The Colour of the Chamber

Why is the House of Representatives Chamber green?

The furnishings, carpets and upholstery in the Australian House of Representatives are green, while those of the Senate are red. This tradition originated in the UK Parliament, where the House of Commons is decorated in green and the House of Lords in red.

The blue-green shades used in the Chamber reflect the colour of gum leaves and the Australian landscape.

The origins of the House of Representatives green

There is no clear explanation for the use of green in the House of Commons. From around 1548 until 1834, the House of Commons sat in St Stephens Chapel. The chapel was built during the reign of Henry III (reigned 1216-1272) and was decorated in green. By the time the House of Commons moved to its new home at Westminster in 1834, the green in the Chamber had become a tradition.

One explanation for the use of green in the House of Commons relates to the use of woad as a fabric dye in medieval England. A weak solution of woad produced green cloth, which was cheap because woad was a common native plant. Red cloth, on the other hand, was dyed using an expensive imported pigment called madder. The House of Commons may have been given cheaper green furnishings, while the nobility in the House of Lords enjoyed expensive red upholstery.