Watson Family Visit-Day 5, Part 1

We got up early to hit the road on Boxing Day to head to Canberra.  It’s about a 3-1/2 hour drive from our house to the capital city. Both Dad and Kim enjoyed snapping away at different things along our way that were new to them, such as the speed signs indicating cameras in the area.

Our first stop after the Visitor Centre was Parliament House where we enjoyed a thorough tour of the meeting facility of the Parliament of Australia.

                                   

Checking out the small marine fossils in the limestone flooring, which is about 345 million years old.

Our first stop on our tour was the Great Hall, designed for ceremonial and other official occasions.

The tapestry that is the centerpiece of the Great Hall

The oil on canvas design for the Great Hall Tapestry by one of Australia’s best-known artists, Arthur Boyd.

Showing the stickers they put on when President Obama visited to make sure the rooms were secure.

                            

Parliament House Art Collection is made up of over 5000 works of art and heritage objects.

Beautiful tapestries along our tour

The tapestry that replicates the design of the granite mosaic on the forecourt

                                

Beautiful architecture

                                    

Painted portraits of Australia’s Prime Ministers and the Queen

Learning about Australia’s House of Representatives and its important functions:  it determines the government, debates and passes laws, watches over government administration and expenditure, and provides a forum for public debate on issues of national importance.

On display was the Mace: the symbol of authority for the House of Reps and the Speaker. It lies at the foot of the central table whenever the House is meeting and the Speaker is in the Chair. The Serjeant-at-Arms carries the Mace into and out of the Chamber.

Inside the Chamber of the House of Representatives

Then is was across the way to the Chamber of the Senate.

The girls imitating the Dancing Walrus, which was a gift from the People of Canada to the People of Australia in commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations.

                                     

After our tour, we headed out to the green roof for some beautiful views.

The Australian flag marks the exact centre of the building. The flag is changed every four to six weeks. Fourteen flags are rotated regularly so they wear evenly. It takes three people to raise and lower the flag.

The view down to the War Memorial with Mount Ainslie behind

Walking around on the beautiful forecourt