1998 $1 Parliament House 10 Years On 1oz Silver Proof Coin

In the late 1970s, the need for a new home for the Australian parliament was becoming acute, owing to overcrowding in the gracious Old Parliament House. Plans for a new Parliament House were approved in 1978 and the building was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 9 May 1988. From its towering 81 metre flag mast to the stunning marble-clad columns and marble staircases of the foyer, Parliament House is an impressive and unique piece of architecture. It has become both the focus for the political life of a nation and a well-recognised symbol of the city of Canberra.