His Majesty King Charles visited the Parliament of NSW in 2024 to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Legislative Council, presenting the Council with the gift of an hourglass. The hourglass was handcrafted at the Goldsmiths' Centre in London and sits on a cedar base made from trees from the King's Highgrove estate. It features an engraving of the Royal Coat of Arms and an inscription memorialising His Majesty’s visit.
Deputy President, the Hon Rod Roberts MLC was the first to spin the new hourglass in the Legislative Council chamber! This beautiful timepiece is being used to time divisions and is proudly displayed on the chamber table, during sitting weeks.
In the King’s own words, the hourglass will, “bear witness to the Legislative Council’s next chapter,” serving as a reminder of our enduring commitment to democratic values.
The hourglass is currently being used in the Council chamber during parliamentary proceedings to time business such as divisions. It can be viewed during free public tours at NSW Parliament House which run on Mondays and Fridays, at 11.30am and 1.30pm.
