Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01868:reg:2016:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01868
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2016 (pt 6/11)
Character Range: 539144–542710

whom had lodgings in the nearby Hotel Kurrajong, were provided with some measure of comfort during their working day.

  The overall project to create a new Parliament House was believed to be a most prestigious one and the most extensive inter-war project, so it is not surprising that many furniture and furnishing firms expressed an interest in undertaking this component of the work. Tenders were called in August and September 1926 from

    92      Memorandum to the Federal Capital Commission, 1925 Lists of Crockery, Silverware, Cutlery, Glassware. CRS A199 item FC 1925/333.
    93      List of Furniture Required, Joint House Department, Parliament House, Canberra. CRS A292/1, item C2202 Part 1.
  prominent firms in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, and the competition was fierce. A sample of the comparative quotations is reproduced below.94

  Comparison of tenders for furniture

DRAWING NO.  ITEM: DINING ROOM BLOCK SECTION 2C                  A PENGELLEY & CO, ADELAIDE   MYER EMPORIUM, MELBOURNE   BEBARFALDS LTD, SYDNEY
Fb 2         Hat trees (3), maple, waxed                         6/-/- * each item            4/4/6                      4/13/-
Fb 31         Small chair (58), cedar, waxed, finished in hide   5/-/-                        5/3/-                      5/10/3
Fb 117        Tables 3' diameter                                 12/-/-                       6/6/6                      9/1/5
              (1), blackwood, full polish
Fb 122        Tub chair (8), cedar, waxed finish, hide           13/1/4                       13/7/5                     11/0/0
Fb 128        Chess tables (2), blackwood, waxed                 15/-/-                       13/6/-                     8/12/8
Fb 132        Table, hoop pine (1) 3'6' x 2'                     3/-/-                        2/5/-                      2/1/1
Fb 145        Palm boxes (2), blackwood, full polish             5/7/6                        7/9/6                      5/13/10
Fb 158        Billiard cupboard                                  27/-/-                       28/9/3                     20/8/5
              (1) maple, waxed

  * Prices quoted are for each individual item in pounds, shillings and pence.

  Beard Watson & Co Ltd, Sydney won the contract for the supply of the ceremonial furniture and the desks and seating in the Chambers.95 Major contracts for the supply of furniture for the dining–recreation block and other areas in Provisional Parliament House were awarded as follows.

  Major suppliers of furniture

CONTRACT                                                       SUPPLIER
Contract 122. Furniture for Section D, Parliament House         Myer Emporium Pty Ltd, Melbourne
Contract 123 Furniture for Sections A and L, Parliament House  Anthony Hordern and Sons, Sydney
Contract 124 Furniture Sections B, C and E, Parliament House   A Pengelly and Co., Adelaide
Contract 134 Furniture Section 2B, Parliament House            Anthony Hordern and Sons, Sydney
Contract 135, Furniture Section 2C, Parliament House            WH Rocke and Co., Melbourne

  Drawings of each furniture style were supplied to the contractors and were drawn to scale. Furniture was required to be made to the specified sizes and following the manner specified on the drawings. Where a

    94      Tender documents submitted to the Federal Capital Commission, Canberra, September 1926. CRS A292/1, item C2202 Part 1
    95      ibid. Memorandum HM Rolland to The Secretary, Federal Capital Commission, 18 August 1926.
  dispute arose over sizes, the