Parliament House, Adelaide

Last updated

Parliament House, Adelaide.
The first completed western wing is to the left, adjacent to the Old Parliament House. Parliament House, South Australia.jpg
Parliament House, Adelaide.
The first completed western wing is to the left, adjacent to the Old Parliament House.

Parliament House, on the corner of North Terrace and King William Road in the Adelaide city centre, is the seat of the Parliament of South Australia. It was built to replace the adjacent and overcrowded Parliament House, now referred to as "Old Parliament House". Due to financial constraints, the current Parliament House was constructed in stages over 65 years from 1874 to 1939.

Contents

Guided public tours of the building are held on weekdays at 10am and 2pm, except when the Parliament is sitting.

"Old" Parliament House

Old Parliament House in 1872 Old Parliament House Adelaide 1872.jpg
Old Parliament House in 1872
A painting of the House of Assembly meeting in Old Parliament House in 1867 'South Australian Parliament; the House of Assembly', c. 1867.jpg
A painting of the House of Assembly meeting in Old Parliament House in 1867

The Parliament of South Australia began in 1857, when the colony of South Australia was granted self-government. [1]

Old Parliament House on North Terrace is situated to the west of the new Parliament House, and is associated with numerous and progressive legislative reforms in which South Australia led the way (such as the introduction of full adult male suffrage in 1856, and women's suffrage in 1894). The building, designed over many stages, incorporates the work of three important colonial architects: William Bennett Hays; Edward Angus Hamilton (both of whom held the office of Colonial Architect of South Australia [2] [3] ); and Edward John Woods. Originally built as a single room brick chamber in 1843, the building was then extended in 1857 to accommodate the new bicameral Parliament. [1]

It is one of only a few buildings constructed before 1860 remaining in Adelaide. [1]

Renewal

Following the completion of the new Parliament House in 1939, Premier Thomas Playford proposed that the old complex be demolished. It was saved by the onset of the Second World War and its use as a Royal Australian Air Force recruiting office. Thereafter it was used by government departments. [1]

Further modifications and alterations continued through to the 1970s, but by the mid-1970s the complex was sadly run down and neglected. In the late 1970s it was converted to the "Constitutional Museum" and was restored to reflect its 1875 condition. Under the direction of the newly-created History Trust of South Australia, the museum (Australia’s first political museum) operated under that name from 1979, and then as "Old Parliament House" until 1995. The building then reverted to use by the parliament, largely as offices and committee rooms. [1]

"New" Parliament House

Construction

Painting of the original Parliament House design. The towers and domes were not included in the final design. SA Parliament Proposal.jpg
Painting of the original Parliament House design. The towers and domes were not included in the final design.
"New" Parliament House (far left) in 1928, with only the western wing completed Aerial view of Adelaide Riverbank, 1928.jpg
"New" Parliament House (far left) in 1928, with only the western wing completed

In 1872 legislation increased the House of Assembly by 10 members, effective from 1875, reflecting the increased colonial population. It was decided that a completely new building was needed for the expanding parliament. A commission, appointed by the Governor of South Australia, was set up in 1874 to adjudicate a design competition for the new building that would form the basis of ‘New’ Parliament House. [1] A design by prominent Adelaide architect Edmund Wright and his partner Lloyd Taylor was selected as the winner. This Greek Revival design featured ornate columns of the Corinthian order, impressive towers, and a grand dome.

Parliament House was built with Kapunda marble and West Island granite. Construction began on the West Wing in 1874 and was completed in 1889 at a cost of £165,404. However, lack of funds resulted in the towers and dome being removed from the design that was implemented. The West Wing contained the new chamber for the South Australian House of Assembly and associated offices. The South Australian Legislative Council continued in the Old Parliament House next door. Economic depression in the 1890s delayed the completion of Parliament House, and it was not until 1913 that plans were sketched for the East Wing. The outbreak of the Great War again delayed construction.

Completion

A 50-minute tour of Parliament House

The project was taken up again in the 1930s following a £100,000 gift by Sir John Langdon Bonython, who sent a cheque to the State Premier with a note indicating the money should be used to complete the half finished Parliament house on North Terrace. The project also functioned as a job generation scheme to alleviate the mass unemployment of the Great Depression. Work began on the East Wing in 1936, the year of South Australia's centenary, and was completed three years later in 1939 at a cost of £241,887.

When finally completed, the British Houses Of Parliament were so delighted the building was completed after such a long time they organised to have the Lion forming part of a Royal Coat of Arms at the Westminster Houses Of Parliament removed from the stonework and shipped to Adelaide. It was presented to The Parliament Of South Australia by The Empire Parliamentary Association United Kingdom in 1939. The statue and plaque are located in a setting at the front of the building. [4] The completed Parliament House was formally opened on 5 June 1939 by Lord Gowrie, the 10th Governor-General of Australia, (and also a former Governor of South Australia). Since that time, occasional plans to complete the building by constructing the towers and dome are revived, but none of them has ever been implemented.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian architecture</span> Series of architectural revival styles

Victorian architecture is a series of architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century. Victorian refers to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), called the Victorian era, during which period the styles known as Victorian were used in construction. However, many elements of what is typically termed "Victorian" architecture did not become popular until later in Victoria's reign, roughly from 1850 and later. The styles often included interpretations and eclectic revivals of historic styles (see Historicism). The name represents the British and French custom of naming architectural styles for a reigning monarch. Within this naming and classification scheme, it followed Georgian architecture and later Regency architecture, and was succeeded by Edwardian architecture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament House, Melbourne</span> House of parliament for the State of Victoria, Australia

Parliament House is the meeting place of the Parliament of Victoria, one of the parliaments of the Australian states and territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament of South Australia</span> Bicameral legislature of the Australian state of South Australia

