Sir Edmund Barton: Australia’s first Prime Minister

A century after his death, a new exhibition at Australian Parliament House celebrates the life and work of Edmund ‘Toby’ Barton. Bringing together key themes from his career, public and personal life, this exhibition provides an engaging glimpse into Australia at the turn of the Twentieth Century.

The exhibition includes Barton’s political progress as seen through the lens of Bulletin cartoonists, his passion for culinary culture and the menus of landmark Federation dinners, his government’s legislative achievements, and his position as a Judge of the High Court.

Of particular interest to history buffs, the exhibition also includes a photographic portrait of each individual member of the first Commonwealth Parliament. This large work is rarely on display and provides a fascinating glimpse of the individual MPs who created Australia’s first pieces of legislation. Other key items in the exhibition have been loaned to Australian Parliament House from a range of institutions, helping to weave together his extraordinary story.

All visitors to Parliament House must book their tour in advance on the website.