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Parliament House Features
Parliament House | Facilities and Function Rooms | Functions and Facilities Manual
Exterior
of the Building
The entrance of Parliament House is located adjacent
to the ceremonial forecourt, with the main feature being a stylised Northern Territory
Coat of Arms placed over the ceremonial doors. This interpretation, created in
stainless steel and bronze, was crafted by a Darwin artisan, Mr Geoff Todd.
The building was designed to accommodate Darwin's tropical climate and its façade across the exterior screens and defuses 80% of direct sunlight from the interior of the building.
Interior
Public Areas of the Building
Timbers used throughout the building
are Tasmanian Golden Sassafras and Tasmanian Brush Box, a fine-grained forest
timber used because the light colour does not absorb natural light. Tasmanian
timbers were used throughout the public areas of the building, whilst
West Australian Jarrah was used in the executive areas, because the Northern Territory
does not produce similar timbers.
The feature of the reception foyer is an embedded stylised Desert Rose, the Northern Territory floral emblem, which was crafted by local artisan, Mr Geoff Todd. Seven petals of the mosaic symbolise the six States of Australia and the anticipated seventh State of the Northern Territory. The petals are Indian granite and the centrepiece is made from granite from Tennant Creek in Central Australia. Other materials include local Mt Bundy granite, South Australian granite and Tolga granite from Sweden. The emblem also incorporates stainless steel and bronze radiating arms between the petals.
Main
Reception Hall
The 550m² metres Main Reception Hall is accessed
from the foyer and is adjacent to the ceremonial doors of the Assembly Chamber.
The ceremonial doors are fitted with solid bronze handles which were designed
and manufactured by Michael Metzaros. The floor is covered in Mt Bundy,
South Australian and Tolga granites.
This area is used extensively for Parliamentary and Government receptions and public exhibitions. Access to the Northern Territory Library, the Speaker's Green and Speaker's Corner Café is also gained through the Main Reception Hall.
A feature of the Main Reception Hall is the pendant lighting suspended from the ceiling. The glass vanes of the pendants are green (to signify a lower house of parliament) and etched with eucalyptus leaves. They were designed by a Darwin-based interior designer, Joe Librio, and constructed in Bellingen, New South Wales.
Northern
Territory Crest
A Northern Territory Crest is displayed in the
Main Reception Hall. The Crest incorporates the floral and faunal emblems of the
Northern Territory, the Sturt's Desert Rose, the red kangaroo and wedge-tailed
eagle respectively. On the Crest, the eagle's wings are spread and its talons
grasp an Aboriginal Tjurunga stone. Beneath the eagle is the plumed helmet of
the warrior, which signifies that the Northern Territory was an area of wartime
battle.
Two red kangaroos hold shells that are found on the northern coast of the Territory, the Chiragra Spider Conch and the True Heart Cockle. At the base of the crest is the Sturt's Desert Rose placed upon a grassy sandy mound.
As well as acknowledging the geographically diverse aspects of the Northern Territory, the Crest also represents its indigenous population. The x-ray relief depiction of the female figure and the centre of the shield is derived from sacred rock art in Arnhem Land. The motifs on either side of the figure symbolise representations of campsites joined by path markings of the Central Australian Aborigines.
The Legislative Assembly Chamber, while designed in an uncompromisingly modern style, also incorporates evidence of the Northern Territory's history, together with its inherited Westminster Parliamentary tradition. A ceremonial first Sitting was conducted on 4 October 1994 and guests included Presiding Officers from interstate and Pacific Region Parliaments.
Surrounding the Chamber are three public galleries, two of which are open while the third is enclosed by glass. This gallery is frequently used by students in order that they can be briefed while observing the Assembly in session. Total seating capacity in the public galleries is approximately 200.
The fourth gallery, located above the Speaker's Chair, is the parliamentary Press Gallery and behind it are located the interview rooms and broadcast studio.
The Speaker's Chair is crafted from Tasmanian Black Oak and leather and was a gift from the Commonwealth Parliament on the occasion of the official opening of the building.
Parliamentary debate is recorded by five video cameras which are recessed in the acoustic panelled walls, two are located on either side of the Chamber, while the fifth is located beneath the clock facing the Speaker's Chair. These cameras are connected to the voice-activated microphones on each desk and are controlled by the Hansard unit.
The doors on either side of the Chamber lead to the respective Government and Opposition Lobbies where Members may make telephone calls, meet with their staff, etc, while being able to view proceedings in the Chamber by closed circuit television. Provision for a separate lobby for independent Members has been made behind the Chamber.
The Table is made from Tasmanian Brushbox.
Speaker's
Green
The Speaker's Green is an impressive, expansive turfed
area located on the western side of the building overlooking Darwin Harbour and
The Esplanade. It is used for Parliamentary and Government functions and is also
a popular local venue for wedding ceremonies.
The Desert Rose floral emblem is further emphasised at the base of the water feature on Speaker's Green. This spectacular water feature and fountain is dedicated to Messrs Peter Malmstedt and Andrew Snow, who lost their lives when a crane collapsed during the early construction phase of the building in March 1991.
From the southern side of Speaker's Green, Government House, the official residence of the Administrator, can be viewed. This is a magnificent old tropical building which survived the bombing of Darwin and Cyclone Tracy and dates from the late 1870s.
A mezzanine level of the building is accessed by the ceremonial staircase in the foyer from where an excellent view of the Main Reception Hall and Darwin Harbour can be gained.
Mezzanine
Level
Entry to the public galleries is gained from the mezzanine
level. Other areas on that level are the Office of the Clerk; the Parliamentary
Committee area, which is used for meetings and hearings of the Committees of the
Legislative Assembly, visiting Parliamentary Committees and Government agencies;
and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
The Parliamentary Portrait series is exhibited on the Mezzanine Level and its subjects are Chief Ministers and Speakers since the appointment of the first fully-elected Legislative Assembly in 1974.
Energy
Conservation
Since the initial occupation of the Parliament
House building, the Department of the Legislative Assembly has made a concerted
effort to achieve energy savings and resultant operation cost saving. It soon
became apparent that the hours of operation of air conditioning and lighting in
some areas could be reduced and appropriate amendments to those controls were
made.
In 1997, an energy audit was conducted in Parliament House and the following recommendations were made and subsequently implemented:
- delamping of light fittings;
- motion detectors within toilets;
- timers for lighting circuits within plant rooms;
- resetting of temperatures in hot water units; and
- lighting control system.
The implementation of those measures has resulted in a reduction of approximately 20% in energy consumption.
In 1999, the Department of the Legislative Assembly joined the Greenhouse Challenge, a Commonwealth Government funded initiative comprised of a number of national and international organisations which are making conscious efforts in applying self-regulatory procedures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to decelerate global warming. The Legislative Assembly is currently in the process of sharing information with other members of Greenhouse Challenge on various methods to reduce energy consumption.
Access
for Disabled
All areas of the building can be accessed by wheelchairs, a ramp has been installed
at its entrance and all levels can be accessed by lifts.