When South Australia gained self-government in 1857, construction began on a building that would provide working space for the officials of the new state government. By 1872, the population of the colony had grown sufficiently that the government felt it necessary to increase the membership of the House of Assembly (what we call our House of Representatives) by ten. As a result, larger quarters were needed. Construction of a new parliament building to house the expanding House of Assembly in 1874, while the upper chamber, the Legislative Council (e.g. our Senate), remained in the Old Parliament House. World War I delayed the completion of the new building until 1939. Once construction of the new paliament house was completed, plans called for the old Parliament House to be demolished. This time, World War II intervened and the older building was turned into a Royal Australian Air Force recruitment office. Following the war, various government departments used the Old Parliament House until the 1970’s, when it was converted into a ”Constitutional Museum.” Today, the Parliament of South Australia remains a bicameral institution with 47 members comprising the House of Assembly (the lower chamber) and 22 members making up the Legislative Council (the upper chamber). The governor of South Australia serves as the Queen’s representative but is not considered a member of parliament. The official government of the state is formed from the House of Assembly while the main function of the Legislative Council is to review legislation passed in the House of Assembly.
Saved from demolition by World War II, the Old Parliament building next door now serves as a museum...
...including paintings of North Terrace when it was just a dirt road with horses and carriages rather than cars and trucks.