Crowds attend the official opening of the new Parliament House building, Canberra, 1988

Between 1927 and 1988 the Australian Parliament met at Provisional Parliament House (now known as Old Parliament House). The construction of a permanent Parliament House was delayed by debate over where it should be located. Construction finally began in 1981 on Capital Hill, Canberra. The building was officially opened in 1988, amid Australia’s bicentenary celebrations.