In May 1901, Victoria's Parliament House, Spring Street became the first home of the Australian Commonwealth Government. It remained the seat of government until March 1927, five times longer than originally expected.
The magnificent classical design, inspired by the architecture of Imperial Rome, was criticised during its construction as too palatial for a small provincial colony and symptomatic of the over-inflated self consequence of gold rush Victoria. For the seat of government of a new nation, however, it was eminently suitable and an obvious choice over temporary facilities offered at the Exhibition Buildings.
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| Parliament house, looking north, c. 1900 (Image: RHSV) |
Parliament House was designed by J.G. Knight and Peter Kerr. Construction began early in 1856 and the two Legislative chambers were completed by the end of the year. Progress on the rest of the building however, was slow and sporadic. The Library was added in 1859-61 and the Queens Hall and Vestibule completed by 1879. These exquisitely detailed interiors remain among the most impressive of nineteenth century Australian architecture. Since the western facade and steps were not added until the 1880s, and not completed until 1892, the bare faced boxes belied the opulence within.
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| Parliament house, c. 1910 (Image: PROV PTC H4844) |
Parliament House was the venue for the 1890-91 Australasian Federation Conference, held from 6-14 February 1890. It was attended by delegates from all Australian colonies and from New Zealand. A motion urging early union of the colonies and recommending a "National Australasian Convention to consider and report on an adequate scheme for a Federal Constitution" which was passed at an ANA conference in January, was embraced by the delegates at Parliament House, and led to the first National Australasian Convention in Sydney in March- April 1891. A serious and dignified demeanour was favoured when the conference delegates posed for posterity in front of the oriental pavilion in the Parliament House Gardens.
In early 1898, the year of the first referendum on the Federal Bill, delegates met again at Parliament House for the final National Australasian Convention.