Friday 16th March

We drove along Commonwealth Avenue, across Lake Burley Griffin and straight to Parliament House on Capital Hill this morning. The forecourt is huge and bare but we were told that it is used as a place for people to gather before events.

The entrance foyer is a lovely space with 48 marble pillars designed to be reminiscent of a eucalypt forest.

As the House of Representatives was not sitting we were able to view the chamber which seats the 150 members.
We did attend a sitting of the Senate in their chamber and heard an interesting debate about Australian mining taxes. There was heavy security and no cameras were allowed.

Further down the hill is the Old Parliament House which was in use until 1988. It was meant as a temporary building when it was completed in 1927.

We had an interesting conversation with a guide in the old chamber who told us about many links with the British Parliament. The new chamber is of a similar design to this one.

To one side of the same site is the High Court of Australia which was opened by the Queen in 1980. The interior is  imposing and contains these striking murals representing the Australian states and constitution.

There was a heavy shower and these birds flew down to drink from the puddles. We have seen them in many places on our journey and we think that they are rose breasted cockatoos.

Just before dinner we drove into the area where the Embassies and High Commissions are situated. The design of each building is supposed to represent the architecture of that country.