MoAD and the Courtyard Cafe are open. Some exhibitions and rooms will be closed from September 2025 for essential building works. Learn more

Explore

Democracy

Democracy

Aretha Brown, a young woman, holds a banner at a protest rally with a fist raised in the air.

Stories

Stories

Black and white image of the front of Old Parliament House with a crowd of people of gathered at the foot of the stairs. The building is white with columns and an Australian flag flies at the top.

Collection

Collection

A close up of a rainbow flag covered in signatures.

POLITICAL CARTOONS

Browse Behind the Lines, our annual exhibition celebrating the year's best political cartoons.

Explore
Visitors looking at the framed cartoons on the walls

STORIES

Not just hot air in the chambers
Heritage

Not just hot air in the chambers

How the temperature was managed in Old Parliament House.

Arthur Calwell and the gift of immigration
History

Arthur Calwell and the gift of immigration

How the Second World War influenced changes to Australian immigration.

Lost, found and left behind
Heritage

Lost, found and left behind

Discover some of the items that have been unexpectedly discovered in the museum.

How are party leaders chosen?
Democracy

How are party leaders chosen?

The way parties choose their leaders is a critical part of the parliamentary system, with basic principles.

A plebiscite milestone: 100 years on from the 1917 conscription debates
History

A plebiscite milestone: 100 years on from the 1917 conscription debates

COLLECTION

Souvenir spoon with commemorative florin Souvenir spoon with commemorative florin

Souvenir spoon with commemorative florin

The first Australian commemorative coin marked the 1927 opening of Australia's provisional Parliament House.
Souvenir elephant

Souvenir elephant

This miniature elephant is a tongue-in-cheek souvenir depicting Provisional Parliament House.

DEMOCRACY

Australian democracy Defining democracy

Australian democracy

Every democratic society is distinct. The same is true for Australia.
Defining democracy Defining democracy

Defining democracy

What is democracy?