The Australian National University was established by an act of the Parliament of Australia, introduced by the then Prime Minister Ben Chifley and the Minister for Post-war Reconstruction J.J. Dedman. The bill was passed on 1 August 1946 with support of the Opposition Leader Robert Menzies. Its provisions came into effect on 7 February 1947. ANU is the only Australian university to be established by an act of the Federal Parliament;^[2] all other Australian universities were established by State or Territory parliaments.

A group of eminent Australian scholars were involved in the infancy of ANU, such as Sir Mark Oliphant, a leader in radar development and nuclear physics; Sir Howard Florey, a co-discoverer of the benefits of penicillin; Sir Keith Hancock, an eminent historian; and H. C. Coombs, a renowned economist and public servant.^[3]

After its establishment, the University conducted research and provided only postgraduate education. Canberra University College was a tertiary education institution established in Canberra by the Australian government and the University of Melbourne in 1930. The College operated until 1960 when it was incorporated into the ANU as the School of General Studies to provide for the education of undergraduate students.

On 5 July 1960 a fire during the night destroyed much of the eastern end of the Cockcroft Building. The damage included the drawing office, many student’s and staff’s results and files and the control room for the 600 kV Cockcroft-Walton accelerator. The 600 kV accelerator though only water damaged had to be scrapped. Refurbishment of the burnt out area was completed in September 1961.

Early departments that have now been spun off into research schools of their own include the departments of Astronomy and Geophysics and Geochemistry. Geophysics and Geochemistry separated into the Research School of Earth Sciences in 1973.Mount Stromlo Observatory became part of the Department of Astronomy in 1957. While part of the school, the Department of Astronomy developed Siding Spring Observatory and installed many new telescopes at Mount Stromlo Observatory. It separated into the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics in 1986.^[4]

Remains of the dome of the 50-inch Great Melbourne telescope

21st century

Walter Burley Griffin’s plan for the design of Canberra not only designated Acton peninsula as a hospital site, but did so whilst simultaneously placing it adjacent to a university where he envisaged a medical school would be located.^[5] In April 2001, after intense public debate and a committee of inquiry lasting eight months, it was announced that the ANU was to develop Australia’s 12th and the world’s 896th medical school.^[6] Shortly afterwards staff at the medical school made a proposal to the National Capital Authority that the old hospice and isolation block facilities on Acton Peninsula (which had been heritage listed for a health use) should be leased to the Medical School for teaching and clinical purposes.^[7]

On 18 January 2003 the Canberra firestorm hit the Mount Stromlo Observatory, destroying five telescopes, workshops, seven homes and the heritage listed administration building. The only telescope to escape the fires was the 1868 15-centimetre Farnham telescope. Relics from the fire are preserved in the collection of the National Museum of Australia. They include a melted telescope mirror and a piece of melted optical glass (flint). The latter has pieces of charcoal and wire fused into it from the fierce heat of the fire.^[8] Redevelopment is largely completed.

Enjoy a range of innovative exhibitions, tours and public programs that challenge and inspire. There are also special activities and spaces for children to explore.

Nurses: from Zululand to Afghanistan opens to the public on 2 December 2011. Australian nurses have been going to war for well over 100 years, but their important contribution to Australia’s overseas military operations often goes unreported.

The exhibition explores the involvement of nurses from the first known Australian in the Zulu War of 1879, right up to the experiences of the male and female nurses serving in recent conflicts and peace keeping operations.

Using the Memorial’s rich collection, the exhibition will highlight the personal stories of Army, Air Force and Navy nurses who have served overseas; their difficulties and challenges, along with their determination to care for the sick and wounded come what may.

Opened on 9 May 1988 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the building was designed by Romaldo Giurgola of Mitchell/Giurgola and Thorp architects and was constructed almost entirely of Australian materials.

The unique blend of impressive architecture, a stunning art collection and beautiful landscape makes Parliament House one of Australia’s most significant and popular cultural attractions.

Visitors moving through the building experience a journey symbolic of Australia’s history. The Forecourt, with its featured mosaic dot painting, recognises the long history of Aboriginal culture in Australia.

The use of marble and timber in the main Foyer provides a link to the arrival of Europeans to Australia. In the Great Hall, the rich Australian timbers, the Great Hall Tapestry and the Embroidery make subtle reference to the settlement and cultivation of the land.

The Members’ Hall, designed as a lofty, ceremonial space at the heart of the building, is located directly under the flagmast. It is the space in which the North-South axis of the building crosses with the East-West legislative axis that joins the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers.

The Main Committee Room represents the future of Australia, as the work of committees affects the futures of the nation’s representative democracy.

The building is recognised as a major international achievement in the integration of art and architecture, and features numerous commissioned artworks built into the very fabric of the building.

Featured within the Great Verandah is the Coat of Arms created by silversmith Robin Blau, and at the bottom of the Foyer’s marble stairs, the finials sculpted by Anne Ferguson.

Artworks from the Parliament House Art Collection, portraits from the Historic Memorials Collection and gifts to the Parliament can be seen throughout the public areas of the building.