Introduction:

We plan on telling you about the overall design of Parliament House and how it was made with a few other details.

The Design: Parliament was designed by Mitchell Giurgola and Thorp Architects. Their design was chosen from 329 entries from 28 countries.

Construction: 10,000 workers from 50 different backgrounds were involved in construction of Parliament House and it's fittings.

Beginnings: Parliament House was officially opened on the 9th of may 1988. Parliament House commenced it's first sitting in the building on the 22nd of august 1988.
Click here to watch the video of Parliament House.

• Parliament house was built to last 200 years and beyond.
• there are 4,500 rooms in parliament House (can you believe it) with a huge floor area of more than 250,000 square metres.
• The building is made of 300,000 cubic metres of concrete - enough to build 25 Sydney Opera Houses!
• The site of Parliament House is 32 hectares; The building covers 15 per cent of area.
• Parliament House is one of the largest buildings in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Ninety per cent materials used in the construction of Parliament House are Australian.
• The total cost of the building was approximately $1.1 billion.

This is a drawing of Parliament House by Aaron

• The flagmast is 81 metres high and weighs 220 tonnes.
• The Australian flag flown from the flagmast is 12.8 metres by 6.4 metres

• The reflective pool in the members' Hall is made of a solid slab of South Australian black granite over which water flows. The sound of trickling water from the pool helps prevent the conversations of Senators and Members from being overheard.
• The Magna Carta on display was issued by King Edward 1 on 12 October 1297. It is one of only four known surviving originals Edward's confirmation of the Charter.The Charter was issued several times in the 13th Century. The document is housed in a hand-crafted English Oak case which is filled with inert argon gas to ensure the document's preservation.

• The Theatrette seats 288 people.
• There are audio visual viewing rooms and an exhibition area.
• The kitchens are capable of producing up to 8000 meals every day.
• There are covered car parks for 2000 vehicles.
• Multi-channel radio and a TV capable system monitors activities in both chambers, 19 committee rooms, news conference rooms, the Theatrette and great hall.
• The public address system can broadcast an emergency warning Through12,000 speakers.
• Biographical data units are located in the public circulation areas providing visitors with information about senators and members.
• 'Parltext' visitor information systems inform visitors of facilities with Parliament House.
• the parliament shop has a wide range of souvenirs, gifts and book's.
• dining facilities for visitors are available in the Queens terrace cafe.
• full postal facilities are available at the post office.
• A cash dispensing machine is located in the public circulation area.