Parliament House, Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parliament House |
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Parliament House with Parliamentary Annexe in background
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | French Renaissance Revival |
| Location | Gardens Point, Brisbane |
| Address | Cnr George Street and Alice Street, Brisbane City, Queensland |
| Construction started | 1865 |
| Completed | 1867 |
| Renovated | 1982 |
| Owner | Queensland Government |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Sandstone |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Charles Tiffin |
Parliament House in Brisbane is where the Parliament of Queensland meets. It has one main room, called the Legislative Assembly. This important building is found at Gardens Point. It is on the corner of George Street and Alice Street in the city centre. It is also very close to the Queensland University of Technology and the City Botanic Gardens.
Contents
History of Parliament House
Planning the Building
The Queensland Parliament first met on 22 May 1860. They met in an old building on Queen Street. This building was not meant to be their long-term home. The government was busy building Government House first. Plans for a new Parliament House started after that was finished.
In November 1863, a group chose the spot for the new building. It was the corner of Alice and George Street. They held a competition for the best design. The winner would get a prize of 200 guineas. In April 1864, a design by Benjamin Backhouse was picked. But it cost too much, so it was rejected.
Later, in October 1864, a design by William Henry Ellerker was suggested. But this idea was also dropped. Finally, plans by Charles Tiffin, the main architect for Queensland, were chosen. Tiffin gave his prize money to the Ipswich Grammar School.
Building Parliament House
The first stone for Parliament House was laid on 14 July 1865. Sir George Bowen did this important ceremony. The building was constructed by Joshua Jeays. He used sandstone from his own quarries. Beautiful stained glass windows were brought from Birmingham in England. These windows showed pictures of royalty.
The first part of the building was finished in 1867. The side facing George Street was done in 1868. It was built in a style called French Renaissance Revival. The archways and columns on the George Street side were added in 1878. Work on the Alice Street side began in 1887 and finished in 1889.
In 1886, Parliament House got electricity. It was connected to the Government Printing Office by an underground cable. This made it the first Parliament House in Australia to have electricity.
Parliament House in the 20th Century
In August 1939, a group of people gathered at Parliament House. They wanted to show their concerns about unemployment. They went into a meeting that was happening inside. Later, many of them were charged with unlawful assembly. However, they were found not guilty by the jury.
In 1969, the government started looking into adding an extension to Parliament House. In 1972, they began planning a new building. It was designed in a style called Brutalist. This new part was named the Parliamentary Annexe. Building started in August 1975.
The Annexe was completed in March 1979. It cost $20,000,000. This new building is connected to the original Parliament House. Together, they form a square shape. This area is known as Speaker's Green. It is used for special events and ceremonies. The Annexe was updated in 2000.
Building Design
The side of Parliament House facing George Street has a special covered entrance for vehicles. Above this entrance is a balcony with a decorative railing. The original roof was made of zinc. In the 1980s, it was replaced with a new roof made from Mount Isa copper.
Visiting Parliament House
You can often see art shows and other displays inside the Annexe. These are usually on the ground floor.
You can also take free guided tours of Parliament House. These tours happen every weekday. There is also a gift shop in the main entrance area. Here you can buy souvenirs and other items.
Parliament House was even used as a place to film the Australian TV show Mission: Impossible in the 1980s.
Images for kids
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Plan of Parliament House, 1867
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First floor, 1920
See also
In Spanish: Cámara del Parlamento de Queensland para niños
