Parliament House is one of Sydney's historic buildings, and still holds NSW parliament within it today. The building consists of two wings. The first was converted from the old Rum Hospital, because it was the largest building available in Sydney at the time, with the purpose of accommodating the first NSW Parliament House in 1829. The second wing is made from cast iron, and is a prefabricated building that was shipped all the way from Glasgow in Scotland.
Parliament House is located in Macquarie Street, right in the heart of Sydney's central business district and is easily accessible by train, bus and monorail. This significant piece of architecture stands out among the modern high-rise buildings in the surrounding city, but also compliments several other historic buildings that line along Macquarie Street, and adjoining streets and
parklands. Parliament House is an easy and rewarding visit for any person taking a walking tour of Sydney, and the view will be impressive, even if you simply take a glimpse from street view.
Parliament House is a complex building, which suffered many complications during its development and several renovations that were conducted over the years. The development is a two-storey building, featuring a colonial style veranda. Inside are several entrance halls, smaller meeting rooms, and the Jubilee Room which is used for larger meetings and public events, and currently displays parliamentary memorabilia.
Like many of the old Sydney buildings, Parliament House has several ghost story claims to its name, and this is not surprising for a historic building that used to be a hospital and a morgue. Many of the staff claim to have seen ghosts, including babies that cry when no babies are around, an old lady who sits in a rocking chair and candles that flicker on and off.
Although some members of parliament claim there are no ghosts, many of them state whole heartedly that they do exist, and these stories contribute to the fascinating and enigmatic history of the building of Parliament House.
