop after a painting
by the late noted Australia artist Arthur Boyd.
Some works from the Collection are always on display to the public areas
and are supplemented by regular exhibitions as opportunity presents.
For further information contact (02) 6277 5123 or (02) 6277 5993
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