OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND CURTILAGE HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2008–2013

D. History of the Place
Part D – Appendices
Old Parliament House and Curtilage Heritage Management Plan 2008–2013
297
Extract from Records about Dining Room Chair
Quote from Grace Bros Ltd 1
58 small chairs cedar, waxed, hide 11/-/- Total £638.0.0
Dining Room Chair 2
Chair to be of timber specified in schedule. Front legs to be 2 x 2” cut and tapered to detail with brass foot
caps fitted flush on faces and screwed underside. Back legs 1-3/4” 1-1/4” shaped and tapered to detail. Rails
to be 3-1/4” x 1-1/4” rebated at bottom, shaped as shown, and tenoned into legs and screw blocked. Back
to be hollow with rails shaped and tenoned into legs and 1/4” 3 ply backing as shown. Chamfered blocks to
be stump tenoned together. Slip in seat to have 1-1/8” thick framing tenoned together. Seat to have best
English webbing, clouted on, and be sprung with not less than six locked springs, well laced. Best house
canvas to be used and seat and back to be all hair stuffed with best curled horsehair. Chair to be covered
in best quality hide to approval with studs to match on back. Woodwork to be polished as per schedule.
The design of the Chambers in Old Parliament House had a significant impact on the design of the furniture
which was to be placed in it. Murdoch preferred a Westminster style of parallel seating in the belief that
the public should be able to see a Minister addressing the House but his views were overlooked by the
Standing Committee who chose a horse-shoe layout, not unlike that in Washington. This meant that the
furniture had to fit around a semi-circle, presenting a difficult design and manufacturing challenge.
In the case of the some items of furniture such as the desks and seats for the Chambers, sample items
were made and delivered so that the Members could inspect and comment on their design. On the strength
of their recommendations, a number of alterations were made to the final design, including the location
of the inkwells, the widening of the depth of the seat, ventilation for the circulation of heated and cooled
air, the alignment of the drawer below the seat and the installation of a receptacle for waste paper. 85
Functionality was a key consideration in the design of many items for Provisional Parliament House, the
issue of furniture related to the responsibilities and duties of the occupant of a position. Office furniture was
designed to a hierarchical formula, the higher level of importance of the position, the larger the item, the
better the timber. For example, the Usher of the Black Rod had greater entitlements than a Minister within
the building. It can be assumed from the following list that the Usher had the services of a typist, while
Ministers relied on a typing pool or support staff elsewhere. The Usher had need of a wardrobe in which to keep
his ceremonial robes. The following comparison of the two entitlements illustrates the differing roles. 86
83 Schedule of Furniture for Dining Room Block, quotation submitted by Grace Bros, 18 September 1926. CRS A292/1 item C2202 Pt 1.
84 Specifications for Furniture, Dining Room Block, ibid
85 Alterations and Improvements to Double Desks and Seats, ibid.
86 List of Furniture Required. ibid.