OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND CURTILAGE HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2008–2013

3. Heritage Values
Part A – Context
10 Old Parliament House and Curtilage Heritage Management Plan 2008–2013
3. Heritage Values
Method of assessment
The extensive research on the political, social and
construction history of Old Parliament House (see
Appendix D) provided a comprehensive body of work
from which several Statements of Significance have
been developed. 5 These statements of significance,
along with the analysis of the heritage values for the
National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritage
List, formed the basis for the current Summary
Statement of Heritage Significance. Figure 6 shows the
process to assess the heritage values.
Figure 6:
Process for assessing the heritage values of Old
Parliament House
Register of the National Estate
Independent research and assessment of heritage significance
(Conservation Management Plan 2000)
Consideration of additional
independent detailed heritage
analyses on specific areas/
wings – see Appendix K
Australian Heritage Council assessment and decision by
Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Added to Commonwealth Heritage List
Public comment
Australian Heritage Council assessment and decision by
Minister for the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Added to National Heritage List
Expert Advisory Panel input
Statement of Heritage Significance
developed based on all values and the
National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List
citations (Appendix C)
Summary Statement of Heritage Significance
Old Parliament House has outstanding heritage values
shaped by its pivotal role in the political and social
history of Australia and is an important place in the
evolution of Australian democracy (Criterion A). Old
Parliament House possesses outstanding heritage
values related to its history, design, location, collection
of movable items, social values and associations.
As the original location of the Commonwealth
Parliament in Canberra, Old Parliament House
symbolises and reflects the development of Australia
as a nation, and was the first purpose-built home for
the Australian Parliament (Criterion A). Old Parliament
House was witness to 61 years of Australian legislature,
with a myriad of associated events. It was also
central to the development of Canberra, the opening
of Parliament heralding the symbolic birth of the
nation’s capital (Criterion A). It has become a national
icon, symbolic of the Commonwealth Government in
Australia, and of Canberra itself, for many generations
of Australians (Criterion A).
The building occupies a prominent and strategic
location at the southern end of the main Land Axis of
Walter Burley Griffin’s city design, and contributes to
the planned aesthetic qualities of the Parliamentary
Triangle (Criteria D & E). Its setting, primarily the
gardens, circling roads and parking areas were integral
to the style and use of the place (Criteria E and G).
Old Parliament House was intimately associated with
the course and pattern of the nation’s political, social
and historical development from its opening in 1927
until 1988 (Criterion A). The Chambers of the House
of Representatives and the Senate and Kings Hall have
been the venues for significant events in the shaping of
Australia’s democratic history and traditions (Criterion
A). The layout of each chamber provides an insight
into the workings of the Australian Parliament (Criterion
A). Apart from serving as the seat of Commonwealth
Parliament, the building bears witness to the demands
of accommodating the executive arm of government
within the legislature’s sphere, making it rare among
parliamentary buildings in Australia and in other parts
of the western world (Criterion B).
Old Parliament House represents a significant creative
achievement. Although intended as a provisional
structure, it was designed as a simple yet dignified
building, endowed with appropriate aesthetic and
formal qualities for its location and function (Criterion
E). Old Parliament House is exemplary of the Inter-War
Stripped Classical style of architecture and is the most
prominent instance of the work of the Commonwealth’s
first government architect, John Smith Murdoch
(Criteria D, F & H).
The design of the building, with its complementary
fixtures and fittings including Australian timber
panelled walls, raked galleries, Australian timber
and leather furniture, suspended light fittings, high
coffered ceilings, parquet floors, skylights and
5 Pearson, M, Betteridge, M, Marshall, D, O’Keefe, B, & Young, L 2000 Old Parliament House Conservation Management Plan 2000, prepared for the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
and subsequent studies (Appendix K).