The opening of the new $1.1 billion Parliament House in 1988 changed the national capital's landscape and transformed the culture of federal politics.
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The massive building with its 4000-plus rooms on a 32-hectare site dwarfed Old Parliament House and ensured politicians, staffers, public servants and journalists were distanced from each other.
Labor MP Anthony Albanese, who worked in the old parliament as a staffer for Tom Uren, said the smaller structure was not entirely suited as a national parliament but noted some benefits had been lost in the 26 years since.
"The new building is really isolating," Mr Albanese told a function in September last year.
"It does show how buildings can have an impact on culture.
"I worry that some people live up there in their offices with their bar fridges and don't need to leave. Ever.
"I think that adds to part of the aggressiveness of the current parliament."
Working in close quarters formed camaraderie, he explained.
"I got to share a desk and a chair.
"I assure you I did get to chat to the treasurer [Paul Keating] in the dunnies," Mr Albanese said.
The location of the non-members bar did not work at the new parliament and former treasurer John Dawkins said this resulted in lost opportunities for less-experienced politicians to engage.
"The opportunity for engagement with politicians from other parties and the press disappeared as soon as we went to the new place," Mr Dawkins said.
"Because the distances were so huge, the contact between ministers and backbenchers was lost.
"Camaraderie largely disappeared in the new place.
"People stopped going to the dining room because they started eating in their offices."
Cabinet documents from the time show how the new building was being built in a new age.
Society was geared towards broadcast news and records show some concern about finding extra funds for more cameras and updates about the installation of sound equipment and control rooms.
Environmental and work-family factors were also considered. Just as the building was being finished, and politicians were checking out their offices, a ban was put on the use of rainforest timber. And there was debate about whether to put a childcare centre on Parliament House grounds.
Ministers were advised unions could use it as grounds to argue public servants everywhere should have similar easy access to childcare and it was expected the opposition would say it was designed to benefit parliamentarians and high-income earners.