The Parliament of South Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of South Australia. It consists of the 47-seat House of Assembly and the 22-seat Legislative Council. General elections are held every 4 years, with all of the lower house and half of the upper house filled at each election. It follows a Westminster system of parliamentary government with the executive branch required to both sit in parliament and hold the confidence of the House of Assembly. The parliament is based at Parliament House on North Terrace in the state capital of Adelaide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Terrace, Adelaide</span> Street in Adelaide, South Australia

North Terrace is one of the four terraces that bound the central business and residential district of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It runs east–west, along the northern edge of "the square mile". The western end continues on to Port Road, and the eastern end continues across the Adelaide Parklands as Botanic Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament House, Brisbane</span> Meeting place of the Parliament of Queensland

Parliament House in Brisbane is the meeting place of the Parliament of Queensland, housing its only chamber, the Legislative Assembly. It is located on the corner of George Street and Alice Street at Gardens Point in the CBD, and is next to the Queensland University of Technology and City Botanic Gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Library of South Australia</span> Reference library in Adelaide, South Australia

The State Library of South Australia, or SLSA, formerly known as the Public Library of South Australia, located on North Terrace, Adelaide, is the official library of the Australian state of South Australia. It is the largest public research library in the state, with a collection focus on South Australian information, being the repository of all printed and audiovisual material published in the state, as required by legal deposit legislation. It holds the "South Australiana" collection, which documents South Australia from pre-European settlement to the present day, as well as general reference material in a wide range of formats, including digital, film, sound and video recordings, photographs, and microfiche. Home access to many journals, newspapers and other resources online is available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament House, Perth</span> House of parliament for the state of Western Australia

Parliament House, Perth is located on Harvest Terrace in West Perth, Western Australia. It is the home of the Parliament of Western Australia, including the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government House, Adelaide</span> Residence of the Governor of South Australia, Australia

Government House, located in Adelaide on the corner of North Terrace and King William Road, is the official residence of the governor of South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Sydney</span> Overview of the architecture in Sydney

The architecture of Sydney, Australia’s oldest city, is not characterised by any one architectural style, but by an extensive juxtaposition of old and new architecture over the city's 200-year history, from its modest beginnings with local materials and lack of international funding to its present-day modernity with an expansive skyline of high rises and skyscrapers, dotted at street level with remnants of a Victorian era of prosperity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament House, Sydney</span> House of parliament for State of New South Wales, Australia

The Parliament House in Sydney is a heritage-listed complex of buildings housing the Parliament of the state of New South Wales, Australia. The building is located on the east side of Macquarie Street in Sydney, the state capital. The façade consists of a two-storey Georgian building, the oldest public building in the City of Sydney, flanked by two Neo-gothic additions containing the parliamentary chambers. These buildings are linked to a 1970s 12-storey block at the rear, facing onto the Domain. It is also known as Parliament of New South Wales, Parliamentary Precincts and the Rum Hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Government House, South Australia</span> Former official residence in Belair, South Australia, Australia

Old Government House is a historic building located in Belair National Park, South Australia, and was South Australia's first official vice-regal summer residence of the Governor of South Australia from 1860 to 1880, and was used by governors Richard Graves MacDonnell (1855–62), Dominick Daly (1862-68) and William Jervois (1877–80). It was constructed from local sandstone, with the red-brick for the quoins sourced from the Blackwood brickworks, and a native timber shingle roof. The residence's indoor plunge-pool was reportedly the first in the colony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian residential architectural styles</span> Architectural styles

Australian residential architectural styles have evolved significantly over time, from the early days of structures made from relatively cheap and imported corrugated iron to more sophisticated styles borrowed from other countries, such as the California bungalow from the United States, the Georgian style from Europe and Northern America, and the Victorian style from the United Kingdom. A common feature of the Australian home is the use of fencing in front gardens, also common in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Australian non-residential architectural styles are a set of Australian architectural styles that apply to buildings used for purposes other than residence and have been around only since the first colonial government buildings of early European settlement of Australia in 1788.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide city centre</span> Suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Adelaide city centre is the inner city locality of Greater Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It is known by locals simply as "the City" or "Town" to distinguish it from Greater Adelaide and from the City of Adelaide local government area. The population was 15,115 in the 2016 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln College (University of Adelaide)</span>

Lincoln College is a Uniting Church in Australia residential college affiliated with the University of Adelaide. It was established by the Methodist Church of Australasia in 1952 and is named after Lincoln College, Oxford at which John Wesley was a fellow.

John Lee Archer was the Civil Engineer and Colonial Architect in Van Diemen's Land, serving from 1827 to 1838. During his tenure, Archer was responsible for all Tasmanian government buildings including those for penal and military purposes.

Edmund William Wright was a London-born Australian architect, engineer and businessman who was Mayor of Adelaide in 1859.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grenfell Centre</span> High rise building in Adelaide, South Australia

Grenfell Centre, formerly known as Oracle House and JLW Building, nicknamed Black Stump, is a high rise office building located at 25 Grenfell Street in the Adelaide city centre, South Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. J. Woods</span>

Edward John Woods F.R.I.B.A. was a prominent architect in the early days of South Australia.

Edward Angus Hamilton was an architect and politician in colonial South Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Old Parliament House". Adelaidia. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  2. Collins, Julie. "Architect Personal Details: Soward, George Klewitz". Architects Database. University of South Australia . Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  3. Collins, Julie. "Hamilton, Edward Angus". Architects Database. University of South Australia.
  4. Image of Lion and Plaque Located on North Terrace, Adelaide

Further reading

34°55′16″S138°35′55″E / 34.921096°S 138.598554°E / -34.921096; 138.598554