Parliament House, Brisbane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parliament House — Alice Street façade

Parliament House in Brisbane is the seat of the Parliament of Queensland, housing the Legislative Assembly. It is situated on the corner of George Street and Alice Street. Parliament House is bordered by the Queensland University of Technology and the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.

When Queensland was established as colony separate from New South Wales in 1859 its new Parliament met in temporary quarters at the Old Convict Barracks in Queen Street. This facility sufficed whilst the Queensland Government directed its funds to the construction of Government House. It was in 1863 that plans for a new Parliament House were finally selected from an Australia-wide design competition, and 1864 the first foundation stone for the building was laid. The George Street frontage was completed in 1868 in French Renaissance style with its roof made of Mount Isa copper. The colonnades were built in 1878 and construction on the Alice Street frontage commenced in 1887. A 22-storey Parliamentary Annexe was built during the 1980s within the grounds of the Old Parliament House with a new Legislative Chamber on the 5th floor. Art exhibitions and other displays are frequently staged in the spacious ground floor areas of the Annexe.

Free public guided tours are held in Parliament House. Also, a gift shop, selling souvenirs and memorabilia, is located in the main foyer.

Parliament House and Parliamentary Annexe — Alice Street façade	Parliament House and "The Mansions"	Parliament House — George Street façade (photo taken from QUT end of the building)	Parliament House — George Street façade (photo taken from Alice Street end of the building)
View of Parliament House from the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens	Parliament House — George Street façade (photo taken from the QUT entrance end of the building)	Parliament House