Parliament House of Victoria is one of Melbourne's major 19th-century civic buildings. Built between 1856 and 1879, it served as the meeting place of Australia's federal parliament from 1901 to 1927 while Canberra was being built, and it still houses Victoria's state parliament.
The long classical facade is a strong Bourke Street landmark. When parliament is not sitting, tours usually take visitors through the assembly halls and libraries; when it is in session, visitors can often sit in the public gallery.