The Building

1836-1843

Between 1836 and 1843, the first Council of Government in South Australia used a sitting room at Government House.  The first Government House (after a tent at Glenelg) was on the banks of the River Torrens / Karrawirra Pari.

In 1838 Governor Gawler gave directions for the build of a grander residence, and Government House was set at its current location.

Learn more about Government House.

1843

In 1843, when the Legislative Council increased in size, Governor Grey decided that the Legislative Council needed its own building.  The location for the new building was North Terrace, in the area where you can see Old Parliament House today.  The structure was a single room with a slate roof, capable of holding 50 people.

The Legislative Council Chamber opened on 10 October 1943.

1855

In 1851 the Legislative Council increased in size again, and the small building became too small.  A new two-storey stone and brick extension of the first chamber was completed in about July, 1855, at a total cost of £17,000. The Legislative Council met in the new building (upstairs) for the first time on 1 November 1855.  This building has been restored and still stands. 

1874

In 1857 the Parliament changed to its current two-house (bicameral) structure. In the space of just two years from the completion of the 1855 extension, the building had once again become too small.

In 1874 a design competition was held for a new Parliament House.  The winning design was by Edmund Wright and Lloyd Taylor

1883

Construction of the prize winning design began in 1883, after the state’s Architect-in-Chief, Edward John Woods, redrew elements of the original design.  Woods added in the innovative ventilation system in the House of Assembly.

Local materials were used for constructions, including marble from Kapunda and granite from West Island (near Victor Harbor)

1889

Work on the western wing, the new House of Assembly Chamber was completed in 1889.  The total cost of the new House of Assembly Chamber, including furniture and fittings, amounted to £165,404.  South Australia’s government was wealthy at this time due to its copper mining industry, and the detail that was put into the Chamber reflected this.

On 5 June 1889 1200 guests attended the formal opening and the first meeting was held in the Chamber on 6 June 1889.

The former House of Assembly Chamber in Old Parliament House was used as the Parliamentary Library.

1913

In 1913 sketches were prepared to finish the eastern wing of new Parliament House for the Legislative Council, but plans were delayed following the outbreak of World War I.

1934

Completing Parliament House came up again towards celebrating the centenary of the state for 1936.  Sir Langdon Bonython, who was the editor of The Advertiser in the early 1900s, donated £100,000 to go towards completion of Parliament House.

1936

Work commenced on the new Legislative Council wing in 1936, using the same Kapunda marble and West Island granite to match the 1889 structure. 

The revised designs matched the art-deco styling of the period.

1939

The building was finally completed in 1939. The total cost of the new wing was £241,887. 

The new Legislative Council chamber was opened on 5 June 1939, precisely fifty years after the opening of the west wing.

1940s-2000s

When Old Parliament House became vacant after the 1930s, it had a range of uses.  It was a military recruitment venue, a dance hall, and a constitutional museum.

Today

In the 2010s a major restoration project occurred to preserve and extend Old Parliament House. 

Both Old Parliament House and New Parliament House are used for Parliamentary business.  Committees often use the old chambers for hearings.