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Parliament House
Parliament House is the thing most visitors to the city want to see. Opened in
1988, new Parliament House (as it's commonly known, to distinguish it from the
old Parliament House) is a marble lined building at the apex of the
Parliamentary Triangle. Built into the hill, the roof of the house is lined with
grass to make it blend in. In true Australian tradition, the grass is imported
lawn mix, which requires gargantuan quantities of water and weedkiller to keep
it green and glowing. The interior of the house is rather impressive - each of
its major sections is lined with Australian timbers, and it is littered with
over 3000 art works bought or commissioned from Australian artists.
Old Parliament House, further down the hill towards the lake, was the seat of
government from 1927 until 1988. Far more modest than its succesor, the old
house resembles a slightly sprawling wedding cake. You can take a tour of the
building or wander its pleasant grounds. The house is also home to the National
Portrait Gallery.
National Gallery of Australia
Canberra's National Gallery, on the south shore of the lake, has probably the
best collection of art in the country. The Australian collection ranges from
traditional Aboriginal art through to 20th century works by Arthur Boyd, Sidney
Nolan and Albert Tucker. Aboriginal works include bark paintings from Arnhem
Land, pukumani burial poles from the Tiwi people and printed fabrics from
central Australia. There's also plenty of foreign art from all eras, and most
travelling exhibitions stop by Canberra on their way around the world. The
collection is not confined to paintings: sculptures, prints, drawings,
photographs, furniture, ceramics, fashion, textiles and silverware are all on
display. There are a couple of pleasant restaurants on the grounds, and free
lectures are often given.
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Australian War Memorial
The massive war memorial is more than the usual pointy concrete thing in the
middle of town, it's actually a museum of Australia\'s war history. It was
conceived in 1925 and finally opened in 1941. It houses an amazing collection of
pictures, dioramas, relics and exhibitions, including a fine collection of old
aircraft. For anyone with an interest in toy soldiers, the miniature battle
scenes are absorbing.
The Hall of Memory is the focus of the memorial. It features a beautiful
interior, some superb stained-glass windows and a dome made of six million
Italian mosaic pieces. The Unknown Australian Soldier was brought here from a
WWI battlefield in 1993. Leading to the hall is the reflecting pool, its
surrounding walls inscribed with the names of Australia\'s war dead.
Australian National Botanic Gardens
On the lower slopes of Black Mountain, behind the Australian National
University, the beautiful 50 hectare (123 acre) botanic gardens are devoted to
Australian flora. There are educational walks, including one among plants used
by Aborigines. A highlight is the rainforest area, achieved in this dry climate
with a misting system, while the eucalypt lawn has 600 species of this
ubiquitous Australian tree. Take a guided walk, or take a seat in the pleasant
Kookaburra Cafe.
Disclaimer: We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience
sustained by anyone resulting from the above information. You should verify
critical information like visas, health and safety, customs, and transportation)
with the relevant authorities before you travel.
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