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New Parliament House (1987) Canberra, Australia.

New Parliament House (1987) Canberra, Australia.

May 2022 · 2 min read · Australia
A working holiday to Australia’s national capital.
A working holiday to Australia's national capital.

I was a 4th year Electrical Apprentice working in Brisbane with one of the four major lift companies at the time. It was a big project and our company--being the only one that was Australian owned--won the lift and elevator tender. The job, from memory, was to install about 40 hydraulic ramp lifts that went up and down four storeys. There were not enough local tradesman to do the job so it was not long before they were asking people to fly down for 4 week rotations to help out. I put my hand up but they said "no apprentices". However, a couple of weeks later they asked if I still wanted to go and I was off on an adventure! I was down there for 9 months straight.

It was a strong union site and the work conditions and pay were really good. As the upper level got finished and handed over we spent a lot of time in the basement service tunnels.
It was a strong union site and the work conditions and pay were really good. As the upper level got finished and handed over we spent a lot of time in the basement service tunnels.
The Johns Perry Lifts crew and the kitten that became our mascot (found living in our lunch room).
The Johns Perry Lifts crew and the kitten that became our mascot (found living in our lunch room).
I decided to drive the my Toyota Corolla wagon down instead of flying which meant I was able to get out and about more.
I decided to drive the my Toyota Corolla wagon down instead of flying which meant I was able to get out and about more.
A view from the roof of Parliament House. That’s definitely a view that not many people ever get to see.
A view from the roof of Parliament House. That's definitely a view that not many people ever get to see.
A security guard (on the far right of the photo) minding a handed over area. Working on the Lifts meant we had a bit of (limited) extra access to areas.
 A security guard (on the far right of the photo) minding a handed over area. Working on the Lifts meant we had a bit of (limited) extra access to areas.
View of the Australian Parliament House from Commonwealth Ave.
View of the Australian Parliament House from Commonwealth Ave.
A massive flag pole needs a massive flag.
A massive flag pole needs a massive flag.
I was there that long that I rented a room off a house from an old lady who lived a walkable distance to Capital Hill. It gets really cold in Canberra in winter and even snowed while I was there.
I was there that long that I rented a room off a house from an old lady who lived a walkable distance to Capital Hill. It gets really cold in Canberra in winter and even snowed while I was there.
So we made the most of the snow and our location. We snuck in a couple of weekend ski trips to the Snowy Mountains (about 2 and half hours drive from Canberra). The photo at the top of these two is Perisher car park. The one directly above is of Mount Selwyn where there were lots of beginner ski slopes.
So we made the most of the snow and our location. We snuck in a couple of weekend ski trips to the Snowy Mountains (about 2 and half hours drive from Canberra). The photo at the top of these two is Perisher car park. The one directly above is of Mount Selwyn where there were lots of beginner ski slopes.

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