Parliament House Garden Design Tour

Completed in 2018, the members annexe at Parliament House is a building 40 years in the making. Designed by AIA Gold Medal winning architect Peter Elliott, the building was designed to disappear into the gardens of Parliament House, maintaining the heritage views from the original building to St Patrick’s Cathedral and beyond. The annexe was designed to a 5 Star Green Star level and incorporates a range of measures to boost its sustainable attributes, including a geothermal exchange system that provides energy and cost savings. The roof garden and sunken courtyard of the annexe now take pride of place at Parliament House, providing a counterpoint to the existing 19th century heritage-listed garden designed in part by William Guilfoyle, landscape architect of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

Designed by Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Paul Thompson, the roof of the annexe has been transformed into a modern Australian meadow, incorporating native shrubs, flowers and grasses whilst still remaining sympathetic to the heritage gardens that surround it.

What’s On:
Join Parliament House staff for a tour of the Parliamentary gardens. Exploring the original William Guilfoyle design and the Australian native landscape created in 2018, this tour provides an opportunity for visitors to view the members annexe from above and to learn about the sustainable design features which lie beneath its foundations.

Photo: John Gollings