Located on the corner of Pottinger and Windmill Streets in Millers Point, Sydney, the Parbury Ruins were uncovered during the construction of an apartment block. Once excavated and recorded by archaeologists, the developers modified their design to retain the ruins, preserving them.
Access to the underground area is by appointment only, or during special open days. We booked tickets through Sydney Open, but they are also available from Museums of History New South Wales . If you are unable to book tickets, there are three windows displays showcasing broken ceramics and other items excavated from the ruins.
The ruins consist of the footings of a two-bedroom cottage from the 1820s, as well as the remains of a stone kitchen with a fireplace and a sink. Outside the dwelling are remnants of a verandah and a well. The well had been filled in, but contained the remains of ceramics and other items, many of which are on display.
Originally a dockworker’s home, the cottage was built of sandstone blocks cut by convicts from a local quarry. The cottage was probably demolished by the late 1860s or early 1870s when new wharves and bond stores were developed in the area.
A guide took us through the ruins, explaining the history and likely uses of the different rooms. Access is by stairs, so is not wheelchair accessible. Once you have descended the stairs, you walk over the original floor and get a very close look at the sandstone structure.
This was a fun visit and it’s great that the ruins have been preserved for the future.
Original outside wall area looking over the ruins to the entrance at ground levelKitchen areaFireplace in the kitchen areaHoles for floor beams in the wall for the upper storyFilled in wellArtifacts on Display
Only intended as a temporary home for the Australian Parliament, Old Parliament House in Canberra actually operated as the seat of government from 1928 until 1988. At this time the government move to the new Parliament House on Capital Hill.
It now houses the Museum of Australian Democracy as well as other temporary exhibitions.
Getting There
Car parking is available on King George Terrace as well as in its own car park.
History
Once the independent Australian colonies joined together to form the Commonwealth of Australia, the Australian Capital Territory was established for the development of the new Capital Canberra. With Federation occurring in 1901, it took until 1928 for the Provisional Parliament House to be built. Until this time, Parliament met in Melbourne.
Outside the building are statues of two women: Dame Dorothy Tagney and Dame Enid Lyons. Dorothy Tagney was the first female Australian senator, while Enid Lyons was the first female in the House of Representatives. Both were elected in 1943.
At the front of the building is a large statue of King George V, the reigning monarch when Australia achieved independence. Another statue of the King is located in the main entrance hall.
The first women of Federal Parliament Dame Dorothy Tagney and Dame Enid LyonsKing George V MemorialKing George V Statue
The House of Representatives
To reflect the inheritance of the Westminster System, the House of Representatives is predominantly green, with the carpet and chairs this colour. The Speaker Seat is a copy of the one in The House of Commons presented to Australia by Empire Parliamentary Association in 1926. Interestingly, the original seat in London was destroyed in an air raid during the Second World War. The one used now is a copy of the Australian copy, gifted to the House of Commons by the Australian Parliament.
Visitors are free to walk around the chamber and view the area as the politicians used to.
Entrance to the House of RepresentativesThe House of RepresentativesChamber of the House of Representatives, with the Mace of the Speaker on display
Prime Ministers Office
Considering the importance of the office, it is remarkably small with small desk and meeting area.
The Prime Minister’s OfficeGovernment Party Room
Speaker of the House Office
Being almost as large as the Prime Minister’s office shows the importance of the Speaker in the running of Parliament.
The Speakers’ Office
The Senate
Predominantly red in colour to reflect its association with the British House of Lords, the Senate Chamber is far less crowded than the House of Representatives. Each senator had their own desk. This was because there were only half the number of senators in the same sized room.
Entrance to the Senate ChamberThe Senate Chamber
President of the Senate
Suite of the President of the SenateSenators’ Meeting Room
Special Exhibitions
A replica set of the British Crown Jewels are on display during our visit. Excellent copies of the originals, great to see and certainly easier to visit than going to London.
Replicas of the crowns of Queens Mary 1911 (left) and Queen Elizabeth 1937 (right)Replicas of the Imperial State Crown (left). Queen Victoria’s crown (centre) and the Imperial Crown of India (right)Replica Crown Jewels
What Did We Think?
A great place to learn about how Australian democracy works. Not only an interesting old building with its own importance, but a showcase of how the Westminster style of government operates.
USS Florida (BB-30) was the lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleships for the US Navy. Launched on 12 May 1910, she was commissioned on 15 September 1911.
During World War One, she was sent to reinforce the British Grand Fleet, where she undertook patrols of the North Sea and escorted convoys to Norway. She did not engage ships of the German High Seas Fleet.
Post-war she was heavily modernised from 1924 to 1926. This included strengthening her deck armour, adding torpedo bulges, the removal of her submerged torpedo tubes and rear lattice mast and trunking her two funnels into one. Four 5″ guns on sponsons were also removed. Her machinery was significantly upgraded by utilising the oil fired boilers removed from battleships and battlecruisers that were scrapped under the Washington Treaty.
The terms of the 1930 London Treaty required the reduction in size of the signatories’ battle fleets. USS Florida was decommissioned on 16 February 1931 and sold for scrap.
USS Florida BB-30 Under ConstructionUSS Florida BB-30 Under Construction May 1910 https://www.loc.gov/resource/ggbain.07963/USS Florida BB-30 Being LaunchedUSS Florida BB-30 Immediately Before Being LaunchedUSS Florida BB-30 Being LaunchedUSS Florida BB-30 Being LaunchedUSS Florida BB-30 Just After Being LaunchedUSS Florida BB-30 Fitting Out 18 January 1911USS Florida BB-30 Fitting OutUSS Florida BB-30 Fitting OutUSS Florida BB-30 Fitting OutUSS Florida BB-30 Fitting Out 31 December 1910USS Florida BB-30 Fitting Out
In Service 1911 to 1924
USS Florida BB-30 Passing Under Brooklyn Bridge 1911USS Florida (BB-30) passing under the Brooklyn Bridge – New YorkUSS Florida (BB-30) New YorkUSS Florida (BB-30) at anchor at Hampton Roads on 2 June 1912Members of the German battle squadron visit the Florida (BB-30) at anchor at Hampton Roads on 2 June 1912USS Florida BB-30 at the Naval Review off New York.Left to right USS Delaware (BB-28) and Florida (BB-30) 20 December 1913 New YorkUSS Florida (BB-30) is on the left and USS Utah (BB-31) on the right 18 December 1913 New YorkFrom Left to right USS Wyoming (BB-32) or Arkansas (BB-33) with Florida (BB-30) and Utah (BB-31) 18 December 1913 New YorkUSS Florida (BB-30) in dry dock, 9 October 1916USS Florida (BB-30) c 1918April 23, 1919 USS Florida BB-30 (closest) and USS Wyoming BB-32USS Florida BB-30 At Guantanamo Bay January 1920USS Florida BB-30 seen in 1921USS Florida (BB-30) Atlantic Fleet, during an exercise in about 1921 with USS Delaware (BB-28) and USS North Dakota (BB-29)USS Florida BB-30, USS Delaware BB-28 and North Dakota BB-29 on a training cruise in the early 1920sUSS Florida with the Oil tanker USS Northwestern along sideUSS Olympia (C-6) & Florida (BB-30) in middle chambers of the Gatun Locks, 13 June 1922USS Florida (BB-30) Entering Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia, 1923USS Florida BB-30 sometime prior to the 1925-27 modernizationUSS Florida (BB-30)USS Florida (BB-30)USS Florida (BB-30)USS Florida (BB-30)
In Service Post Refit 1927 to 1931
The Florida (BB-30) in 1927USS Florida (BB-30). at the 1927 naval reviewFlorida (BB-30) showing new anti-torpedo blisters on the side, November 1927Tons of chain being loaded onto Florida (BB-30) at Charlestown Navy Yard, 29 April 1928Bow view of Florida (BB-30) at Navy Yard, 7 May 1928USS Florida (BB-30) late 1920sPort side view of USS Florida (BB-30) looking forward when the ship was moored in Boston Navy Yard in January 1929USS Florida (BB-30). In Hampton Roads, Virginia, 25 October 1929USS Florida (BB-30) in February of 1930 in the Canal ZoneUSS Florida (BB-30) At Kiel, Germany, 7 July 1930, during a Midshipman’s training cruiseFlorida (BB-30)The Florida (BB-30)
Armament
Main 12 inch forward battery of USS Florida (BB-30), circa 1917-18 at Scapa Flow, ScotlandUSS Florida BB-30 looking forward from top of aft turret no. 4.View of the aft 12″ gun turrets No. 4 and 5 on USS Florida BB-30The three rear main 12 inch turrets of USS Florida (BB-30), in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, 1918USS Florida BB-30 taken from near the ensign staff on the stern looking forward at 12″ gun turrets no. 5, 4 and 3 in 1912. turret 4 is hidden behind 5 in the foreground and 3 is a level higherRecoil and blast of flame from rear turrets aboard USS Florida (BB-30) during target practiceUSS Florida (BB-30) during WW ILoading 12 inch shells aboard USS Florida (BB-30), most likely in November 1917Rangefinders for the rear turrets of USS Florida (BB-30)USS Florida Loading drill on one of the ship’s 5 inch secondary battery guns, 1915USS Florida casement crew at quarters November 10 1911
Aircraft
One of USS Florida’s (BB-30) seaplanes, a Loening OL Amphibian, is launched from her catapult
Internal
USS Florida (BB-30), Crews compartment, ready for a meal, 19 May 1920
Being Scrapped
The beginning of USS Delaware (BB-28) being scrapped. Florida (BB-30) is to the leftex-Florida (BB-30) being scrapped at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in April, 1932
