LNP asks Newman to join Qld Parliament
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman says he has been invited to join the Queensland Opposition by members of the LNP.
Queensland Governor opens State Parliament
Queensland Governor Penny Wensley officially opens the new State Parliament for 2012 in Brisbane.
Men fined over Qld Parliament rooftop protest
Two men who staged a rooftop protest at Qld Parliament earlier this year have been fined $400 each, but say they will not rule out similar stunts in future.
Qld Parliament reflects on 'summer of sorrow'
In a solemn start to the Parliamentary year, state MPs reflected on the floods and cyclones that ravaged large parts of Queensland.
Seismic shift in Queensland's Parliament about to be played out
With 78 LNP seats and just 7 ALP seats the new Queensland Parliament will be a very different place when Parliament resumes next week.
Qld Government criticises energy retailers
Measures to deal with rising power bills will be introduced in the Queensland Parliament.
Farmers' Fury
The protestor who broke through Julia Gillard's security has struck again, this time on the roof of the Queensland Parliament.
How Charles Tiffin Built Queensland Parliament House
When the Queensland Parliament first convened in 1860, members met at the convict barracks on Queen Street. In 1863 an Australia-wide competition was held for the building design of a new parliament house. Plans by Queensland Colonial Architect Charles Tiffin were ultimately selected, and the foundation stone was laid in July 1865. Parliament House was first occupied in 1868, electricity was connected in 1868 - making it the first Parliament House in Australia to be electrified - and the building was finally completed in 1889.
Tiffin contributed greatly to the quality of historical architecture throughout Queensland. Apart from designing Parliament House, he was also responsible for Old Government House, Customs House, the Old Ipswich Court House, the Lands Office, Sandy Cape Lighthouse, as well as several other buildings including churches and post offices around the state. Several projects were completed in his personal time.
Born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England in August 1833 to Robert Tiffin, a whip manufacturer, and his wife Jane Haig, Tiffin was their third son but the only one to survive infancy. Records indicate Tiffin was trained as an architect by John Edward Watson in his home town. In 1855, Tiffin emigrated to Victoria, working briefly in Geelong before forming a private practice with William Davidson, Tiffin and Davidson, in Hobart.
On 1 January 1857, Tiffin married Mary Anne Haig, the daughter of a prosperous Hobart merchant. Tiring of private practice and seeking a Government position, Tiffin was employed by the New South Wales Government as the clerk of works for the Moreton Bay settlement in 1857 following a recommendation from the New South Wales Colonial Architect Alexander Dawson. After the creation of the Colony of Queensland in 1859, Tiffin secured the post of Colonial Architect. As such, he was charged with the responsibility of providing accommodation for the new colony's bureaucracy, Governor and Parliament. Aged just 26 at this time, he took up the challenge, in his own words, as a young, active, zealous, self-reliant man.
Tiffin took his Government duties seriously and is said to have worked tirelessly to design and construct more than 300 public buildings throughout the colony despite limited resources, vast distances and difficulty in securing reliable contractors. In December 1863, a competition for the design of a permanent Queensland Parliament was announced. Tiffin won first prize in April 1864, among great controversy and acrimony. Another design was initially favoured but was rejected on the basis of cost. Tiffin was accused of having input into the judging of the competition. So moved were the architects of Brisbane, in May 1864, eight local architects petitioned Parliament. Tiffin indignantly denied any wrongdoing, and contributed the 200 guineas prize money to the Ipswich Grammar School to set up a scholarship. Regardless, the controversy continued throughout the year resulting in a revised design by Tiffin eventually being chosen.
The title of Tiffin's office was changed in 1869 to Superintendent of Roads and Buildings when the Government attempted to cut expenditure by transferring the responsibility for roads and bridges in the southern part of the colony to his office. Tiffin inherited an administrative burden without any additional Government support. As a result, he was soon worn down by overwork. Adding to the burden, friction with the Minister for Works in 1870 resulted in Tiffin being accused of being extravagant, particularly in relation to the construction of Parliament House. Tiffin was required to report to Parliament on the issue. An unsavoury episode in February 1871 basically ended Tiffin's career in Queensland.
After a year's leave of absence in April 1872, he retired on medical grounds. Following medical advice to move to a cooler climate, Tiffin sold his home, Darrama. On route to Tasmania, he was delayed in Sydney by further illness. He died in Sydney on 9 January 1873 at the age of 40. An obituary said Tiffin had contributed the best years of his life to Queensland, and that he deserved a more fitting reward.
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Using documents from the Queensland State Archives, we can see letters, floor plans, images, posters, reports and investigations that occurred during the building of Queensland parliament.
See more images in our Flickr album:
The Queensland State Archives are located at 435 Compton Road Runcorn. Opening hours are 9.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Simpson prepares for first time as Qld parliament's speaker
New Qld parliamentary speaker Fiona Simpson says she will run the lopsided chamber fairly and will also regain some of the powers taken from the previous speaker.
Government ridicules new LNP leaders in Parliament
The Queensland Government lambasted the Opposition frontbench in Parliament led by 'interim' LNP leader Jeff Seeney, as Brisbane's Lord Mayor Campbell Newman campaigned on the outside.
Qld Parliament Drought Reception
On Thursday, 20 September, Queensland Parliament hosted community leaders from across the State to help raise money for regional communities. The night was a significant success in terms of fundraising and bipartisan support for farmers.
Queensland parliament courts controversy
Queensland's parliament will make history today when a convicted criminal takes to the floor to defend contempt charges.
New QLD Parliament Sworn In
The business of running Queensland is slowly getting underway again with the official opening of the fifty-third State parliament.
The parliament focused on ceremony for the first day back since last month's elections, swearing in the 89 politicians and electing a new speaker.
Perry Woodward reports.
Protesters stage Parliament rooftop protest
Security will be reviewed at Queensland's Parliament House in Brisbane after two protesters were able to string up a sign from the roof of the building.
Clowns warned in Queensland parliament
The State Government has come under attack on a variety of issues in Question Time.
At the top of the agenda were mental health and land sales.
The Police Minister also had a stern warning about a bizarre new internet craze.
The Queensland Parliament building turns 150
11/08/2018 $20 million of recent restoration work has brought the building back from falling into dilapidation.
Parliament Houselow.wmv
A High Tea and tour at Queensland Parliament House, courtesy of 612 ABC Brisbane, thanks!
The 56th Qld Parliament opened by the Qld Governor
14/02/2018 Also, ECQ Commissioner Walter van der Merwe has resigned to the Queensland Governor.
Qld parliament cracks down on climate change protestors
Queensland parliament has passed laws to crack down on climate change protestors.
Qld makes history with same-sex civil union law
Queensland Parliament passes laws to legally recognise civil unions between same-sex couples.