Parliament House Canberra

Parliament House Canberra News and information about visiting, tours and events at Australia Parliament House.

Today is World Oceans Day!To celebrate, we’re sharing ocean-themed works from the Parliament House Art Collections.As a ...
08/06/2026

Today is World Oceans Day!

To celebrate, we’re sharing ocean-themed works from the Parliament House Art Collections.

As a country surrounded by sea, Australia’s arts and cultures are deeply connected to the oceans that surround us.

Shown here are artworks by David Preston, Narelle Autio, Rosella Namok, Kanthanampu, Aangkum peoples, Catherine Rogers, Sally Robinson, and Luke Shadbolt.

See the full art credits on our website: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/art_credits

04/06/2026

May was a busy month at Parliament House!

With access to Parliament House for up to 12 months, our Artist-in-Residence will have endless sources of inspiration to...
02/06/2026

With access to Parliament House for up to 12 months, our Artist-in-Residence will have endless sources of inspiration to create new artwork.

The working building has over 125 years of federal parliamentary history including Hansard records, Parliamentary Library research, and terabytes of photo and video archives.

But inspiration doesn’t stop there! Let’s not forget there are more than 6,000 artworks, 23 hectares of gardens, around 2,500 clocks and 8 beehives!

Australian visuals artists at any stage of their career have 2 weeks left to apply to the Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence program. We have all the information you need about the program, including FAQs, on our website: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Parliament_House_Artist-in-Residence_FAQs

Images: AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services

What’s on this month at Parliament House!- Take a ‘How Parliament Works’ tour on the public holidays of 1 and 8 June. - ...
01/06/2026

What’s on this month at Parliament House!

- Take a ‘How Parliament Works’ tour on the public holidays of 1 and 8 June.
- Join a free ‘Yeribee’ tour on 3 June for National Reconciliation Week.
- See Parliament in action and attend Question Time on sitting days.
- See a performance by the Wyniss ensemble on 26 June.
- Attend a free Senate lecture on June 26.

Find out more: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Whats_On

Images: Pew Pew Studio, AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services and courtesy of Wyniss ensemble.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the following contains the name of a deceased person. ‘Fr...
28/05/2026

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that the following contains the name of a deceased person.

‘Freedom Rides’ by Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang artist Richard Bell celebrates the bus and banner used in the 1965 Freedom Ride.

Inspired by campaigns against racial segregation in the USA, a group of University of Sydney students formed the ‘Student Action For Aborigines’.

The group drove around regional NSW for 15 days to draw attention to the racism, marginalisation and living conditions Aboriginal people were subjected to.

Led by Arrente man Charles Perkins, and supported by the Wayside Chapel, it was a defining moment in Australian activism.

See the work on display on Level 1 or visit our website to find out more: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Collections/Richard_Bell_Freedom_Rides

Art credit: Richard Bell (born 1953), Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang peoples, ‘Freedom Rides’, 2023, Parliament House Art Collections.

Today marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme is ‘All In’, a call for all Australians to ...
27/05/2026

Today marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme is ‘All In’, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.

Tonight, the Parliament House façade will be illuminated by ‘Numbat Night’, a 2024 artwork by John Prince Siddon, a Walmajarri artist based in Rubibi/Broome.

Of this work, the artist says:
‘Numbats are quiet animal. I never seen one, but I did it for their good colour. They feed on termite and ants. They same like my cat, they quiet. They come out at night where they like eating at night. Search for them in the morning but can't find it. They shy. Next time I use a torch at night to see.’

Prince’s work weaves together contemporary life and ancestral creation stories. Influenced by the traditional Kimberley craft boab nut carving, desert iconography, television and the characters of the Narrangkarni (Dreamtime), his style is layered, eclectic and vividly expressive. He describes this as ‘all mixed up’. Through this, he reflects the deep connections that bind culture, landscape, animals and people.

You can see the illumination from tonight to 29 May 2026, between 6 pm and 11 pm each night.

You can also see the original artwork on display at Parliament House from now until October 2026 on level 1.

Image: AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services featuring John Prince Siddon (born 1964), Walmajarri people, ‘Numbat Night’, 2024, Parliament House Art Collections. © John Prince Siddon/Copyright Agency, 2026, and image courtesy of artist John Prince Siddon.

Bring the kids along for a vibrant performance filled with cultural storytelling from the lively Wyniss ensemble. Presen...
26/05/2026

Bring the kids along for a vibrant performance filled with cultural storytelling from the lively Wyniss ensemble.

Presented by Musica Viva Australia, this show brings the culture and language of the Torres Strait Islands to life through singing, dancing and games.

Join us on 26 June at 10 am in the Great Hall for this free performance.

Register today: https://events.humanitix.com/wyniss-presented-by-musica-viva-australia

Images: Courtesy of Musica Viva Australia

Spend a night under the stars learning from Indigenous astronomer and proud Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay man Peter Swanton, in...
22/05/2026

Spend a night under the stars learning from Indigenous astronomer and proud Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay man Peter Swanton, in association with the ANU Astronomy Society.

Discover how the skies have been used by First Nations people as maps to navigate seasons and guide cultural practices across a millennium.

Start your journey inside Parliament House where Peter will guide you through Australia’s long and rich history of stargazing. You’ll explore the scientific importance of stars on Country and learn how this knowledge is being preserved.

Afterwards, move to the front lawns of Parliament House for some hands-on stargazing with the ANU Astronomy Society and their telescopes. Don’t forget to rug up for the Canberra chill!

Book your free spot for 28 May 2026: https://events.humanitix.com/indigenous-stargazing-at-parliament-house

Please note this event is subject to viewing and weather conditions on the day.

Image: Department of Parliamentary Services

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Federation of Australia. Federation was an important milestone in Australia...
21/05/2026

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Federation of Australia.
Federation was an important milestone in Australian history that saw the 6 separate British colonies unite to form the Commonwealth of Australia.

To recognise this anniversary, there are 2 important works from the Parliament House Art Collections now on display.

You can now see the 1913 portrait from the Historic Memorials Collection of Sir Henry Parkes (1815-1896), the ‘Father of Federation’. He is remembered for his decades of advocacy for joining the colonies together as one nation. He served in Parliament for nearly 40 years, including 5 terms as the Premier of New South Wales. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1896 before the successful referendums that led to Federation.

We are also displaying portraits of the 111 parliamentarians who formed the first Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Governor-General. They officially sat for the first time on 9 May 1901.

The tradition of parliamentarian portraits continues 125 years later! You can see the current 48th Parliament portraits next to this display on Level 1 of Parliament House.

Learn more about Sir Henry Parkes and his portrait on our website: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Stories/HMC/Notable-Parliamentarians/Sir_Henry_Parkes_KCMG_GCMG

Art credits: Julian Ashton (1851-1942), Henry Parkes, 1913, Historic Memorials Collection, Parliament House Art Collections

The Swiss Studio (active 1895-1920), Members of the First Commonwealth Parliament, 1901, Official Gifts Collection, Parliament House Art Collections

Address

Parliament House
Canberra, ACT
2600

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61262775399

Website

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Department_of_Parl

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