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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    From the blog

    Neville Bonner at Old Parliament House

    1 minute read

    Mon 8 Jul 2013 by
    Libby Stewart
    • collection
    • democracy

    This Thursday 11 July the museum will celebrate NAIDOC week with a look at the life of the first Indigenous Member of Parliament, Neville Bonner. Senior Historian Libby Stewart will talk about the early life and parliamentary career of this extraordinary man in a talk illustrated with images and objects owned by Neville Bonner, now held in the museum’s collections.

    Neville Thomas Bonner was born in northern New South Wales in 1922 and after a hard childhood learned his political skills in the charged atmosphere of Palm Island. He joined the Liberal Party in the 1960s and found himself an elected member of the Senate for Queensland in 1971 after the retirement of Annabelle Rankin. For twelve years he sat in the Senate, fighting hard for the rights and better treatment of his people, a proud and dignified man.

    See and hear more about Neville Bonner in the House of Representatives Chamber at the Museum of Australian Democracy, this Thursday at 11am. Entry will be on a first come, first serve basis.

    1 minute read

    Mon 8 Jul 2013 by
    Libby Stewart
    • collection
    • democracy

    Libby Stewart is the Senior Historian at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra. She was previously a historian at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. She has curated exhibitions and published in the areas of the representation of women leaders in museums, Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War, and Australian nurses in the First World War.

    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

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    Telephone: 02 6270 8222

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