Museum of Australian Democracy

The Illumination

Welcome to the ‘Department of Memories’. 

For four nights a fictional department will pop up inside the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. The Department of Memories is dedicated to collecting, and carefully cataloguing a time you changed your mind, the first time you needed your neighbour’s help, or where you were when a big thing happened. Memories, whether they be brave, silly, awkward, painful, or powerful are the strange glue that holds democracy together. 

Cartoonist and illustrator, Sam Wallman, gives you a peek inside the Department of Memories, showcases collected memories we can all relate to and shows how peoples stories are central to how we relate to each other.  

Experience this free, all ages event over two big weekends where you can visit the department inside the building and delve into memories in all kinds of curious ways.  

• Meet our Minister (Venus Mantrap)  
• Sing Karaoke, 
• Visit the hardworking magpies at the Office of Collections and Nesting by artist Tom Buckland 
• Enjoy the historic Members’ Bar 

Artwork by Sam Wallman will light up Old Parliament House every night of Enlighten from 8pm.  

Department of Memories free events:  7pm-10.30pm, Friday 27 February, Saturday 28 February, Friday 6 March, Saturday 7 March. 

Members’ Bar drinks:  6:30pm-10:30pm, Friday 27 February, Saturday 28 February, Friday 6 March, Saturday 7 March. 

Accessibility information is available on the Museum of Australian Democracy website here.

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The Artist

Sam Wallman is a cartoonist and illustrator based in Naarm (Melbourne). Sam’s work has been published in the Guardian, the New York Times, Labor Notes, The Age, the ABC and SBS.

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