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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    Articles tagged with: general

    Latest articles

    14 minute read

    Fri 27 Mar 2020
    Campbell Rhodes

    War and Unity: How Australia governs during a crisis

    How does Australia govern itself during a major crisis, and how does it maintain its democratic norms during something like the COVID-19 pandemic? 

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    War cabinet menzies

    6 minute read

    Sun 4 Nov 2018
    Campbell Rhodes

    Australia vs America – midterm elections and their influence

    The United States is facing ‘midterm elections’ as voters give their views on the Trump Administration without voting for the presidency. But did you know this process has influenced the way politics works in Australia? 

    Read article

    Senates

    2 minute read

    Mon 4 Jun 2018
    Monica Glasgow

    Welcome to Australia

    New citizens are welcomed with heart-felt messages from our visitors. 

    Read article

    Gifting democracy gallery 1

    8 minute read

    Sun 22 Apr 2018
    Monica Glasgow

    Democracy breakdown

    Worldwide we are seeing a breakdown of democracy and a decline in trust. Who is to blame? Is it the politicians, the media, big business or us? New MoAD staffer Monica Glasgow reflects.

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    Andrew weldon big issue

    12 minute read

    Tue 16 May 2017
    Stephanie Pfennigwerth

    A Horse’s Tale: Bill, Bertie and Bairnsdale 303

    Horses were a vital part of the Parliament House opening ceremonies. What did they make of all the fuss? Three photographs of Bill, the horse ridden in Canberra by the Duke of York, provide a fresh insight into the day’s events.

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    Duke perching

    7 minute read

    Tue 9 May 2017
    Stephanie Pfennigwerth

    The Thieving Diva: Behind the scenes of the opening ceremony at Parliament House

    Hilda Abbott was a distinguished guest whose recollections reveal that behind the public performance, VIPs are only people after all.

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    Dame nellie opening ceremony

    9 minute read

    Tue 2 May 2017
    Stephanie Pfennigwerth

    Flags, snags and bags: Putting the finishing touches on the opening of Parliament House

    It took determination, ingenuity and a small piece of string to get Parliament House finished in time for its grand opening in 1927.

    Read article

    King george v statue

    5 minute read

    Fri 17 Mar 2017

    Irish Prime Ministers of Australia

    This St. Patrick’s Day, we look at 7 Australian prime ministers of Irish descent.

    Read article

    Flag of ireland.svg

    7 minute read

    Thu 16 Mar 2017
    Stephanie Pfennigwerth

    Young People and the Right to Vote: Some exceptions to the rule

    All Australians aged 18 or over have the right to vote and have a say in their democracy. But it wasn’t always this way.

    Read article

    Awm 017496

    14 minute read

    Fri 20 Jan 2017
    Campbell Rhodes

    Besties (or not) from the West: PMs and Presidents

    As the world looks on as Donald Trump becomes the 45th U.S. President, researcher Campbell looks at meetings between other presidents and Australian prime ministers, and what effect they had on Australia.

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    Nixon and whitlam

    12 minute read

    Thu 8 Dec 2016
    Stephanie Pfennigwerth

    A Present from the Past: Sir Robert Menzies and the Fishes Royal

    In 1965 Queen Elizabeth gave Sir Robert Menzies a gift so special that he had to contemplate burying it on a beach. What was it?

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    Menzies by frith

    8 minute read

    Mon 7 Nov 2016
    Campbell Rhodes

    An Australian guide to American elections

    With Americans set to vote this week, most Australians would not have missed that the USA is facing a presidential election. But you might not know how things are different to Australian elections, or what the system entails. Researcher Campbell explains how American elections work, and how they compare to Australian elections.

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    02 white house

    9 minute read

    Fri 4 Nov 2016
    Joan Beaumont

    How Billy Hughes lost the 1916 conscription referendum

    100 years ago Australia was divided over the issue of conscription. Australia was one of the few countries without conscription, and Prime Minister Billy Hughes was determined to introduce it. Guest blogger Professor Joan Beaumont examines why the popular and bombastic Hughes, a man used to getting his own way by hook or by crook, failed in his mission. 

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    Ill have you

    4 minute read

    Thu 27 Oct 2016
    Campbell Rhodes

    A Projector for a Prime Minister

    Robert Menzies was prime minister for almost two decades in total, but he was also a man of many interests and talents. One of his interests was in film, and in 1954 he was presented with a gift that let him indulge that passion. The Menzies projector is a new acquisition into the MOAD collection that sheds light onto Menzies’ life outside politics.

    Read article

    02 menzies projector

    5 minute read

    Fri 16 Sep 2016
    Dr Barry York

    Sixty years of television: friend or foe of democracy?

    Television in Australia turns 60 on 16 September. Dr Barry York looks back at some of the concerns about its introduction, and the Royal Commission on Television, convened in 1953.

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    Barry with the york familys first tv set 1965

    5 minute read

    Fri 2 Sep 2016
    Campbell Rhodes

    The one that got away: the last time a government lost a vote in the House of Representatives

    The government just lost a vote in the House of Representatives for the first time since 1962. Researcher Campbell explores what that means and what happened all those decades ago. 

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    1962 hor

    6 minute read

    Sat 20 Aug 2016
    Campbell Rhodes

    Deakin’s Great White Gamble

    On this day 108 years ago, a prime minister took a stand and invited some warships to visit Australia. Did he realise at the time what a monumental impact he would have on Australia’s place in the world?

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    Us%20navy%20fleet%20visit%20stereograph

    5 minute read

    Thu 4 Aug 2016
    Michael Evans

    What’s so ‘royal’ about a royal commission, and what are they, anyway?

    Whenever there is a very serious issue in our public life – especially when it involves possible illegal activity, impropriety or incompetence – there are calls for a royal commission to look into the matter.

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    Evatt petrov rc

    9 minute read

    Tue 21 Jun 2016
    Campbell Rhodes

    On this day: a Catholic forgives

    Arthur Calwell was shot fifty years ago today. He survived, but the story of his brush with death doesn’t end outside Mosman Town Hall; it is a story of a Catholic faith that never wavered even when looking death in the face.

    Read article

    Large medals

    52 minute read

    Wed 27 Apr 2016
    Paul Daley

    Driving Mr Menzies

    Alf Stafford, a Gamilaroi and Darug man, joined the Commonwealth Transport Department in 1937. Over a 35 career, Stafford drove countless politicians, among them opposition leaders and 11 prime ministers, including Robert Menzies during his two stints as prime minister.

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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

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    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