Day 135 - Canberra (happy Australia Day!)

Canberra's 1927 Parliament (the "Old Parliament", now museum - hopefully on tomorrow's list) was deemed too small by 1988 and a new, bigger Parliament was opened by HM on 9 May. 

And very fine it is too, with its columns 

and marquetry,
 

as well as being run by a very tolerant bunch who positively encourage photography and random wandering about to admire the exhibited artwork

Following London's tradition, the lower (Representatives) chamber is decked out in green, in a shade echoing the colour of gum leaves

with the Senate in "red" (well, pink, for the gum blossom at various points in its maturity

Each has a version of the Australian coat of arms : roo and emu.

We then crossed to the no less impressive War Memorial, for an informative guided tour

The view on the city from nearby Mt Ainslie is also very nice indeed

and this Australia Day ended with fireworks on the lawns opposite the Parliament - bonzer!