House of Parliament

The Australian House of Parliament was a bit of a boondoogle when it was built. 

It cost over a billion dollars in 1988 (about $75 for every Australian)—an astronomical amount. As the Australian Rough Guide notes, the former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser who commissioned the building noted it was “my one very serious political mistake.”

It takes four people to raise and lower the flag from the massive four-piece flagpole that can be seen from kilometers away. They try not to lower the flag unnecessarily as it takes such an effort and celebrities no longer get the half-mast treatment. However, I like the building. Visitors can wander rather freely about the public areas looking at the art (Aboriginal paintings, portraits of former Prime Ministers, and a Canadian Inuit sculpture of a dancing walrus) and crafts (currently a quilt show). Most impressive of the artifacts is one of four remaining copies of the Magna Carta.

One can also ride unescorted to the grass-covered roof, wander about and take in a great view of Canberra and the Australian war memorial. There’s something about sitting in the sun on the grass on a roof of Parliament that’s very relaxing. Even when the parrots are screaming. No snipers or bomb-detecting dogs either.