The State Houses of Parliament in Melbourne is where Victoria State’s legislative council is based. This historic building has housed the state parliament continuously since the middle of the 19th century from 1855, except the period from 1901 to1927 when it was occupied by the Australian National Parliament. The State Houses of Parliament are known to be one of the finest exponents of 19th century British civic architecture any where in the world.

The construction of the building was in fact commissioned even before the state of Victoria was granted parliamentary self governance. In the year 1851, Governor of Victoria Charles La Trobe had instructed for a site to be chosen for the colony’s new parliament. A competition for the design of the building was held subsequently, however no winning entry was chosen. Therefore government architect Charles Pasley drew up a plan that was heavily based on the Leeds Town Hall, which is also known as a great example of British civic architecture.

Following its completion in 1856 a number of additions were made to the original design; a library was added in 1860, the Queen’s Hall was added in 1879 and the final finishing touch of the building the classical colonnade and elaborate portico were added during the height of the Victorian Gold Rush in 1891. This final addition is what gives the State Houses of Parliament an imposing and epic finish.

As the home of the National Parliament this building witnessed some of the most turbulent periods of Australian politics. Since a capital had not been decided by the constitution the state parliament building was used, much to the displeasure of the parliamentarians. It witnessed the formative years of the Australian Federal System, the birth of the Labour Party, the amalgamation of the Protectionist Party and the Free Trade Party to form the Liberal Party and the controversial split of the Labour Party in 1916.

Visitors to the State Houses of Parliament will be afforded a short guided tour of the building during which they will be educated on the buildings history, architecture and significance. Since it is located in a residential neighborhood of Melbourne, visitors looking for Melbourne apartment accommodation can find comfortable lodging at the Somerset Gordon Heights.