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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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    From the blog

    The best laid plans of Murdoch and the Department of Works and Railways

    3 minute read

    Thu 13 Jun 2013 by
    Alex Flannery
    • building
    • collection
    • heritage

    For the last couple of months I have been sequestered away in the museum bunker poring over and cataloguing more than 600 architectural plans. The plans trace the design, building and evolution of Old Parliament House from 1921 until 1988.

    The plans are magnificently diverse. I have marvelled at the beauty of the sketches, floor plans, blueprints, mechanical and engineering drawings, even garden designs. The plans are printed on plastic, paper, cardboard and the oldest of the plans drawn by the architect John Smith Murdoch are on linen. They are faded, yellowing, stained, dusty and come in all shapes and sizes—some with intricate print, others with bold designs—but all made an impact on me.

    The original plans of Old Parliament House provided for minimal office accommodation. Backbench members and senators were not allocated offices. Accommodation for the executive arm of government was also not intended. However, it became necessary for the prime minister, ministers and staff to be housed in the same building. This necessity, and the growth of the parliament, caused chronic overcrowding and numerous extensions and sometimes makeshift changes to the building. The plans provide a valuable record of these changes and preserve a unique snapshot of the times.

    The plans also reveal the hidden workings and specialised rooms of a large and complex parliamentary building. The massive plant rooms, the air conditioning ducts and electrical wiring that wind through the structure, the industrial kitchens and the workshops for carpenters, painters and electricians. An insight into the social life of Old Parliament House is also evident. Important recreational spaces such as billiards rooms, card rooms and multiple bars are documented in the plans.

    The inventory of these precious architectural plans is now complete and they are stored in protective polyester film sleeves and safely housed in a sturdy metal plan cabinet. They were all interesting but I have included images of twelve that captured my imagination.

    3 minute read

    Thu 13 Jun 2013 by
    Alex Flannery
    • building
    • collection
    • heritage
    Temporary accommodation was constructed in 1972 for the prime minister and his staff while the extensions were made to the prime ministerial suite.

    Temporary accommodation was constructed in 1972 for the prime minister and his staff while the extensions were made to the prime ministerial suite.

    Alex joined the museum in 2010 as a Visitor Service Officer, his tours were legendary. He is currently working as a Collections Management Officer and loves caring for objects that contribute to the growth of our cultural tradition. Alex likes nothing better than reading.

    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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