Happy Birthday Canberra 09

Canberra is the capital city of Australia. As 2013 is Canberra's Centenary I want to celebrate my BIG 100 by visiting as much of Australia as possible and travel to other capital cities around the world.

This is 9 in a series of 11 travel bugs being released to celebrate my very special birthday.

Please keep me going on my travels.

Number 9 in this Canberra Centenary series is a key ring featuring Australia's Parliament House.

Parliament Houseis the meeting facility of the Parliament of Australia located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. The building was designed by Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and opened on 9 May 1988 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. Costing more than A$1.1 billion, it was the most expensive building in the world at the time of its construction.

Federal Parliament meetings were first held in Melbourne until 1927. Prior to 1988, the Parliament of Australia met in the Provisional Parliament House, which is now known as "Old Parliament House". Construction of Australia's permanent Parliament House was delayed while its location was debated. Construction of the new building began in 1981. The principal design of the structure is based on the shape of two boomerangs and is topped by an 81-metre flagpole.

It contains 4,700 rooms and many areas are open to the public. The main foyer contains a marble staircase and leads to the Great Hall which has a large tapestry on display. The House of Representatives chamber is decorated green while the Senate chamber has a red colour scheme. Between the two chambers is the Members' Hall which has a water feature and is not open to the public. The Ministerial Wing houses the office of the Prime Minister and other Ministers.


 Prior to 1901 Australia was a country made up of independent states, who all agreed by referendum to federate and become a single nation, with a new National Capital City.

"In 2013, we celebrate 100 years since Lady Denman, wife of then Governor-General Lord Denman, stood upon the newly laid Foundation Stones and announced that the name of the new Australian capital would be Canberra.

The Centenary of Canberra is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate this momentous occasion in our country’s history and to explore the many facets–local, regional, national and international–of our nation’s capital. This city tells the story of our country's freedom, spirit, achievements and aspirations." - Source : Canberra 100 website