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.

xClose
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • About
  • Blog
  • Prime Ministers
  • Websites
  • Venue hire
  • Visiting
  • What's On
  • Collection
  • Learning
  • Democracy
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • Visiting
    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access
    • Group bookings
    • Cafe
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library
  • What’s On
    • Exhibitions
    • Events
  • Collection
    • The Building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Oral Histories
  • Learning
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents
  • Democracy
    • Democracy 2025
    • Defining democracy
    • Australian democracy: an overview
    • The democratic audit of Australia
    • One thing I like about democracy
    • Links
    • Quotes
    • Notes
    • About
    • Blog
    • Prime Ministers
    • Websites
    • Venue hire

    Oral history

    Collection

    • The Building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Oral history

    Listen to the Oral History Collection

    Much of our knowledge of history is lost because it is never written down. Oral history is a method of gathering and preserving historical information by recording memories of people’s unique life experiences. The oral history interview creates a record of those memories, and preserves them for current and future generations. The recording of oral history is a two-way process in which someone shares memories with an interviewer who has carefully planned an interview.

    Old Parliament House was home to the Australian federal parliament between 1927 and 1988. During those six decades thousands of people participated in the life of the House and its vicinity.

    On 9 May 2009, Old Parliament House was relaunched as the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. The new museum showcases the history of Australian democracy, and continues to pay respect to the heritage values of this national heritage-listed building. We have broadened our role to include the story of democracy and democratic values in Australia and elsewhere. Our Vision Statement is: To celebrate, debate and experience the journey of Australian Democracy.

    The Museum actively collects interviews as part of its Oral History Program. It conducts oral history interviews with a diverse range people including:

    • former federal parliamentarians;
    • individuals who personally knew former prime ministers (such as family members, friends and colleagues);
    • former workers and staff; and
    • rank-and-file activists of the parties that were represented in the federal parliament.

    Since 1995, when the first interview was recorded for the program, more than 299 oral history recordings have been made and acquired by the Museum. Those interviewed include people who attended the building’s opening ceremony in 1927, parliamentary staffers and officers, Hansard reporters, journalists, construction workers, stenographers, police, drivers, managers, librarians, typists, gardeners, waitresses, caterers, paymasters, hairdressers, Clerks of the House and politicians.

    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

    • Events
    • Exhibitions

    Collection

    • The building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Highlights
    • Oral histories

    Learning

    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents

    Democracy

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

    About

    • OPH Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Budget
    • Corporate documents
    • Disability Inclusion Action Plan
    • Employment
    • Freedom of information
    • Public Interest Disclosure
    • Media
    • Newsletter
    • Support us
    • Partnerships
    • Our prime minister patrons
    • Donate to our collection
    • eCommerce terms and conditions
    • Online house rules

    Blog

    Prime Ministers

    Websites

    Further information

    View our recruitment opportunities.

    View our copyright policy.

    View our privacy statement.

    View our ticketing terms and conditions.

    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