History and Scenery of Canberra

I engaged a tour guide to take me on a half day tour round Canberra today. The good thing about engaging a private guide is that the tour can be tailored to suit my needs as I have specific things I want to see and visit. The guide, Virginia pick me up in her car promptly at 9:30am for my 4 hours half day tour.

First, we headed out to Parliament House. Virginia brought me on a tour round Parliament House, and at the same time, narrating to me about the history and the architecture of the building, as well as the process of law-making. I saw the Forecourt Mosaic, The Great Hall Tapestry, the Marble Foyer, The House of Representatives and Senate Chambers. I was lucky. Both Houses were in session and I managed to sit in both sessions to observe the proceedings. One of the Ministers has the same last name as me and Virginia asked if we were related haha. I later saw the city view from the roof of the Parliament House. It was a great view and I finally understood why it is called the Parliamentary Triangle.


The Forecourt Mosaic in the foreground, the Old Parliament House (the white building in the middle) and The War Memorial in the background

The War Memorial and the Old Parliament House as seen from the roof of Parliament House


Next, we went to the Old Parliament House which now housed the Museum of Australian Democracy. Again, Virginia gave me an educational tour round the place. I saw the King's Hall, Senate Chamber, the House of Representatives Chamber, the Prime Minister's Suite and others which my memory has now failed me what they were lol. :P



Prime Minister's Office

On our way to The War Memorial, Virginia drove me round the Lake and the Embassies, went past the International Flag Display, The National Library, Questacon, the High Court, The National Art Gallery and Anzac Parade which are some of the iconic buildings and landmarks in Canberra.
The War Memorial is a very solemn place, it reminds one and all of the evil of war. I was explained to at The Hall of Memory what the pillars meant and the stained glasses depicted. As I walked past the Roll of Honour, it only serves to remind me even more starkly all the unnecessary deaths that war has caused. I also viewed the Exhibitions of WWI and WWII. What do you know, there is a section devoted to Singapore at the WWII Exhibition. It was close to 1:30pm when we were done with The War Memorial but we were not done yet lol.

The back of The War Memorial

The cloud looked like a halo on The War Memorial



The four pillars and the grave of the Unknown Australian Soldier in The Hall of Memory

The dome, full of symbolism, in The Hall of Memory

The stained glass, again full of symbolism and telling a story in The Hall of Memory

From The Hall of Memory looking out (can see Parliament House in the distant background)

Roll of Honour - red poppies are placed beside the names of deceased soldiers as a mark of remembrance

Virginia brought me up to Black Mountain Tower where I could see the 360 degree views of Canberra and the surrounding rural area. It was definitely a nice end to my tour.

Black Mountain Tower up close


Views from the Black Mountain Tower


Virginia, from Canberra Guided Tours, is a very experienced and professional tour guide and she is really knowledgeable too. Although my tour should end by 1:30pm, Virginia didn't just drop me back home. She is very professional and continued to show me places, hoping to show me as much of Canberra as possible. I only got home close to 3pm. This has been one of the most educational tours I have ever been on. I have really learnt a lot. :)