Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01869:reg:6:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01869
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 6 (pt 1/86)
Character Range: 4163–7456

6      Final version for submission.                                                                                                                                               22 April 2021       Old Parliament House Staff

Foreword

  Old Parliament House is of outstanding significance to the nation. As the first purpose built parliament house, it is a physical icon of Australian democracy. It is representative of Australia's parliamentary political process, and has been a focus for events that reflect Australian democratic values, and political rights and obligations.

  As home to the Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House continues to surprise and delight visitors. In this nationally significant building, our vision is to create a vibrant and contemporary hub that empowers civic and individual engagement in the democratic process. This vision will be achieved in harmony with the heritage values of the place that recognise, preserve and communicate the spirit of Australian democracy.

  The proper conservation and sustainable use of built and cultural heritage is an enduring ambition shared by communities around Australia. The Old Parliament House and Curtilage Heritage Management Plan provides a rigorous management framework for the heritage values of the place. This is the third version of the plan. This update is a result of a review, including a public consultation process, which was undertaken in 2020. The plan meets the requirements for management plans for National and Commonwealth Heritage places, as pursuant to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Regulations 2000.

  Old Parliament House staff demonstrate leadership, expertise and innovation in heritage conservation and management. Our award-winning conservation projects have delivered outcomes that recognise the important relationships between heritage conservation, sustainability and access. The management plan is a practical document used by staff to identify, protect, conserve, present and transmit the heritage values of Old Parliament House for current and future generations.

 Daryl Karp                            The Hon Nick Minchin AO
 Director                              Chair
 Museum of Australian Democracy        Board of Old Parliament House

Executive Summary

  On 20 June 2006 the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon John Howard MP, announced the addition of Old Parliament House and Curtilage to Australia's National Heritage List. The assessment of the heritage values demonstrated that Old Parliament House and Curtilage had met eight of the nine National Heritage List criteria. Old Parliament House and Curtilage had previously been included in the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004 and is a significant feature in the Commonwealth Heritage listed Parliament House Vista.

  Old Parliament House was opened in 1927. It was designed by John Smith Murdoch, the first Commonwealth Government architect, as the first purpose-built home of Australia's federal Parliament. It is one of the foundation government buildings from the early development of the national capital under the Griffin Plan. Old Parliament House is a substantial building containing some 500 rooms; it