Is Malcolm Turnbull's government selling off the heart of Australian democracy?

But certainly most prominently, his touch is seen in the design of Old Parliament House that residents and visitors are so familiar with.

Mr Murdoch's influence, some have it, extended well beyond designing numerous buildings around the triangle, creating a style that would come to be known as Federal Capital architecture.

Indeed, some historians have it, he played a key role in persuading Walter Burley Griffin to Australia from the United States - a minor part in a bigger story, but one with lasting influence on the nation's capital.

Apart from the then Provisional Parliament House, Mr Murdoch was the Commonwealth's chief architect and his fingerprints were also on the plans for Hotel Kurrajong and Hotel Canberra and the Secretariat Buildings No. One and Two.

The latter two buildings, now known as East and West Block, are now either up for grabs to the highest bidder, or already sold, as part of a federal government seemingly intent on squeezing every last dollar from taxpayers' assets.

No matter the deep attachment of the buildings to many Canberrans, or the fact these buildings are heritage-listed and remain a part of the nation's history.

Once the site of Canberra's first post office and telephone exchange, it seems East Block could soon be sold off, despite plans including returning the National Archives to the building.

West Block has already been sold to possibly house a hotel - the first piece of the triangle to be sold to a private owner, rather than owned by the public.

On the National Heritage Register, the 1920s buildings are listed as "a remnant of the relocation phase of the federal capital when they represented the seat of federal government and political power".

That power is vested by all Australians in their elected representatives in the hope they will make decisions in the best, long-term interests of the nation.

But it seems history - at least that of Australia's - is of little interest to the Thucydides-citing Prime Minister.

While of lesser heritage value, across Lake Burley Griffin, the government is also intent on selling off the east and west Anzac Park buildings - which have been rundown or empty for years.

And this week, it was revealed the National Capital Authority was further looking to sell off the Lobby restaurant - amid Ngunnawal efforts to occupy the vacant building and stake a greater claim on the land at the centre of power in their nation.

One wonders what might be next on Finance Minister Mathias Cormann's hit-list.

Mr Murdoch, who reportedly baulked at the great cost of Old Parliament House at the time, may well have seen the merits of a conservative outlook on government spending.

But, as an architect, he may well also baulk at the sale of buildings that have long formed the heart of Australian democracy.

One can only hope that, should the venerable Barnaby Joyce be returned to the Nationals' leadership, he would argue just as strongly against selling off the nation's architectural history, as he has for selling off its agricultural assets.