Old Parliament House was known as the Provisional Parliament House while it was being used as an active parliament. It was built in 1927 and was used up until 1988 when the parliament was relocated to Capital Hill. Australia’s oldest Parliament House building was host to many firsts including the axing of controversial prime minister Gough Whitlam. He is still the only sitting prime minister to be dismissed by the Governor General, then Sir John Kirr. Whitlam’s opposition and the media described his large spending as reckless and thus he should be removed before the economy was run into the ground. The visit consisted of a guided tour of the building followed by a roleplay of the Tasmanian Dam Debate from 1982.
- William S.T.