No more coat hangers: Victoria’s Parliament House returned to full glory in 16-year restoration project

For the first time in more than a decade, scaffolding and cranes have come down and the entire facade of Victoria’s Parliament House is on show. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

When a chunk of Victoria’s parliament fell on to an MP’s car, politicians finally decided something had to be done about the deteriorating state of the once-grand building.

Not much is known about the incident, and the premier at the time, Jeff Kennett, can’t recall it now, but according to a 1994 speech by the then Werribee MP, Ken Coghill, the building was quite literally crumbling apart.