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Parliament House, Melbourne
c1900
Pictorial Collection

In 1901 Federal Parliament opened in the Victorian Parliament House it would continue to occupy until 1927 when the Federal Parliament House opened in Canberra. Initially, however, Barton conducted government business from an unpretentious office in Sydney before an office could be found for him in Melbourne. Barton claimed that he could carry all government business between the capital cities in a single Gladstone bag. (Bolton, 2000, p. 229)

The Public Service was yet to be established; in the early days the responsibilities of administrating government procedure fell to the Prime Minister’s Private Secretary. On the 13th of May Barton made the following suggestion to his Private Secretary: ‘Will you keep a little appointment book for me, which you might note up and show me when we meet each day.’ (Barton Papers, Manuscript Collection)

 
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