Parliament House on Capital Hill

The Australian Parliament House is a remarkable building which was opened in 1988 (the bicentenary of the founding of Australia) at a cost of $1.1 billion. It is built into Capital Hill in the centre of Canberra city and is covered by grass to preserve the original landscape. A huge 81m flagpole marks its location.

No visit to Canberra in the ACT would be complete without a tour of Parliament House.

Inside extensive areas are open to visitors. These include the Forecourt Mosaic made up of 90,000 pieces representing a possum and wallaby dreaming, the white marble Great Verandah at the north eastern end of the main axis, the grey green marble columns symbolising a forest in the huge foyer and on the first floor overlooking the Great Hall a magnificent 20m-long tapestry.