Old Parliament House is developing a new interpretive exhibition and for the first time the House of Representatives Press Gallery will be open to the public. While researchers have gathered material such as personal correspondence, newspaper clippings and oral histories, they need your help to collect more objects associated with working in the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

The offices, corridors and gallery from where the major political events, scandals, leaks, and scoops were reported will be permanently open to the public. The Press Gallery will be presented in all its squalor and glory: as a cramped and frantic place; a group of extraordinary people and a synonym for expert reporting of political issues.
 
The remaining Press Gallery offices will either be recreated as they were or fitted out with displays and interactive experiences that tell the story of the relationship between the media and politics at Parliament House between 1927 and 1988. Visitors will get the low down on Canberra from well-known journalists; take part in the struggle between journalists and politicians for their version of the truth; learn how journalists put together great stories; feel the pressure of working to a deadline; and get the media-eye-view of the House of Representatives Chamber from the press gallery itself.
 
Old Parliament House researchers have gathered together primary source material such as personal correspondence, newspaper clippings and press releases, and oral histories from a range of journalists. But they have found it difficult to find much ‘stuff’ - the ephemera and objects associated with working in the Parliamentary Press Gallery such as:

• Iconic items associated with key personalities or events
• Press passes for individuals from the Press Gallery 1927-1988
• Photographs especially ‘Behind the scenes’ of journalists and politicians working together or of social events in the House – such as journalists in the non-Members bar
• Original press releases
• Diaries and notebooks
• Cartoons specifically depicting the press and politicians
• News clippings and scrapbooks
• Telexes and teletype tape
• Memorabilia to do with Press Gallery functions
• Annotated Hansard, typed copy, transcripts or scripts
• Production schedules or editing notes pertaining to radio or TV reports
• Photographs of the press offices, press conferences, key events at the House or Press Gallery members
• Photographs distributed as part of government media packages
• Ministerial/staffer phone lists
• Press Gallery membership
• Press office addresses
• Desk calendars
• Audio cassettes, ¼” tape, video tapes and the boxes they were stored in
• Microphones and microphone call signs
• Ashtrays
• Coffee mugs
• Newspaper clippings
• Dictaphone/tape recorders
• Reference material such as Government reports & directories; media organisation phone lists; reference books or files
• Correspondence between journalists & editor/owners; correspondence between journalists & politicians 

If you have any of these items which you would like to either donate, lend or have reproduced for Old Parliament House’s interpretation please contact Bronwyn Coupe on (02) 6270 8132, or by email pressgalleries@oph.gov.au
 
Further information will be up on Old Parliament House’s website soon: www.oph.gov.au