The Museum of Australian Democracy acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

The museum respectfully acknowledges the role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to play in shaping Australia’s democracy.

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Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
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Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
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    Latest articles

    3 minute read

    Mon 30 Jan 2023

    MoAD’s efforts recognised at National Trust Heritage Awards

    We ended 2022 on a high note, with two MoAD projects picking up two ‘significant’ National Trust (ACT) Heritage Awards.  

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    6 minute read

    Tue 24 Jan 2023
    Amy Lay

    Curator's highlights of Behind the Lines 2022

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    3 minute read

    Tue 20 Dec 2022

    David Pope is our Behind the Lines Political Cartoonist of the Year

    Behind the Lines is back for another year!

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    Jwland 0847

    0 minute read

    Tue 29 Nov 2022

    Old Parliament House After the Fire

    See behind the scenes of the process to restore Old Parliament House after damage caused by a devastating fire. 

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    2 minute read

    Wed 21 Sep 2022

    Old Parliament House building works

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    22 minute read

    Fri 9 Sep 2022
    Professor Anne Twomey

    Remembering Elizabeth II in the halls of Old Parliament House

    Queen Elizabeth visited Old Parliament House on nine occasions during her long reign. Each marked the changing relationship between Australia and the monarch. 

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    5 minute read

    Thu 30 Jun 2022

    The changemaker objects that left an impact on our curators

    We asked some of our Exhibitions and Collections staff if there was a particular Changemakers object that made an impact on them.

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    9 minute read

    Thu 30 Jun 2022
    Nina Enever

    The art of activism - these artists use embroidery to make change

    Created by artists Tal Fitzpatrick, Sofia Fitzpatrick, Kait James, Amy Claire Mills and Guy Ritani, these banners bring to life the slogans used by social movements over generations. 

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    Progress%20pride%20flag:love%20wins tal%20fitzpatrick

    6 minute read

    Fri 10 Jun 2022
    Tiaan Zampaglione

    ‘Just add unicorns': Celebratory coronation arches from London to Canberra’

    A royal tour is filled with grandeur and glamour; there’s gowns, tiaras, fancy state balls, and sometimes, even unicorns. Intrigued? Read on to discover how Canberra welcomed not only the Queen, but also mystical beasts from another land.  

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    Queen%20elizabeth%20arches

    7 minute read

    Thu 12 May 2022
    Campbell Rhodes

    7 people you (maybe) didn’t know ran for parliament

    From a rock band front man with a long ministerial career, to the fearless wartime spy who thought running for office was 'the stupidest thing' she ever did, here are seven famous faces that threw their hat in the ring for a local, state or federal election. 

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    6 minute read

    Wed 11 May 2022
    Aleyn Silva

    Stepping into the past and present within the MoAD Shop

    Aleyn Silva is an intern at MoAD as part of the Disability and Culturally Diverse Internship Program led by Accessible Arts and run in partnership with Diversity Arts Australia. Here, she reflects on an afternoon spent in our newly refurbished MoAD Shop.

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    Moad%20shop

    8 minute read

    Tue 10 May 2022
    Tiaan Zampaglione

    Westminster Abbey to Old Parliament House: A Queen is crowned

    Can you imagine working in the same job for 70 years? Well, Queen Elizabeth II can! This year she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to Britain and the Commonwealth and claiming the title of the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

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    10 minute read

    Tue 10 May 2022
    Neha Kale

    A seat at the table

    We speak to three Australians who will vote for the first time during this upcoming federal election.

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    Sticker03

    7 minute read

    Wed 27 Apr 2022
    Katie Sproule

    Beyond the ballot

    If you’re too young or otherwise unable to vote, here are my top five suggestions for alternative ways you engage with the democratic process. Let’s look beyond the ballot for ways you can influence the world around you.  

    Read article

    Beyond%20the%20ballot

    11 minute read

    Wed 27 Apr 2022
    Campbell Rhodes

    The eyes have it

    As illustrator Nigel Buchanan worked on a series of prime ministerial portraits for our new exhibition, he quickly ran into a problem... Many of Australia’s prime ministers served in a time before the ubiquity of colour photography. This meant that one key detail remained a mystery. Enter MoAD researcher Campbell Rhodes. 

    Read article

    Johncurtinpassport

    7 minute read

    Wed 27 Apr 2022
    Nina Enever

    Touching the tipping points of history: Q&A with curator Jennifer Forest

    Our new exhibition, Democracy DNA: the People, the Prime Ministers and the World, explores the events that shaped our nation and our democracy. Exhibition curator and ‘storyteller’ Jennifer Forest spoke to us about bringing it all together.  

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    Entry to dna

    10 minute read

    Tue 19 Apr 2022
    Campbell Rhodes

    A brief history of opinion polls

    People often say politicians are too influenced by polls. How long has this been the case? The art of gauging public opinion is quite old and over time has become more and more complex. Here’s a summary of the history of opinion polls, in Australia and elsewhere.

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    1941%20poll

    8 minute read

    Thu 14 Apr 2022
    Campbell Rhodes

    How to vote

    Here’s a handy Q and A about how to vote, where to vote, how to make sure your vote counts, and what you can expect on election day.

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    Votedatmoad

    14 minute read

    Wed 6 Apr 2022
    Campbell Rhodes

    Why do we have elections anyway?

    For some, elections might seem a boring chore, but plenty of others think they’re a vital part of our society, and important since we live in a democracy. 

    Read article

    Election%20festival

    4 minute read

    Thu 31 Mar 2022
    Daryl Karp

    MoAD Director Daryl Karp introduces Democracy DNA: the People, the Prime Ministers and the World

    We’re delighted to announce that we will be opening the first gallery of our new permanent exhibition – Democracy DNA: the People, the Prime Ministers and the World – on 28 April. 

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    Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

    18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia

    PO Box 3934
    Manuka ACT 2603

    9am to 5pm daily 
    Closed Christmas Day

    ABN: 30 620 774 963

    Telephone: 02 6270 8222

    Enquiries:
    info@moadoph.gov.au

    Please note: video surveillance is used 24 hours a day around and throughout the building and may be used for research purposes

    Visiting

    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access
    • Group bookings
    • Cafe
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library

    What's On

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    Collection

    • The building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Highlights
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    Learning

    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents

    Democracy

    • Exploring democracy
    • Documenting a democracy
    • Australian democracy
    • Defining democracy
    • Democracy 2025

    About

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    Questions about the website:
    website@moadoph.gov.au

    The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is a Corporate Commonwealth Entity within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts