Australia's Old Senate
I was recently drawn back to the two images I posted a number of years ago featuring Australia's Old House of Representatives and the Old Senate. I was not happy with either of the originals and have had another go at them. This six-frame panorama is of the Old Senate.
The chamber is a large internal space, lined with timber panelling, representative of the architect John Smith Murdoch's simplified classical style, with furnishings in a similar style to that of the House of Representatives.
The timber used in the wall panelling, the desks, seats and tables is all Australian black bean wood and Tasmanian blackwood. The hand-woven carpets have a pattern of eucalyptus leaves and wattle blossom.
The Senate is characterised by the predominance of the colour red, in both the carpet and the leather of the seating and desks. This reflects its role as the upper house and as a deliberative house like the House of Lords at Westminster.
The seating is in a horse-shoe pattern, around a central table. With more room than the House of Reprentatives, each Senator had a seat and a desk, including those sitting on the front benches (i.e., Ministers). At the end of the table is a desk for the clerks and behind them a large chair for the President. Behind it are two thrones, to be used by the Monarch and consort or, in their stead, the Governor-General and spouse, at official occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament.
The gallery above the throne was reserved for the press, with others used by the guests of Senators, members of the House of Representatives and the general public.
The room is in the Old Parliament Building, where Australia's Parliament sat from 1927 to 1988. It is now generally open as a museum for the public to visit.
I will post an updated version of the panorama of the Old House of Representatives in a couple of days...
Australia's Old Senate
I was recently drawn back to the two images I posted a number of years ago featuring Australia's Old House of Representatives and the Old Senate. I was not happy with either of the originals and have had another go at them. This six-frame panorama is of the Old Senate.
The chamber is a large internal space, lined with timber panelling, representative of the architect John Smith Murdoch's simplified classical style, with furnishings in a similar style to that of the House of Representatives.
The timber used in the wall panelling, the desks, seats and tables is all Australian black bean wood and Tasmanian blackwood. The hand-woven carpets have a pattern of eucalyptus leaves and wattle blossom.
The Senate is characterised by the predominance of the colour red, in both the carpet and the leather of the seating and desks. This reflects its role as the upper house and as a deliberative house like the House of Lords at Westminster.
The seating is in a horse-shoe pattern, around a central table. With more room than the House of Reprentatives, each Senator had a seat and a desk, including those sitting on the front benches (i.e., Ministers). At the end of the table is a desk for the clerks and behind them a large chair for the President. Behind it are two thrones, to be used by the Monarch and consort or, in their stead, the Governor-General and spouse, at official occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament.
The gallery above the throne was reserved for the press, with others used by the guests of Senators, members of the House of Representatives and the general public.
The room is in the Old Parliament Building, where Australia's Parliament sat from 1927 to 1988. It is now generally open as a museum for the public to visit.
I will post an updated version of the panorama of the Old House of Representatives in a couple of days...