Step into the home of democracy in nsw with new exhibition ‘unlocking the house’

What do a gold bingo-ball cage, a ‘full-bottomed’ wig and an antique barrel key have in common?

They’re all curiosities in a new exhibition, Unlocking the House, which opens the door to unique and colourful stories from across the 200-year history of the Legislative Council – the Upper House of the NSW Parliament, and the first legislative body in Australia.

“Unearthed from the vaults and on display together for the first time, the items feature alongside documents and photos to tell 10 spectacular stories that unlock parliamentary practice and tradition, while exploring important change,” explains Matthew Mason-Cox, President of the NSW Legislative Council.

It’s a journey that spans the Council’s earliest colonial history to the modern day, and it’s on display at NSW Parliament (6 Macquarie Street, Sydney) on weekdays between 9am and 5pm until 27 October 2022. Entry is free.

“Unlocking the House offers a special opportunity to step into the home of democracy in NSW, whether to simply marvel at some parliamentary paraphernalia, or to delve much deeper into the workings of the Upper House and our rich parliamentary history,” says Mr Mason-Cox.

The exhibition is also an early chance to join the celebrations for a very important anniversary.

“This exhibition sits at the beginning of a full program of activities commemorating the upcoming Bicentenary of the Legislative Council,” Mr Mason-Cox says. “A genuinely landmark occasion, when the Bicentenary officially falls in 2024, it will mark an impressive two centuries of evolving democracy not just for this state, but for Australia.”