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Corner Bench Seat #1999-1339King’s Hall, North Wing, Main Floor

Blackwood corner bench; with an angular seat, back rail, and raised panels on angled end supports; on four block feet.

History

This corner bench seat was not designed for the Provisional Parliament House in the 1920s, but was manufactured at a later date. It is one of four of the same design that occupied each corner of the inner hall in King’s Hall. It is believed that these four benches were presented to the Parliament by an ex-servicemen’s organisation in the 1960s, but it has not been possible to verify this. The benches were used both by the public and by lobbyists visiting Parliament; the latter because parliamentary staff often tried to discourage lobbyists from visiting parliamentarians in their cramped offices.

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Statement of values

This corner bench seat is significant as a component of the Heritage Collection, which comprises those pieces of furniture which were used in the Provisional Parliament House between 1924 and 1988. The collection has associations with the process of government, the ceremonial, administrative, promotional and recreational functions conducted within the building, and with the individuals who governed Australia between 1927 and 1988. The Old Parliament House building has a richness of internal fabric and collections that convey the way in which parliamentary functions were conducted, the everyday use of the building, and the hierarchical nature of parliamentary staffing practices.

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Details

Width 1927mm
Height 915mm
Depth 470mm
Medium Blackwood; timber
Creator’s name Unknown
Date created Unknown