Parliament House Canberra

Getting to Parliament House by public transport is easy!

You can take local bus routes 57 or 58 as they stop outside Parliament House 7 days a week.

There are bus stops on Federation Mall that are about 200 metres from our entrance.

Visit the Transport Canberra website for timetable information.

Images: AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services

Today is the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year! Enjoy this photo of the sun setting at Parliament House.

Image: AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services

How do we keep all the delicate objects in the Parliament House Art Collections safe?

Our Art Collections team designs and makes bespoke storage boxes for each object. They use a mat cutter, archival-grade materials and some impressively precise calculations!

Shown here is Emilie Patteson’s ‘Specimen for Banks’, carefully custom-encased and ready for safe storage until it next goes on display.

Art credit: Emilie Patteson (born 1989), ‘Specimens for Banks’ (part 2 of 4), 2016, Parliament House Art Collections.

When Parliament is in session and debating in the Chambers, we call this a ‘sitting day’ or a ‘sitting week’.

During a sitting week you can visit the Chambers and see Australian democracy in action, including during Question Time!

Question Time is when parliamentarians ask questions to hold the government to account. It usually starts at 2 pm and goes for about an hour.

Go to our website for more information, including how to book a Question Time ticket: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Whats_On/Event/Parliament_in_action

Here’s your guide to the free activities at Parliament House to celebrate NAIDOC Week!

See the façade of Parliament House transform with an illumination of 'Numbat Night', a 2024 painting by Walmajarri artist John Prince Siddon.

Create your own bush animal inspired by the Tjanpi desert weavers in a fun and creative workshop.

Discover how First Nations people have used the skies as maps to navigate seasons and guide cultural practices.

Join a ‘Yeribee’ tour to hear the stories of Indigenous parliamentarians and see artworks by First Nations artists from the Parliament House Art Collections.

Also during NAIDOC Week, the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag will fly on the 44 ceremonial flagpoles outside Parliament House.

Images: AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services featuring John Prince Siddon (born 1964), Walmajarri people, ‘Numbat Night’, 2024, Parliament House Art Collections. © John Prince Siddon/Copyright Agency, 2026, AUSPIC Department of Parliamentary Services, Jandamarra Cadd (born 1973), Yorta Yorta people, 'Nova Peris OAM', 2019, Historic Memorials Collection, Parliament House Art Collections; Mary Moore (born 1957), 'The Hon Kenneth (Ken) Wyatt AM, MP', 2017, Historic Memorials Collection, Parliament House Art Collections; Jude Rae (born 1956), 'The Hon Linda Burney MP', 2018, Historic Memorials Collection, Parliament House Art Collections. Photo taken by 5 Foot Photography.

Coming to Parliament House? We’re answering common questions to make your visit easier.

Images: AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services

Applications for our Parliament House Artist-in-Residence program are open for one more week!

The program offers unique access to the national heart of democracy where politics, history, architecture and art meet.

The successful artist will receive an artist’s fee of $10,000, additional Commission Fee for new work of up to $30,000, and travel allowance up to $15,000.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to create artwork that presents a fresh perspective on the architecture, landscape, role or history of Parliament House.

Apply today: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Parliament_House_Artist-in-Residence

Image: AUSPIC, Department of Parliamentary Services

Today is World Oceans Day!

To celebrate, we’re sharing ocean-themed works from the Parliament House Art Collections.

As a country surrounded by sea, Australia’s arts and cultures are deeply connected to the oceans that surround us.

Shown here are artworks by David Preston, Narelle Autio, Rosella Namok, Kanthanampu, Aangkum peoples, Catherine Rogers, Sally Robinson, and Luke Shadbolt.

See the full art credits on our website: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/art_credits