I'm pretty sure there are not too many countries in the world where you can run and jump around on the roof of Parliament House in the Nations Capital. The new Parliament House was our only other stop in Canberra. There is much to see and do in Canberra, you can spend a few days here. As I've been to Canberra more than once before I let Hubby pick and choose what he wanted to see. The War Memorial and Parliament House, it was.
I am not going to bore you with the details of the House of Representatives and the Senate, you can google it yourself. We were more interested in the actual building itself. Things like the Aboriginal dot mosaic in the forecourt.
The Coat of Arms, created by silversmith, Robin Blau.
The shadows cast within the Great Verandah. Yep, it's actually called the Great Verandah.
Arthur Boyd was commissioned in 1984 to create a work of art to hang in the Great Hall. The original painting now hangs in a hall on the second floor.
This is the Great Hall Tapestry and Embroidery that was created from the canvas.
The flagmast (according to the booklet we were given it's a flagmast not a flag pole) is on the roof of Parliament House. And yes you can take an elevator up to the roof, walk to the base of the flagmast, sit on the lawn, admire the view, and be amazed at the fact that right underneath the flagmast is the Member's Hall.
A direct quote from the Parliament of Australia website, "A visit to the Shop is a "must" for overseas and interstate visitors, as well as locals." I guess if the shop is a must, then these are some of the must buys. (we didn't buy anything). You could pretty much Prime Ministerfy your entire house!
cup & saucer with the Coat of Arms
Perhaps a coffee mug with a face of a former Prime Minister
a bottle of Senator or Frontbencher or Backbencher or Fence Sitter or Whip wine
or a tea towel with the faces of all our Prime Ministers.