VISITORS to the Museum of Australian Democracy at old Parliament House yesterday were able, for the first time since July, to walk in the central space of King’s Hall, but where were the pictures?

After a thorough refurbishment that saw the skylights cleaned, plastering, repair and paint work completed, the space is now entirely dominated by the large bronze statue of King George V.

In fact, the departure of the large format portraits from the Hall was no surprise to locals who’d been following MOAD’s media releases. The portraits of former Australia Prime Ministers Barton, Reid, Watson, Deakin, Cook, Fisher, Hughes, Bruce, Lyons and Fraser, part of Parliament House’s Historic Memorials Collection, have hung in King’s Hall for decades, but were moved up the hill to new Parliament House several months ago.

And Daryl Karp, director of the Museum of Australian Democracy, said at the  that the changes will provide an opportunity for re-interpreting King’s Hall, so fear not, visitors, the clean but blank white walls will not remain empty for long.

The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes, open daily (except Christmas day) 9am to 5pm.