Parliament House, Melbourne

The seat of the Victorian parliament stands at the top of Bourke Street, its broad flight of steps and colonnaded facade among the most photographed civic scenes in Melbourne. Begun in 1855 during the gold-rush boom, the building was intended to be crowned by a great dome that was never completed. It served as the temporary home of the federal parliament from 1901 until the capital moved to Canberra. The ornate chambers, library and Queen's Hall reflect Victorian grandeur, and public tours run when parliament is not sitting.