Collection

Our collection captures the ideas, movements, people and events of Australian democracy.

Learn more about our collection

Photograph of two orange square earrings attached to a card with the lablel "CATHY'S BLING - Proudly supporting Cathy McGowan's Campaign"

‘Cathy’s Bling’ earrings

These small but mighty earrings were created for Cathy McGowan's campaign for the Indi electorate.

Neville Bonner’s stamp

This stamp displaying Neville Bonner’s name and job title was used for his parliamentary work in office.

Plaque presented to Dorothy Tangney

This plaque signifys Dorothy Margaret Tangney becoming Australia’s first woman senator.

Souvenir spoon with commemorative florin

The first Australian commemorative coin marked the 1927 opening of Australia's provisional Parliament House.

Photograph of a medallion labled "Charlotte Blacklock"

WSPU hunger strike medal

The Women’s Social and Political Union took extreme actions to advance the cause of women’s suffrage.

Photograph of a small badge labled "Free Julian"

Julian Assange supporters’ badge

From 2006, the website WikiLeaks, and its founder, Julian Assange posted leaked government documents.

Photograph of a metal tag labled "Non members bar"

Non-Members’ Bar life membership tags

From 1946, a lively bar was provided for ‘non-members’ of parliament at the provisional Parliament House.

Photograph of a small matchbook reading "Vote liberal 1 Darby in Werriwa"

Michael Darby’s campaign matchbook

More than an unassuming piece of campaign material, this matchbook has a story to tell.

Photograph of a small, white ceramic elephant

Souvenir elephant

This miniature elephant is a tongue-in-cheek example of souvenirs depicting provisional Parliament House.

Photograph of a small circular box filled with blye tipped matches

Commonwealth Match Works vesta case

Pocket-sized cylindrical boxes for matches, were popular in Australia and New Zealand in the early 1900s.

Photograph of two brass coloured cufflinks

Court dress cufflinks and vesta case

These decorated cufflinks were part of a court dress uniform for the Minister for External Affairs.

President of the Senate’s signet ring

Australia’s first ever President of the Senate likely commissioned this gold and bloodstone signet ring.

Photograph of a fire damaged ceiling in Old Parliament House

Fire damage to Old Parliament House

Photograph of fire damage to Old Parliament House and remediation under way.

Photograph of a worn commonwealth sixpence

Commonwealth of England sixpence

This rare hammered silver coin represents a foundational idea for the history of parliamentary democracy.

Toy koala

A beloved toy koala gifted to Australia’s 100,000th British post-war migrant.

A brown old coin with the words three pence on the front. There is a hole in the middle of the coin with a wreath that goes around the hole.

Threepenny internment camp tokens

A different kind of currency.

A light brown plastic phone with rows of red buttons and a manual hand dial. The receiver sits on the side.

Multifone telephone used by William McMahon

Lift the handle and listen for the dial tone.

A close up of a large chair that is wooden, leather and ornate.

Speaker's Chair

A gift to the Australian Parliament from the United Kingdom.

A photograph of the Prime Ministers office

Prime minister's desk

An expanse of desktop.

A selection of rail tickets with hand written cursive text and a blue leather wallet.

Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House

First class travel for the wife of the prime minister.

An orange skivvy with the words 'It's time' in big black font on the front.

It's time skivvy

A rallying cry: ‘It’s time’.

Photograph of a wooden chair with red leather seat cushion and back.

Dining room chair

A workhorse chair you can still sit on today.

An embroidered multicoloured knitted cushion.

Embroidered cushion gifted to Arthur Calwell

A symbol of a substantial change in government policy.

A dark room with heavy curtins and a large, heavy oval shaped table with a hole in the middle surrounded by large grey chairs.

Cabinet Room table

A table fit for a Cabinet.

Barber's chair

Not a hair out of place.

Collection

Our collection captures the ideas, movements, people and events of Australian democracy.

‘Cathy’s Bling’ earrings

Neville Bonner’s stamp

Plaque presented to Dorothy Tangney

Souvenir spoon with commemorative florin

WSPU hunger strike medal

Julian Assange supporters’ badge

Non-Members’ Bar life membership tags

Michael Darby’s campaign matchbook

Souvenir elephant

Commonwealth Match Works vesta case

Court dress cufflinks and vesta case

President of the Senate’s signet ring

Fire damage to Old Parliament House

Commonwealth of England sixpence

Toy koala

Threepenny internment camp tokens

Multifone telephone used by William McMahon

Speaker's Chair

Prime minister's desk

Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House

It's time skivvy

Dining room chair

Embroidered cushion gifted to Arthur Calwell

Cabinet Room table

Barber's chair

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Collection

Our collection captures the ideas, movements, people and events of Australian democracy.

‘Cathy’s Bling’ earrings

Neville Bonner’s stamp

Plaque presented to Dorothy Tangney

Souvenir spoon with commemorative florin

WSPU hunger strike medal

Julian Assange supporters’ badge

Non-Members’ Bar life membership tags

Michael Darby’s campaign matchbook

Souvenir elephant

Commonwealth Match Works vesta case

Court dress cufflinks and vesta case

President of the Senate’s signet ring

Fire damage to Old Parliament House

Commonwealth of England sixpence

Toy koala

Threepenny internment camp tokens

Multifone telephone used by William McMahon

Speaker's Chair

Prime minister's desk

Ethel Bruce's rail pass and tickets to the opening of Parliament House

It's time skivvy

Dining room chair

Embroidered cushion gifted to Arthur Calwell

Cabinet Room table

Barber's chair

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