Hung Parliament
Australia’s only hung parliament in the first century of Federation, resulted from the wartime election of 1940.
Page 28 of 30 — Latest articles
Dancing with the Prime Minister
Dr Anna Cole, one of this year’s recipients of an Australian Prime Ministers Centre Fellowship, has produced a 30-minute documentary film about the first national Aboriginal debutante ball entitled ‘Dancing with the Prime Minister’.
APMC collection goes online!
The APMC catalogue has been uploaded to Trove, the National Library’s discovery service that enables you to search online across hundreds of Australian collections.
Spending time in Opposition: Wilderness or opportunity?
The challenge of being in parliamentary opposition is explored in the recently opened Opposition Party Room and the Leader of the Opposition’s Office at the Museum of Australian Democracy.
Blueprint for a Better World
Blueprint for a Better World – a Caritas Australia exhibition in partnership with AusAID at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
Freedom of speech and censorship: How free are we?
The third and final event of our Uncensored Conversations, ‘Freedom of speech and censorship: How free are we?’ was held at 6pm in King’s Hall at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra on 15 June 2010.
Immigration, asylum seekers and refugees: What is the real impact?
The first event in our Uncensored Conversations speaker series, was held at 6pm in King’s Hall at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra on 11 May 2010.
Involvement or intrusion: Where is the line for our Government?
The second event in our Uncensored Conversations speaker series was held at 6pm in King’s Hall at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, Canberra on 27 May 2010.
Uncensored Conversations: Boat people, the F-bomb and political power
Uncensored Conversations is a speaker series that could only take place in a true democracy. In May and June 2010, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House will host a forum that will see well-known Australians share their thoughts on the hottest topics shaping our democracy. Limited seats. Register now.
Australian Politicians, c. 1887
How did Australian politicians of the nineteenth century campaign, in the days before today’s pervasive electronic media? They went to where people gathered in their daily lives, and held political meetings in gathering places such as pubs, Mechanic’s Institutes, and open air venues such as a local park or even under a particular tree.
Sketches of the parliament by Tom Thompson
In October 1982, the artist Tom Thompson ventured from his home in Braidwood to depict proceedings of the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra. The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House recently acquired the collection of sketches.
Witness to history: the opening of the Provisional Parliament House in 1927
On 9 May 1927 His Royal Highness the Duke of York opened Australia’s first purpose-built federal parliament building, now known as Old Parliament House. In the accompanying audio from our oral history collection, Therese O’Neill recalls the long trip into Canberra from Yass as a 10 year old, and the thrill of being amongst the crowd to witness the Duke and Duchess of York at the opening.
The Cromwell coin
Just as visitors to museums may develop an attachment to certain objects, so too do curators. Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House curator Corinne Perkins loves the Cromwell coin, which dates back to the period of the English Civil Wars (1642-52).
Ben Chifley and the Bathurst Football Club
A recent addition to our collection is this photo, taken in 1911, of the Bathurst Football Club rugby union team, including future prime minister of Australia J. B. Chifley.
The last prime minister to serve in the House
The last prime minister to serve in the House - the Hon RJL Hawke AC - in the exhibition Australian Democracy - More than 2000 Years in the Making.
Win a $500 Toys’R’Us voucher these school holidays!
Update: Congratulations to Ethan from Dunlop ACT, aged 7, who won our January promotion of a $500 voucher to Toys R Us from the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Congratulations Ethan!
2009 National History Challenge Winners
The awards for the winners of the 2009 National History Challenge were presented on 24 November, 2009. The Australian Prime Ministers Centre at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House sponsored a special category in this year’s challenge: ‘Australian Prime Ministers: Triumph over Adversity’.
Getting it Together: From Colonies to Federation
Now available for free download, Getting it Together: From Colonies to Federation, is a resource for students to actively discover and explore the story of Federation: the social and political journey that led the people of six separate colonies to agree on a Constitution which brought the nation of Australia and its federal parliament into being in 1901.
The Dismissal: 34th Anniversary
On 15 November, the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House will be holding the second of our interactive role playing tours, reconstructing the final hours of the Whitlam government by retracing the steps of the key players.
