The cost of repairing damage from a fire at Canberra's Old Parliament House during an anti-government protest has exceeded $4 million, according to the director of the Museum of Australian Democracy, Daryl Karp. The fire, set by protesters in December, caused extensive damage to the building's iconic front entrance, which Karp said 'will never be the same.'
The blaze, ignited twice on December 30, damaged the doors, front steps, facade, and interior spaces. Smoke and water from firefighting efforts affected most rooms on the main floor and areas near the entrance. Karp described the scene as 'overwhelmingly grey, dusty, smelly residue,' with soot covering items like the Hansard records.
Police charged 30-year-old Victorian man Nicholas Reed with arson, alleging he carried burning coals to the entrance. The protesters were not associated with the nearby Aboriginal tent embassy and had varied grievances, including opposition to Australian sovereignty and COVID-19 vaccines.
Karp said repairs will take 'many months,' with initial insurance estimates exceeding $4 million. The museum's exhibits escaped harm, but furnishings require individual hand cleaning and repainting. The jarrah wood doors, made from four compressed layers, suffered irreparable damage to at least one layer, and brass fittings popped off during the fire.
The incident has prompted the museum to reconsider security measures. Karp expressed grief over potentially limiting the building's traditional openness, stating, 'You can go anywhere in this building, you can sit anywhere,' but acknowledged the need for balance between accessibility and security.
Federal minister Ben Morton confirmed the government's commitment to funding the restoration, while the museum also accepts public donations for conservation work.
