Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2021 shows the fire-damaged front entrance of the Old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. (Xinhua)
CANBERRA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The front entrance of the Old Parliament House in Australia's capital Canberra was damaged on Thursday after the building was set on fire.
Firefighters were called to the site at about 11:30 a.m. local time (0030 GMT) and the blaze was soon put out.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that the Old Parliament House in Canberra, which now houses the Museum of Australian Democracy, was forced to close last week when protesters started a fire at the door. That blaze was later believed to be ceremonial.
ABC reported that crowds began gathering last week as the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, a site on the lawns outside the Old Parliament House for the political rights of the indigenous Australians, is to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
The Old Parliament House was used for parliamentary purpose from 1927 to 1988, when a new building was inaugurated.
Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2021 shows the fire-damaged front entrance of the Old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. (Xinhua)
Firefighters clean up the fire-damaged entrance to Old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Dec. 30, 2021. (Xinhua)
Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2021 shows the fire-damaged front entrance of the Old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. (Xinhua)
Firefighters clean up the fire-damaged entrance to Old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Dec. 30, 2021. (Xinhua)
Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2021 shows the fire-damaged front entrance of the Old Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. (Xinhua) ■
