The Building........
GALLERY I
The exposed brick entrance into Gallery I is possibly the oldest feature of the Old Parliament House. These walls were treated with stucco or Madras Chunam plaster made from shell lime, egg white, coarse sugar and water soaked with coconut husks for 24 hours. The surfaces still endure to this day, and are so hard that nails cannot be knocked through.
This unique space is best used for exhibitions and cocktails.
GALLERY II
Capacity: 130 (Standing Cocktail) / 80 (Round Table) / 120 (Theatre Style)
The Gallery, in true Tuscan architecture, features high ceilings held up by tall columns and enriched by simple trimmings in its cornices. This open visual arts space is the perfect venue for exhibitions, talks, corporate receptions and product launches.
The Gallery used to be part of the Legislative Assembly Library and later, from 1980, it became the Committee Room where meetings of the select committee were held. Important Bills like the Copyright Bill, the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Bill, the Parents Bill and many others were once deliberated here.
FILM GALLERY
The Film Gallery, located beyond the Box Office, is a long corridor featuring arches and niches. This narrow corridor on the ground floor has a long notorious history dating back more than 100 years. In the 19th century, it was used as a lock-up for criminals when the building served as a courthouse. In 1953, when the building was restored to house the new Legislative Assembly, the dungeon fell into disuse. It later became a storeroom for stationery in the 1970s. It is a good space to feature exhibitions of films that are being shown in the Screening Room, located at the centre of the Film Gallery or an alternative exhibition space for art works.