On This Day: May 9, 1988 - New Parliament House Officially Opens in Canberra

  • Author Author Pete
  • Publish date Published Published
  • Reading time 1 min read

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On This Day: May 9, 1988 - New Parliament House Officially Opens in Canberra
On this day May 9, 1988, the New Parliament House in Canberra was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. The event marked a major moment in Australian history, celebrating the bicentenary of European settlement and symbolizing a modern era of governance. The building replaced the Old Parliament House, which had served as the seat of government since 1927.

Designed by Mitchell Giurgola and Thorp Architects, the structure was built into Capital Hill and features sweeping lawns that symbolically connect the government to the people.

Fun fact: The opening ceremony included a 21 gun salute, a flyover by the Royal Australian Air Force, and the handing over of a golden key to the Prime Minister.
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